Innovations in Higher Education: Preparing for the Future of Learning & Work
National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA)
Bridging Education and Employment Through Open Standards – 1EdTech and HR Open Standards Consortium
Microcredential Initiative – University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Validated Skills and Learning
Skills Visibility in the Evolving Skills-Based Economy
Skills Visibility / Relation to Rich Skills Descriptors and openRSD
Project Infuse: Democratizing Access to Digital Credentials – AACRAO
Global Learner Pathway, Pathways Model, & Cross-Border Partnership in Nursing — Alamo Colleges District
vsbl — Education Design Lab
Overview vsbl (visible learning) is a micro-credentialing toolkit created by Education Design Lab, designed to help educational institutions issue digital credentials for “durable skills” that are essential across careers. It […]
Federal Reserve System (Federal Reserve)
Enhancing Global Learning Mobility Through Credential Transparency – AACRAO / Credential Engine
Cybersecurity Bootcamp – Wake Technical Community College (North Carolina)
Overview On July 1, 2024, Wake Technical Community College (Raleigh, North Carolina) entered into a cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation (NSF) to launch a cybersecurity bootcamp. The bootcamp […]
Innovations in Credentialing – Western Governors University
Overview Western Governors University (WGU) is a private, non-profit online university based in Millcreek, Utah. WGU uses an online competency-based learning model and focuses on providing advanced education for working […]
Freelancer / Freelancing
Open Badges Standard
Applied Liberal Arts
EDUCAUSE
The Manufacturing Readiness Project – SOLID LLC
Overview The Manufacturing Readiness Project launched in 2023 to make it easier for military veterans to find quality civilian careers in manufacturing—and for manufacturers to build a talented workforce. The […]
LER Accelerator
Overview The LER Accelerator was launched in 2024 with support from Walmart. The effort is boosting the adoption of Learning and Employment Records (LERs) in postsecondary education by focusing on […]
1EdTech Open Badges Standard
Overview Open Badges are information-rich visual tokens of verifiable achievements earned by recipients and easily shared on the web and via social media. The Open Badges standard describes a method […]
openRSD – Edalex
Overview Rich Skills Descriptors (RSDs) are a metadata package that provides a common definition of a skill including the context behind the skill. This allows interoperability in credentials. RSDs typically […]
Credentialing: Policy & Implementation – Florida
Overview In 2021, Florida’s legislature passed HB 1505, which amended section (s.) 1007.25, Florida Statutes (F.S.). The Bill requires public postsecondary institutions to award students a nationally recognized digital badge when […]
Microcredential Initiative – State University System of New York (SUNY)
Overview The State University of New York (SUNY) adopted a broad microcredential policy in 2018, following recommendations of a Micro-Credentialing Task Force created in 2015. Through a collaborative process and endorsed by […]
IDB Digital Credential Framework (Inter-American Development Bank)
Overview The IDB Digital Credential Framework (the Framework) is the key reference tool and roadmap to recognize knowledge-building and continuous learning with digital credentials. Issued in May 2023 by the […]
Alternative Credential Platforms
Nontraditional and digital credentials are offered through a higher education institution’s partnerships with approved third-party vendors. These alternative credentials may be viewed as pathways to obtain attainable and accessible education. […]
Badge, Skills Badge, Open Badge, Competency Badge
Badges are tools to represent someone’s achievements, certifications, or abilities. There are several types of badges such as digital badges, skills badges, open badges, and competency badges. A badge is […]
Digital Credential Ecosystem / Marketplace
Digital credentials are similar to digital badges in the sense that they create opportunities for learners and workers to demonstrate qualifications, skill sets, claims, or achievements through digital certificates or […]
Non-degree Credentials
Non-degree credentials include certificates, industry certifications, apprenticeships, educational certificates, occupational licenses, and digital badges.
Digital badge
A digital badge (aka e-badge) is a digital representations of individuals’ achievements, consisting of an image and metadata uniquely linked to the individual’s skills. Digital badges have an issuer (institution […]
Alternative Credentials
Alternative credentials are competencies, skills, and learning outcomes derived from assessment-based, non-degree activities that align to specific, timely needs in the workforce. Different types of alternative credentials include but are […]
Quality Assurance Standards for Microcredentials – Microcredentials Partnership of States
Overview In 2022, digiLEARN convened partners from Wyoming, South Carolina, Arkansas, and North Carolina to form the Microcredentials Partnership of States (MPOS). MPOS is a collaborative multistate initiative to identify […]
The State of Digital Credentials 2022 Guide & 2024 State of Credentialing Report (Accredible)
Overview Accredible issued The State of Digital Credentials 2022 Guide in August 2022, and the 2024 State of Credentialing Report in July 2024. The Guide explores the landscape of digital […]
Accredible (digital badge & certificate platform)
Bendable (Lifelong Learning Platform) – Bendable Labs & Drucker Institute
Overview Bendable is a community-powered learning marketplace. It operates a lifelong learning platform that was established initially in 2020 to allow residents of all ages and backgrounds in South Bend, […]
Parchment & Digitary
1EdTech’s Digital Credentials Learn & Lead Roundtables
Overview 1EdTech’s expert-led Digital Credentials Learn & Lead Roundtables provide knowledge and resources for institutional leaders driving credentialing programs and initiatives at their institution—sharing best practices from planning to implementation. […]
Non-degree Credentials
Incremental Credential / Incremental Credentialing System / Incremental Credentialing Framework
Digital Credential Ecosystem / Marketplace
Auto-award (Automatic)
Badge, Skills Badge, Open Badge, Competency Badge
Badge Backpack, Digital Wallet
Digital Credentials
Alternative Credentials
Skills-Driven State Community of Practice Initiative — National Governors Association
Overview The National Governors Association (NGA) supports participating states in developing skills-based pathways to opportunity. Efforts focus on quality assurance, data collection, and the connection to good jobs. In the […]
The Big 10 Competencies for Transformational Leadership & Change (TLC) — College Unbound
Overview College Unbound (CU) awards a credential (transcripted credit and digital badge) to students who demonstrate the skills and capacities needed to lead change: accountability, advocacy for self and others, […]
AACRAO Alternative Credentials Initiative / Report
Overview AACRAO’s initiative for alternative credentials highlights opportunities and challenges for higher education and empowers registrars as key stakeholders in this conversation. The report (AACRAO alternative credentials workgroup report, 2022) […]
Micro-Pathway Design Initiative — Alamo Colleges District
Overview The Micro-Pathway Design Initiative at the Alamo Colleges District (Texas) invites college faculty and staff to form design teams and draft learning pathways composed of credentials that stack toward […]
Employability Skills Bundle Project — Alamo Colleges District
Overview The Employability Skills Bundle project at the Alamo Colleges District (Texas) offers a suite of marketable skills micro-courses leading to digital badges used for job-market entrants and current workers […]
Alternative Credentials: Considerations, Guidance, and Best Practices
Overview The AACRAO Alternative Credentials Work Group created a report issued July 2022 to address the what, why, who, how, where, and when of alternative credential usage for higher education […]
Course+Badge Initiative
Overview The Course+Badge Initiative of the Alamo Colleges District in Texas is training faculty to embed marketable skills badges into credit-bearing courses. The project directly serves students who receive skills […]
Solutions for Information Design (SOLID) for Military Populations
Overview Solutions for Information Design, LLC (SOLID) is an intermediary that works to enhance the nation’s military and civilian workforce by strengthening career pathways, guiding skill attainment, and improving communication of […]