UCLan Simplifies Administrative Processes with Docusign eSignature and ID Verification

The University of Central Lancashire is one of the UK’s largest universities, with a staff and student community approaching 42,000 from over 100 countries. With campuses in Preston, Burnley, Westlakes, London, and Cyprus, the University offers a diverse range of opportunities, including 40 Degree Apprenticeships, 350 undergraduate programmes, nearly 200 postgraduate courses, and an extensive suite of Continuing Professional Development courses.

Recognising inefficiencies in its administrative and onboarding workflows, The University of Central Lancashire implemented Docusign eSignature and ID Verification to address time-consuming processes, reduce compliance risks, and enhance operational efficiency. These solutions have enhanced how the university processes student applications, enabling seamless operations.

"This has revolutionised being able to quickly process ID verification for the university," said Martin.

Driving Operational Efficiency in Student Enrolment

Each year, the University of Central Lancashire manages over 700 new and increasing Degree Apprenticeship enrolments, ensuring full compliance with the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA). As an executive agency of the Department for Education (DfE), the ESFA plays a crucial role in funding education and skills providers across England, making strict adherence to its regulations essential for the university’s successful programme delivery.

"Our enrolment process was largely electronic, but we relied on multiple systems, which made managing high volumes of applications challenging and impacted efficiency," says Martin. "While the process was well-organised, consolidating everything into a single system has transformed our ability to maintain compliance, streamline operations, and speed up processing."

In response to these challenges, the university adopted a comprehensive digitisation strategy. "The introduction of Docusign enabled us to simplify and expedite the process, cutting down on manual tasks and boosting overall efficiency," Martin continues. "This transformation has not only increased processing speed but has also ensured continued compliance with ESFA funding rules."

"The integration of Docusign eSignature has greatly improved our workflows by allowing documents to be signed and returned quickly, removing previous bottlenecks," Martin adds. "This shift has made the process more efficient, secure, and seamless for partners, students and staff."

Building a More Efficient and Secure Future at The University of Central Lancashire

The adoption of Docusign solutions has transformed the University of Central Lancashire’s workflows, creating a smoother, more efficient process for everyone involved. By shifting to fully digital processes and using a single platform for enrolment paperwork, the University of Central Lancashire has significantly improved compliance, reduced risks, and enhanced the overall experience for applicants, staff, and partners.

These advancements mark just the beginning. The University of Central Lancashire is now exploring broader applications of Docusign tools, including AI-driven features like Docusign Insight. These innovations promise to unlock valuable data insights, streamline operations further, and enable faster, more collaborative agreements.

As UCLan continues to embrace these technologies, the university is setting a new standard for operational excellence in higher education.

Martin concludes