Is the Spanish electronic signature law compatible with digital attendance control for FUNDAE training courses?

One of the most important requirements for obtaining FUNDAE bonuses is the rigorous control of participant attendance, a process that can be complex and time-consuming.

In this context, the Spanish electronic signature law emerges as a potentially valuable tool for simplifying and securing assistance management. SoWeSign presents itself as an effective solution that complies with these requirements.

The law on electronic signatures in Spain is mainly governed by the eIDAS Regulation (Regulation (EU) No. 910/2014), which establishes a legal framework for electronic identification and trust services.

This regulation, implemented at the national level through Law 6/2020, of November 11, regulates aspects related to electronic signatures, electronic seals, certified electronic delivery services and other related services.

The law defines several types of electronic signatures, including:

• Simple electronic signature: a set of electronic data attached to other electronic data that is used by the signatory to sign.
• Advanced electronic signature: one that meets certain requirements that allow verification of the signatory's identity and detection of any subsequent changes to the signed data.
• Qualified electronic signature: This is an advanced electronic signature created using a qualified signature creation device and based on a qualified electronic signature certificate. A qualified electronic signature has the same legal validity as a handwritten signature.

To receive FUNDAE public funds, attendance lists are required that verify the presence of the students with their signatures.

In addition, it requires other documents: a receipt for materials, certificates of attendance or diplomas, and evaluation questionnaires. In summary, you need to submit:

• Attendance lists (group document): for each session, include the identifying data of the training, the list of students with their identifying data, their signatures, and the signature of the trainer or training manager.
• I received the materials (group document): This document lists the materials given to the students so they can complete their training effectively. It must include the training's identifying information, a list of the students with their identifying details, their signatures, and the signature of the trainer or training manager.
• Certificate of attendance or diploma (individual document): contains general information about the training and identifying data of the student and must be signed individually by the student.
• Training quality assessment questionnaire (generic document to be completed by each student who has participated in the training). This must be given to each student who has participated in the training.

Until the publication in the BOE of the Resolution of April 15, 2020, only sheets of paper containing the signatures were used.

This resolution established extraordinary measures to address the impact of COVID-19 on vocational training for employment. These measures aim to maintain the employability of workers and the competitiveness of companies by adapting training to the restrictions imposed by the state of emergency.

The training conditions were made more flexible, allowing delivery through virtual classrooms and online training.

Furthermore, it stipulated that electronic signatures could be used to validate documents related to vocational training for employment in order to facilitate administrative management. Both advanced and simple digital signatures were accepted.

Therefore, we can conclude that, after this publication, the digital signature for attendance control is perfectly compatible with the Spanish electronic signature law. 

The process of collecting attendance signatures and creating and storing lists for years is a very cumbersome, outdated process and represents a huge waste of time for all actors involved (students, trainers, and managers).

SoWeSign is designed to meet the needs of document management and attendance control in various contexts, including FUNDAE training.

Our solution offers advanced tools for electronic signatures and record management, ensuring that all interactions are secure and compliant with current legal regulations.

SoWeSign significantly reduces the time and resources needed to manage training attendance. By digitising the process, physical attendance sheets are eliminated and real-time data collection is simplified.

SoWeSign ensures that all attendance records are stored securely, using advanced encryption to protect the data. This guarantees that the information is available for audits and reviews, complying with FUNDAE's security requirements.

Electronic attendance records are easily auditable, allowing FUNDAE and training organisations to verify compliance more efficiently. The qualified electronic signature provides traceability, ensuring that any subsequent review of the data can be carried out with confidence in its integrity.

SoWeSign provides a robust and secure framework that can significantly simplify attendance tracking in FUNDAE-subsidised training courses. We encourage you to try it out and  request a demo