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.
A Practical Guide To Issuing Badges At Your Institution
Gary Matkin | Dean of the Division of Continuing Education and Vice Provost of the Division of Career Pathways, University of California, IrvineThe International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE) recently published the first public document to provide practical advice to institutions considering the issuance of alternative digital credentials (ADCs). The…
Digital Credentials and ePortfolios Clarifying Pathways to the Labor Market
Mike Simmons | Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs, University of North TexasIn today’s job market, signaling one’s readiness for a job goes beyond traditional transcripts, as they provide little evidence (or even information!) to the employer about the student’s skillset or…
Eight Strategies to Help Universities Stay Relevant and Shrink Skills Gaps
Michelle Giovannozzi | Director of the Center for Executive and Professional Education, Portland State UniversityThere are obvious skills gaps in our workforce, with companies struggling to find qualified candidates to fill vacancies. In January, job openings in the United States hit another historic high,…
When Funders Call For A Map of Credential Transparency Initiatives, We Should Pay Attention
Holly Zanville | Strategy Director for the Future of Learning & Work, Lumina FoundationToday’s credential marketplace is confusing and chaotic for job seekers, employers and policymakers alike, with hundreds of thousands of credentials available in the U.S. alone, and little data available about…
A Common Language for College Credit
Jacqueline Arnold | Manager of Strategic Communications and Relationships, Saylor AcademyWhile attending an international conference recently, I was struck that all of the attendees—who came from Africa, Southeastern Asia and Europe—used English as the lingua franca of the event. (Those…
The Growing Profile of Non-Degree Credentials: Diving Deeper into ‘Education Credentials Come of Age’
Sean Gallagher | Executive Director of the Center for the Future of Higher Education and Talent Strategy, Northeastern UniversityThe world of credentialing is changing fast. Employer needs have evolved in concert with improving hiring support technologies. Higher education institutions are now in a difficult position, responding to changing…
Can Competency-Based Assessment Move Us from Credit Hours to Competencies?
Myk Garn | Assistant Vice Chancellor for New Learning Models, University System of GeorgiaIt seems simple enough: Just change from credit hours to competencies. It seemed simple to Sally Johnstone, Peter Ewell and Karen Paulson when they wrote Student Learning as Academic Currency…