Core Concepts

Written By Vik

Last updated 5 months ago

Understanding Wauld begins with knowing its core concepts. These are the foundational building blocks that define how digital credentials are designed, issued, managed, and verified on the platform.

Wauld’s hierarchy:

Account → Workspace → Engagement → Document → Credential → Recipient

Each level builds upon the previous one, ensuring clear organization, scalability, and accountability.

1. Account

The Account is the apex entity in Wauld.

  • It represents your entire organization (e.g., a university, company, association, or training provider). Think of it as your umbrella organization in Wauld, under which all credentialing activities take place.

  • Managed by Co-Owners who can control:

    • Billing and subscription management.

    • Organization details and branding.

    • Verification and compliance.

    • Workspace creation and management.

  • When an account completes Wauld’s organization verification process, it earns a Verified Issuer Badge, signaling trust and authenticity to recipients and third parties.

2. Workspaces

A Workspace is a dedicated environment within your account.

  • Workspaces allow you to separate different programs, departments, clients, or initiatives under one account.

  • Each workspace has its own dashboard, metrics, engagements, documents, recipients, and reports, keeping activities organized and independent.

  • Admins and Workspace Admins primarily operate at this level to manage day-to-day credential issuance.

3. Engagements

An Engagement represents a specific project, program, course, workshop, training, membership, or event where credentials are issued.

  • Engagements are like “projects” inside a workspace.

  • They define what the credential relates to and hold the associated documents used to issue credentials.

  • This structure ensures clarity, especially when managing multiple credentialing activities simultaneously.

4. Documents

A Document is the template design of a credential created in Wauld’s Design Studio.

  • A document defines how the credential looks and what it contains.

  • You can add:

    • Backgrounds and logos to reflect your brand.

    • Attributes like recipient name, course, score, or completion date.

    • Signatures of authorized personnel.

    • QR codes for instant verification.

  • A single engagement can have multiple documents — for example:

    • A course completion certificate.

    • A separate badge of excellence.

5. Credentials

A Credential is the actual proof issued to a recipient, generated from a document template.

  • Each credential contains:

    • A unique ID and secure URL.

    • A status (Active, Expired, Voided, or Superseded).

    • Audit logs for complete traceability and compliance.

  • Credentials are:

    • Secure and verifiable in real time.

    • Shareable via link, email, LinkedIn, or QR code.

    • Designed to ensure recipient trust and organizational credibility.

6. Recipients

Recipients are the end-users of Wauld the individuals (or sometimes organizations) who receive credentials.

Through the Recipient Portal, they can:

  • View and download their credentials anytime.

  • Share credentials securely via link, email, or LinkedIn.

  • Submit change requests for corrections.

  • Verify credential authenticity for employers, schools, or other stakeholders.

Recipient actions are tracked in audit logs for accountability and transparency.

7. Issuing Authority

The Issuing Authority is the main organization legally responsible for the credentials.

  • It represents the official name of the organization as it appears in formal records, legal documents, or certificates.

  • While the Issuer may be a specific department, instructor, or individual responsible for issuing the credential, the Issuing Authority remains the overarching organization that stands behind the credential.

  • The Issuing Authority’s name is prominently displayed on all credentials to ensure trust, authenticity, and recognition by third parties such as employers, institutions, or regulatory bodies.

How They All Connect: The Hierarchy Flow

Here’s how these concepts fit together within Wauld’s structure:

  1. Account – Your top-level organization
    ↳ Contains multiple Workspaces

  2. Workspace – A container for programs or departments
    ↳ Contains multiple Engagements

  3. Engagement – A specific course, event, or program
    ↳ Contains multiple Documents (credential templates)

  4. Document – A designed certificate or badge
    ↳ Used to issue Credentials

  5. Credential – The issued proof of achievement
    ↳ Delivered to a Recipient

  6. Recipient – The end-user who receives, shares, and verifies credentials

  7. Issuer & Issuing Authority – Provide authenticity and compliance for every credential issued.

This combined version provides a comprehensive, user-friendly explanation of Wauld’s core concepts and their hierarchy, suitable for inclusion in documentation, knowledge base articles, or training materials.