Lessons Learned: Implementing Digital Badging Strategies - Sherri Braxton, Evolllution

Digital badging and credentials allow students to tangibly prove their skills to employers—skills they can learn quickly and efficiently as needed, pointing to a broader trend of higher education needing to work for the student and not the other way around.

With an increasing amount of people looking to change careers or find the skills to keep them relevant in the workforce, there’s growing interest in credentials and digital badging. Learners want to be able to gain skills employers can immediately verify without interrupting their careers. This means more institutions are looking to get onboard and implement credentials and badges—but they don’t have to start from scratch. In this interview, Sherri Braxton discusses the importance of developing digital badges, how to overcome common obstacles and the lessons she learned while implementing these strategies.

https://evolllution.com/programming/credentials/lessons-learned-implementing-digital-badging-strategies/

The Role of Soft Skills in the Workplace - Emily Torp, At Work Daily

In today’s competitive job market, possessing technical skills alone may not be enough to ensure career success. Employers are increasingly recognizing the importance of soft skills in the workplace. Job seekers who possess these skills are more likely to be hired and promoted. So, what are soft skills? Soft skills are a set of personal attributes that enable individuals to interact effectively with others. These skills are often referred to as interpersonal skills or people skills. They include things like communication, problem-solving, teamwork, time management, and leadership.

https://www.atworkdaily.com/2023/02/20/the-role-of-soft-skills-in-the-workforce/

91% students, 92% employers in India believe professional certificates can help get jobs - India Today

Both students and businesses are placing an increasing priority on the value of professional certifications in response to a cutthroat, rapidly evolving job market. As per a recent Coursera survey, 91% of students, 92% of employers in India believe professional certificates can help get jobs. The findings of Coursera's Higher Education to Employment Survey show the extent to which skills-first credentials are impacting both college selection by students and employment decisions by employers.

https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/latest-studies/story/91-students-92-employers-in-india-believe-professional-certificates-can-help-get-jobs-2336231-2023-02-17

Expert's Voice | Jeff Maggioncalda, Global CEO of Coursera, Says Micro-Credentials Help Secure Jobs - Forbes

Jeff Maggioncalda, Global CEO of Coursera, tells Ramia Farrage that micro-credentials will help applicants secure the jobs of the future #ExpertsVoice #Forbes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-f4x-yPQaI

Westminster launching micro-credential programs - Gia Francisco, WCN

What exactly are micro-credentials, and how will they apply to Westminster students? According to the National Education Association, micro-credentials are "a competency-based recognition issued for professional learning experiences." Westminster will now introduce the micro-credential as digital badges that appear on transcripts. The College will award the badges to students who learn, demonstrate and showcase specific skills in a particular field.

 This month, the Board of Trustees approved the Data Analytics Micro-credential program. It comes from the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science and the School of Business. To complete the credential, a student must complete 12 hours of coursework identified in computer science and business. Data analytics focuses on analyzing raw data to make conclusions about that information.

https://www.wcn247.com/holcad_and_campus/when-will-micro--credentials-take-action/article_2f6f7548-aff0-11ed-95a2-37cd8bbbd8a3.html

New Coursera survey shows high demand for industry micro-credentials from students and employers in tight labor market - Scott Shireman, Global Head of Coursera for Campus

In a competitive and fast-changing labor market, employers increasingly expect their entry-level talent to join their workforce already equipped with job-relevant skills and hands-on experience. At the same time, university-age students and their parents are thinking more critically about the ROI of traditional three and four-year degree programs: most notably, whether students will secure a job after graduation. As a result, Coursera is seeing universities and colleges around the world leverage entry-level professional certificates, also known as industry micro-credentials, and career-relevant skills training in their degree programs to improve student recruitment and graduate employability. 

https://blog.coursera.org/from-higher-education-to-employment/

Apprenticeship programs are becoming more popular as an alternative to college - Jessica Dickler, CNBC

Some experts say the value of a bachelor’s degree is fading and more emphasis should be directed toward career training. A growing number of companies, including many in tech, are also dropping degree requirements for many middle-skill and even higher-skill roles. In an apprenticeship program, a company generally trains a student in one skill for a specific field. That often leads to a job, sidestepping the traditional college path — and costs. Over a decade, the number of registered apprentices rose 64%, according to the latest data from the U.S. Department of Labor. 

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/02/15/alternatives-to-college-apprenticeships-are-becoming-more-popular.html

Cabrini University Joins Global edX Network, Offering Its First MicroMasters® and MicroBachelors® Programs and Bringing Existing Online Degrees to the edX Platform

Cabrini University and edX, a leading global online learning platform from 2U, Inc., today announced that Cabrini has joined the global edX partner network and will be bringing its existing online Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Master of Education in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment programs to edX under the platform's flexible degree model. Additionally, Cabrini—a renowned private Catholic university—will launch a MicroMasters program in education, creating a stackable master's degree pathway for those looking to continue their studies at a renowned institution, as well as a MicroBachelors program in social sciences.

