Microcredential & Digital Badge Initiative at Ö÷²¥ÓÕ»ó
Microcredentials at Ö÷²¥ÓÕ»ó
For Ö÷²¥ÓÕ»ó, the strategic vision behind microcredentials began in the pursuit of becoming a “University of Life” as set forth by the 2030 Strategic Plan. The Digital Strategy Task Force, a group representative of our campus, specified multiple strategies to address these goals related to microcredentials, including creating affordable and accessible educational pathways, stackable credentials, and alternative credentials to support lifeline learning. These initiatives are also reflected in the University’s Strategic Enrollment Management plans, which includes establishing more affordable pathways to degrees and preparing students for work and upskilling. The Microcredential Working Group and Badging Working Group followed, also consisting of campus-wide representatives, which created reports that provided unifying terminology and enumerated the infrastructural needs for the microcredential initiative.
Why develop microcredentials?
Benefits for Students:
- Document and clarify in-demand skills
- Document a broader range of skills
- Makes job-seekers more competitive
- Provide efficient and clear pathways linked to quick benefits
- Empowerment by owning their credential, curating their own story, and providing skill vocabulary
- Lower barriers of entry to education
Benefits for Institutions of Higher Education:
- Build lifelong learning relationships with students
- Elevate institutional brand
- Stay competitive in the higher education market
Microcredential Infrastructure Development Timeline
Learn more
Read our Literature Review
Published in January 2025, read our summary of key information about microcredentials and access our library of resources.
Read the Digital Strategy Task Force Report
Published in 2022, this report serves as a starting point for the microcredential and digital badge initiatives.
Read the Microcredential Working Group Report
Published in 2023, this report identified infrastructural needs to support the microcredential initiative and established our working definitions and categories.
Read the Digital Badge Working Group Report
Published in 2023, this report established categories and taxonomy of digital badges for Ö÷²¥ÓÕ»ó as well as iconography and requirements.