Credentials
The world of credentials no longer begins and ends with degrees. Though degrees are still sought-after credentials, demand for certificates, professional certifications and other awards is rising. Being able to provide students a rich tapestry of offerings and outcomes is critical for the modern institution.
Microcredentials: On the Outside Looking In
Philip DiSalvio | Dean of the College of Advancing and Professional Studies, University of Massachusetts BostonMicrocredentials are rising in popularity among higher education institutions. Once considered leading-edge, micro-credentialing is becoming more commonplace despite some cautious skepticism. Microcredentialing presents a significant opportunity for institutions and their key stakeholders. This article…
With the Growth in the Number of Short-Term Credential Programs, Why is Stackability and Employer Engagement Critical?
Darlene Miller | Executive Director, National Council for Workforce EducationIn today’s economy, 80 percent of all jobs require some form of a credential beyond high school. Concomitantly, 45 percent of small businesses in America are unable to find qualified…
How Everyone Benefits from Badging: A Guide to Mainstreaming Digital Credentials
Elisabeth Rees-Johnstone | Executive Director of Continuing Education and Professional Learning at OISE, University of TorontoDigital badging has been on our radar in one form or another since the mid 2000s. Think about your first Xbox experience years ago, when you’d gleefully collect digital badges for…
How Digital Credentialing is Driving the Shift Towards a Learning Economy
Louis Soares | Vice President of Strategy, Research and Advancement, American Council on EducationDigital credentials are at the forefront of broader technological innovation in the academic sector and signal the possibility of broader cooperation between higher education and the labor market—but, as Louis…
Doubling Completions and Driving Enrollments: Ambitious Goals But Critical and Attainable
Sue Ellspermann | President, Ivy Tech Community CollegeServing nearly 160,000 students every year across 45 campus and site locations, Ivy Tech Community College is the largest public postsecondary institution in the state of Indiana–but, having set the…
Clearer Distinctions Between Traditional Programs and Microcredentials Will Improve Outcomes for Both
Scott Greenberg | Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs, Framingham State UniversityIn an age of instant communication, immediate gratification, accelerated learning, industry partnerships, and a predilection for awards, higher education and its academic partners have turned to the delivery of micro-programs…
Clear as Mud: Finding Ways to Improve Upon the College Transcript
Helen Chen | Director of ePortfolio Initiatives, Stanford UniversityAn education is no longer simply a box to be checked along the pathway to a successful life. What’s becoming increasingly important today is the desire to continue learning and…