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cabrini-university-joins-global-edx-network-offering-its-first-micromasters-and-microbachelors-programs-and-bringing-existing-online-degrees-to-the-edx-platform-301748884.html

TRU tasked with developing provincial process to assess short-term courses STUDYING MICRO-CREDENTIALS - Kristen Holliday, CastaNet

 Thompson Rivers University’s Open Learning division has been tasked with developing a provincial process to assess micro-credentials — short-term, easy to access courses — offered at institutions across B.C. In a news release, TRU said it received $73,143 to assess up to 15 provincially funded micro-credentials that have been awarded to post-secondary institutions.The university said it formed a committee of representatives from post-secondary institutions to develop an assessment process and provide recommendations.

https://www.castanet.net/news/Kamloops/411524/TRU-tasked-with-developing-provincial-process-to-assess-short-term-courses

Senate legislation would address teacher shortage in Kentucky schools - THE NEWS-ENTERPRISE

The bill addresses workforce shortages and alternative teacher certifications under what is known as “Option 6” certification. This bill will extend the current program from three to five years. This legislative reform will benefit over 1,600 teachers currently enrolled in the program across our commonwealth. Kentucky, like all states, faces a workforce shortage in various industries and education is not immune, the release said. According to recent reporting by the Courier Journal using figures from the Kentucky Department of Education, the state is short approximately 1,700 classroom educators. SB 49 will help alleviate the teacher shortage by extending how long a provisional teacher certificate lasts, providing more time for candidates with baccalaureate degrees to complete alternate teacher certification, the release said.

https://www.thenewsenterprise.com/news/local/senate-legislation-would-address-teacher-shortage-in-kentucky-schools/article_ff69818b-4fcc-5149-9999-475f1c5ad669.html

Akowe wants to put Nigerian certificates on the blockchain, and here’s how it will work - Bolu Abiodun, TechPoint Africa

If you graduated from a Nigerian public university, getting your certificate or transcript was probably a time-consuming process, with verification taking forever. Akowe, a startup founded by Ayodeji Agboola in 2020, wants to leverage the power of the blockchain to digitise certificate issuance and verification. Per the founder, it is a digital wallet for verified and verifiable academic records.

https://techpoint.africa/2023/02/16/akowe-certificates-on-the-blockchain/

Online learning: Placing efficiency and quality at the AI revolution’s heart - Mark Dawe, FE Week

The development of good quality online learning is not cheap because it requires a significant investment of time, resources and expertise. To truly benefit from all online learning has to offer, we have to consider curriculum development, content creation, developing and maintaining the technologies themselves, supporting and maintaining a high-quality and accessible student experience, accessibility, quality assurance and professional development. In effect, moving into the world of online learning requires using the kinds of expertise we already have within our teams – such as subject knowledge, instructional design and communication skills – but in a totally new environment. And to that, we need to add whole new areas of professional knowledge.

https://feweek.co.uk/online-learning-placing-efficiency-and-quality-at-the-ai-revolutions-heart/

FUTURE OF WORK: Micro-credentials key to future of work training at Mohawk College - Mark Newman, Hamilton Mountain News

For most people the future of work includes being trained in the latest and emerging technology. Mohawk College is doing this in part by offering a series of micro-credentials designed to upgrade a person’s skills in a more flexible manner and in a shorter time than a traditional college program. “Continuing education departments have always pushed the envelope of traditional post-secondary learning, by offering flexible and in-demand courses, programs and workshops for working professionals and part-time learners. Adapting to the needs of our learners is in our DNA,” said Janet Shuh, dean of continuing education and academic development at Mohawk.

https://www.thespec.com/local-hamilton-mountain/life/2023/02/13/future-of-work-micro-credentials-key-to-future-of-work-training-at-mohawk-college.html

Alternative Credentials Provide More Educational Opportunities - MarketScale

In this episode of Voices of E-Learning, hosts JW Marshall and Leena Marie Saleh, speak with Lisa Haueisen Rohrer, the Senior Advisor for Emeritus, about the rising demand for alternative credentials. Emeritus is a platform that offers online certificates and programs in collaboration with the world’s best schools. “With Emeritus, where we focus is really in this alternative credential market,” Rohrer continued. “We have built our business with one less executive education program or professional education program really aimed at working professionals looking to upskill—that’s the perspective I come from as I talk about the impact of COVID.”

