What are digital badges?

Before taking a closer look at the true value digital badges can bring to the higher education sector, it’s essential to understand what they are and the intention behind them. Digital badges in education are essentially electronic symbols used as micro-credentials to declare and document achievement or skills mastered in different learning settings. This digital badging system has become a credible way for learners to establish portfolios and express knowledge — ultimately used in both academic and professional settings.

Why are higher education institutions adopting digital badging?

As higher education institutions navigate unprecedented learning environments and stiff competition, they’re constantly in pursuit of strategies that not only remove barriers to academic achievement for learners but also provide the flexibility needed to keep student achievement, engagement and enrolment elevated across the long term. As a result, digital badges have been increasingly introduced as a powerful technique to accomplish these institutional objectives while promoting lifelong learning along the way.

The digital badges market in the education sector is ultimately being driven by key factors including:

• The rise of eLearning and distance education: eLearning and distance learning opportunities have shown significant growth over the last decade, which was only accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. 
• The increased adoption of online learning: Global disruptions also lead to an expedited adoption of online learning methods, along with the digital tools needed to promote successful outcomes. 
• The growing demand for greater accessibility and flexibility: Learners across the globe are in pursuit of learning opportunities that allow them to individualise their education and complete work at their own pace.
• The trend toward gamification: Gamification is being widely introduced as a strategy to improve learner engagement. This includes reward systems, such as open badges, to drive learner motivation, engagement and satisfaction long term. 

According to Valuates Reports, the global digital badge market is projected to reach $365.1 million by 2028 — growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.1% from 2022 to 2028. This emphasises the anticipated longevity of micro-credential-based digital badges in the education sector. 

Potential uses of digital badging in higher education

A digital badge system can inevitably help unify the representation of successful learning outcomes in higher education. A purposeful and comprehensive system can introduce learners to new pathways toward academic achievement and serve as a catalyst for these students to explore additional educational experiences. 

While open badge use is anticipated to grow in popularity in institutions across the globe, it’s important to note that standards are still being developed to promote consistency with the implementation and recognition of skills — whether soft skills or technical skills. This means higher education institutions should keep micro-credentials’ potential value in mind, alongside what they can offer today. 

As universities experiment with digital badging strategies, here are a few possible opportunities for these micro-credentials:

1. Assessment

The badge system provides a valuable framework for consistency with courses and evaluations. Digital badges, by nature, are used to certify the assessment and skill mastery of learners. However, well-designed badges can also provide a form of assessment for institutions to gauge what learners are interested in and engaging with most — aligning learning goals with outcomes.

2. Peer review and feedback 

Institutions can leverage open badges to generate valuable peer discussion feedback. This may, for example, become a fundamental badge course component to encourage communication while learners progress. Furthermore, digital badges can be used to monitor student performance, where institutions or instructors can provide individualised feedback — promoting improved outcomes moving forward.

Earned micro-credentials are also easily shared over social networks. Learners benefit from the opportunity to share their academic achievements with friends, family and their professional network, while institutions inevitably reach a wider audience with authentic endorsements. 

3. Professional development

As the popularity and use of digital credentials and open badges continue to grow, potential employers can use them to validate skills and knowledge. Higher education institutions can leverage badges as a tool to teach soft skills such as communication, time management and problem-solving — which will prove highly valuable for students as they enter the professional workforce. 

Considering an SHRM report stating three out of  four employers say they have a hard time finding graduates with the soft skills their companies need, prospective students may be eager for  this opportunity for professional development, especially alongside evidence. 

The benefits of digital badges — for both learners and institutions

With the growing use of digital badges in higher education institutions across national networks, several key parties stand to benefit as a result. Digital badging systems aid learners by:

• Providing recognition for acquiring a new skill or completing an online course.
• Allowing a potential employer or hiring manager to easily see and verify competence.
• Motivating students to develop new skills.
• Encouraging lifelong learning with opportunities for continued education and professional development.

As institutions introduce micro-credentialing strategies, students also have the unique opportunity to share any digital badge of competency with ease. This is not only a bonus for communications with alternative institutions and potential employers but also loved ones who can see digital badges that are shared on their social media sites.

While open badges and micro-credentials provide clear advantages to learners, higher education institutions are another key beneficiary of these solutions. By introducing this modern credentialing strategy, institutions can:

• Provide more flexible learning opportunities: Digital badges, and micro-credentials as a whole, are helping institutions offer alternative pathways to academic achievement. This not only supports unique learning needs, but also improves accessibility. As a result, institutions can drive enrollment — particularly amongst international students who might require more flexible learning options.

• Promote greater student mobility: As higher education universities progressively introduce micro-credentialing approaches for student learning, they’re ultimately promoting student mobility long term — where an open badge or digital credential has the potential to be recognised by another higher ed institution. 

• Drive student engagement and motivation: Badges awarded for knowledge and specific skill acquisition can have a positive impact on intrinsic motivation — considering a study from Forbes that found the introduction of open badges drove engagement and motivation in learners. 

• Improve course completion rates: A digital badging system’s inherent flexibility, along with the potential to improve learner engagement, will help institutions drive course completion rates moving forward. 
• Keep pace with competitors: In an increasingly digital world, higher education institutions are in need of advanced technological solutions to keep pace amid fierce competition. 

Introducing systems for digital credentialing with ease

The major shifts in the education sector in recent years have required higher education institutions to evolve to effectively accommodate these new forms of learning and workforce needs. In fact, research from Educause found that 13% of universities are actively engaging in the digital transformation — with 32% of these institutions working to develop a digital transformation strategy. With these trends projected to continue, it will be essential for higher education institutions to consider how digital technology can refine their processes and reputation.

Digitary by Parchment supports  education institutions in their pursuit of robust digital solutions by enabling millions of people to share their verified digital credentials and academic achievements online — securely, quickly and easily. Working with over 150 leading institutions across the globe, solutions from Digitary by Parchment are designed to help legitimate education providers give their learners an unparalleled experience.

Learn more about how Digitary CORE solutions can help your institution keep pace with digital trends in the education sector or submit an enquiry to get started.