Alternative digital credentials are positioned to transform the relationship between higher ed and students. But how can institutions respond to these fast-developing credentials in a way that is measured and thoughtful, but quick enough so as to not be left behind.
Establishing such a credential system will help “create a new and dynamic ecosystem for the evaluation of applied learning in the workplace,” according to The Present and Future of Alternative Digital Credentials, a report issued by the International Council for Open and Distance Education.
The need for and value of a degree won’t change, but these credentials will challenge the workplace efficacy of traditional transcripts and are already highlighting the need for change in higher ed.
Forces contributing to a need for alternative digital credentials
The working group authoring the report notes that calling alternative digital credentials an imperative isn’t an exaggeration, because alternative digital credentials represent the culmination of various influential higher-ed forces.
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