https://marketscale.com/industries/education-technology/alternative-credentials-provide-more-educational-opportunities/

ISU to introduce special education online certificate program to train Illinois teachers - ERIN GESSERT, Vidette

To increase the number of trained special educators in Illinois, Illinois State University’s Department of Special Education will begin offering an online certificate program. The program will allow current practicing general education teachers to become equipped with learning behavior specialist requirements. Mark Zablocki, associate professor and master’s program coordinator in the Department of Special Education, explained that the program will open new doors for current practicing teachers with a passion for working with children with disabilities.

https://www.videtteonline.com/news/isu-to-introduce-special-education-online-certificate-program-to-train-illinois-teachers/article_e81dbb4c-a8aa-11ed-b2aa-7382d4121392.html

What’s New in Digital Equity: 92 Percent of Jobs Require Digital Skills - Julia Edinger, Zack Quaintance, Government Technology

This week, the National Skills Coalition released a report titled Closing the Digital Skill Divide: The Payoff for Workers, Business and the Economy in partnership with the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. The report states that 92 percent of jobs now require definitely digital or likely digital skills. The report was created using empirical data from 43 million online job postings listed in 2021. Findings show that digital skills are now required in jobs across industries and at all skill levels. In addition, the report reveals a direct correlation between jobs that require digital skills and higher wages.

https://www.govtech.com/network/whats-new-in-digital-equity-92-percent-of-jobs-require-digital-skills#9229

What Are Certificate Programs? A 2023 Guide - Coursera

A certificate program is a specialized education designed to develop or strengthen specific career skills. A certificate program is considered continuing education in some cases because it builds on your knowledge of a particular career or industry. In other cases, it requires no prior education and can help you learn about a subject, career, or industry to pursue related jobs. In this article, we’ll go over the differences between certificate programs and degrees, the benefits of completing a certificate program, and how you can determine which certificate program is best for you.  

https://www.coursera.org/articles/certificate-programs

Guidelines to Create a University Certificate and Professional Certification - Case Western Reserve University

Case Western Reserve University awards University Certificates as a credential for completing a set of courses (possibly in combination with other learning experiences) that focus on a specific topic or theme. Courses taken as part of a Certificate program are to be regular courses that appear in the General Bulletin. Certificates are recorded at the university level in the Student Information System and will appear as awarded on the student’s official university transcript upon final confirmation from the units that certify degree requirements (i.e., Undergraduate Studies, Graduate Studies, school registrars).

https://case.edu/registrar/general/policy/guidelines-create-university-certificate-and-professional-certification

ESP Micro-credentials to Work on During Social Distancing - National Education Association

Education Support Professionals (ESP) are critical members of the education workforce. There are more than 2.8 million ESP in our nation’s public schools and colleges. One out of every 3 public school employees is an ESP. ESP meet the needs of the whole student, ensuring quality education. ESP are represented in the following 9 career families: Clerical Services, Custodial and Maintenance Services, Food Services, Health and Student Services, Paraeducators, Security Services, Skilled Trades, Technical Services, and Transportation.

https://nea.certificationbank.com/NEA/NEA_Micro-Credentials/Covid_-19_Micro-credentials_Libraries/ESP_Micro-credentials_to_Work_on_During_Social_Distancing/NEA/CandidatePortal/CategoryDetail_ESPOnly.aspx

Shifting Paradigms: Understanding Institutional Perspectives on Microcredentialing A Needs Assessment Surrounding New Credentials - Modern Campus & UPCEA

For many higher education institutions in financial peril, having previously delayed financial collapse through the rapid adoption of online degrees, new models for educating the workforce are needed. These models will need to be better aligned with the needs of employers, as well as be nimbler and more flexible to rapid growth and changing technologies.  UPCEA and The EvoLLLution believe this research is coming at a critical juncture for higher education. Institutions are often struggling to stay above water. As an industry, we must reevaluate the model of higher education that has codified over the last few

decades. Microcredentials will be paramount for the future success and long-term viability

of institutions. 

https://resources.moderncampus.com/microcredentialing-in-higher-ed

Budget plan details teacher apprenticeship reducing college requirements - Anne Geggis, Florida Politics

Those with an associate degree would spend two years under a teacher's mentorship before being fully certified. Specifics for reducing the amount of college needed to become a public schoolteacher was part of the Gov. Ron DeSantis budget released Wednesday. The Governor announced the Teacher Apprenticeship Program in August as one way to open new avenues for filling classroom vacancies. And the budget recommendation laid out more details in a conforming bill.

https://floridapolitics.com/archives/585362-budget-plan-details-teacher-apprenticeship-reducing-required-college/