Understanding ‘Credentials’ in Continuing Education: What’s at Stake for Your Institution and Learners?

Due to technological advances, businesses are transforming and the demands on professionals are constantly shifting. In this dynamic environment, one thing is crystal clear: the traditional four-year degree is no longer the sole measure of success. In fact, major American companies like Walmart, Google, and Amazon are increasingly removing the requirement for a bachelor’s degree for many positions, focusing instead on specific skills, experience, and potential.

This development emphasizes the need for institutions to further develop their continuing education offerings and to focus more and more on professional skills and applicability. However, over the years and across regions, the use of terminology regarding this ‘new type of credentials’ is rather fluffy and confusing. Let’s unpack the different terms that are in use and look at how these concepts can benefit your institution as well!

In the context of higher and continuing education, a ‘credential’ is traditionally defined by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) as “a document certifying a learner has achieved a high level of knowledge”. Established or conventional types of credentials include associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

Credentials in Continuing Education

However, the rise of non-degree programs in recent years has sparked the need for additional terminology to describe different forms of continuing education credentials. Terms like alternative credentials’, ‘digital credentials’ and ‘innovative credentials’ are often used interchangeably.

‘Alternative Credentials’ is a commonly used term to describe a document certifying the learner’s qualifications, abilities or authority upon the completion of a non-degree program. ‘Alternative’ implies that it is different from the usual or conventional, whereas this way of recognizing learning is actually becoming more and more mainstream. Similarly, ‘Digital Credentials’ doesn’t fully fit the bill either, because some institutions might offer hard copy or hybrid forms of credentials. Hence, we prefer using the term ‘Innovative Credentials’ for the remainder of this blogpost, as it is the most inclusive and progressive.

Different Types of Innovative Credentials

Within the innovative credentials that are commonly related to continuing education, we can distinguish a few different types of documentation that testify of someone’s skills and abilities:

• Certificates: These are specific recognitions that demonstrate a learner has successfully completed a particular course or series of courses. They often confirm mastery of a specific skill or knowledge area.
• Microcredentials: An award that is a subset of learning achievements/outcomes that is less than a full degree. They may or may not be asserted with a recognized authority. Think of a focus on very specific skills that are directly applicable in the labor market.
• Badges: Online representations that recognize skills, achievements, membership affiliation, and participation. They are often visual and can be easily shared on social media or professional networks.

It’s important to distinguish between the credential itself and the method of transport for it. The credential confirms the achievement, while the transport method ensures it can be shared and verified efficiently and securely. Both aspects are vital for creating a robust ecosystem and maximizing the benefits for future learners. We’ll discuss portability or ‘stackability’ in more detail in the next blogpost from this series.

Innovative credentials are important for learners and offer additional benefits compared to conventional degree-programs for several key reasons:

• Proof of Skills and Competencies: Innovative credentials allow learners to assert their learning in a skills-based way, meeting the changing needs and requirements of the workforce and economy.
• Enhanced Career Mobility and Employment Opportunities: As many employers are eliminating the need for a four-year degree for many positions, innovative credentials shift the focus to skills, experience, and potential in the hiring process. This directly benefits learners by providing alternative pathways to demonstrate their capabilities and secure employment.
• Portability and Accessibility: Unlike traditional paper credentials that can take time to verify, digital platforms often allow credentials to be instantly authenticated. This ensures a learner can quickly provide evidence of their skills and achievements whenever and wherever needed.
• Flexibility and Personalized Learning Paths: Innovative credentials allow for the recognition of smaller, more specific achievements, providing learners with data to discover and design their own learning paths.
• Instilling a Mindset of Lifelong Learning: Innovative Credentials go beyond traditional degrees and put the emphasis on continuously maintaining and acquiring new skills throughout an entire career.

The rise of innovative credentials is not a fleeting trend; it’s a fundamental shift in how we recognize learning and skills. For institutions offering continuing education, this is a golden opportunity to enhance their relevance and attractiveness. The benefits of implementing innovative credentials are clear and multifaceted:

• Enhancing Student Success and Empowering Learners: Institutions can better support learners in their educational and career journeys.
• Improving Labor Market Participation: By specifically recognizing skills, you facilitate a better alignment with labor market needs.
• Remaining Competitive with Peer Institutions: Offering relevant, modern credentials can differentiate your institution in a competitive landscape.
• Potential for New Revenue Streams: Innovative Credentials can provide a new source of income for your institution amidst a falling number of degree-students and decreased government funding.
• Promoting B2B partnerships: Innovative Credentials offer extensive possibilities for business partnerships. B2B-partners can help shape the curriculum for non-degree programs and / or upskill their workforce by enrolling in existing courses or modules.

In general, learners seek education that doesn’t just build knowledge, but provides them with new opportunities. Therefore, frequently asking for feedback from employers and monitoring industry trends is vital to ensure that courses equip learners with skills that are not only academically valuable but also professionally relevant.

By aligning educational content with real-world demands, programs remain market-responsive, have clear career outcomes for students, and provide employers with a more productive and educated workforce. Therefore, it is important to strengthen your ties to the industries your learners aspire to enter or advance in. It’s a win-win: learners gain market-ready skills, and your programs gain credibility and demand.

Also read: 4 Strategic Lessons Learned from the University of St Andrews on Building Irresistible Continuing Education Programs

A strong digital ecosystem is crucial for scaling continuing education offerings as learners expect a smooth and engaging online experience. Eduframe, the SIS and Storefront for Continuing Education, facilitates this by offering seamless integration between your institution’s website, student portal, and Canvas LMS.

Eduframe’s certification functionality directly addresses the need for innovative credentials. After completing a course or program in Canvas, learners can immediately download their certificates from Eduframe. This instant access to verifiable credentials empowers learners and enhances their career mobility. Beyond just issuing credentials, Eduframe allows learners to directly enroll in follow-up programs. This seamless progression supports personalized learning paths and encourages continuous engagement with your institution.

Conclusion

The future of continuing education is digital, flexible, and relevant to the job market. Institutions that invest now in robust systems for issuing Innovative credentials will not only strengthen their reputation but also empower their learners with the tools they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world. The shift from traditional degrees to a wide array of recognized skills and competencies is not a threat, but a tremendous opportunity.

Are you ready to take the next step and position your institution as a leader in continuing education? Discover how Eduframe can help you establish a progressive and learner-centric credentialing system that seamlessly aligns with the needs of the modern learner and the workforce.