To meet the requirements and needs of the hiring eco-system with employers, recruiters, learners and students in the 21st century, education providers need to remove the paper and PDF formats from their issuance process for certificates, diplomas, transcripts and micro-credentials. If education providers want to stay relevant, they must provide credible and valuable proof of skills and competencies in digitally approved formats.
As digital credentials gain traction across educational and professional landscapes, understanding their impact on learners is crucial for education institutions to not be left behind in the analogue world. This article is based on a qualitative study that delves into the perceptions of learners who have received digital credentials and explores how they view and utilise this updated form of recognition. The study offers valuable insights into the benefits of digital credentials that simply cannot be achieved with traditional paper or PDF. By focusing on the experiences of learners, the study provides a unique assessment of the perception and value of digital credentials for learners today, which education institutions can turn into an asset if done correctly!
Immediate and Future Value of Digital Credentials
Digital credentials are valued not only for their immediate benefits but also for their potential to provide long-term advantages. Participants in the study demonstrated high confidence in using the technology necessary for managing digital credentials, noting minimal barriers to effective usage. Remarkably, 79% of learners rated the utility of digital credentials as moderate to high in the short term, with even greater expectations for long-term benefits as the use of digital credentials becomes more widespread. This underscores the potential for digital credentials to become increasingly popular and in-demand as their utilisation and recognition expand across educational institutions and employers.
Digital credentials are often very specific, representing a particular skill or competency that an individual has acquired. By collecting and analysing these credentials across the organisation, employers can gain insights into the precise skills possessed by their employees. This granularity allows for a more detailed understanding of skill strengths and weaknesses.
High level of Transparency
Digital credentials can contain comprehensive metadata about learning outcomes, skills acquired, and competencies developed during a course or program that are not encompassed by traditional credentials. Participants in the study expressed appreciation for the increased level of detail as it allows them to showcase specific qualifications and educational achievements in a detailed manner, enhancing their appeal to potential employers who are increasingly looking for precise skill matches.
Details, which encompass learning outcomes and acquired competencies, offer a comprehensive view of what is learned. This feature distinguishes digital credentials from traditional paper and PDF transcripts that often provide limited information like the course name and grade. Learners appreciated the ability to maintain a structured and accessible record of their skills and educational achievements, facilitating ongoing professional development and lifelong learning.
Digital Credentials Are Secure, Trustworthy, and Convenient for Learners and Employers
One of the significant advantages of digital credentials is their security and instant verification. Leveraging advanced technologies such as blockchain, digtial credentials ensure that the information is tamper-proof and can be verified quickly by employers or other educational institutions. This reliability builds trust in the credentials’ validity, providing peace of mind for both learners and potential employers.Participants in the study noted the practicality of having all necessary course information within a single digital document, which simplifies the process of credit transfer and recognition across different educational contexts. This functionality is not only a convenience but also a significant enhancement over traditional methods that often require multiple documents and verifications.
Digital Credentials Empower Learners and Boost Job Market Competitiveness
Digital credentials empower learners by giving them control over their educational records. This empowerment allows them to manage and share their achievements as necessary, enhancing their autonomy and enabling them to engage more effectively in a global educational and professional landscape.Participants in the study viewed digital credentials as a competitive advantage in the job market, particularly because they allow for a clearer presentation of their skills and educational background to potential employers. Learners felt that being able to provide detailed and verifiable information about their competencies would make them more attractive candidates.
Digital credentials can be aligned with the strategic objectives of the organisation. By defining the desired skills and competencies necessary to achieve these goals, organisations can use digital credentials as a tool to assess the extent to which employees possess these critical capabilities. Any misalignment between existing skills and organisational goals can highlight areas for improvement or restructuring.
This transparency not only helps in making hiring decisions more straightforward for employers but also ensures that learners can effectively demonstrate their qualifications, giving them a tangible edge in the job market. By showcasing a clear link between their educational achievements and the demands of the job market, individuals can navigate career opportunities more effectively, making digital credentials an indispensable tool for modern professional development.
This advantage is even more evident in international job markets, where validating foreign qualifications can often be complex and cumbersome. Digital credentials simplify this process by offering standardised, easy verifiable proof of competencies that are globally recognised. This transparency not only helps in making hiring decisions more straightforward for employers but also ensures that learners can effectively demonstrate their qualifications, giving them a tangible edge in the job market.
Digital credentials also boost learner engagement and motivation by making educational achievements visible and tangible. Nearly all participants expressed moderate to high intrinsic value in using digital credentials, driven by the ability to clearly track and plan their learning paths. This visibility supports learners in aligning their educational efforts with their career goals, fostering a proactive approach to personal and professional development.This feature becomes even more relevant as the job market moves from degree-based to skill-based hiring. With large companies like Google and Revolut already having adopted skill-based hiring processes, it becomes increasingly relevant for graduates to be able to align educational efforts to career goals and showcase specific skills and learning outcomes to potential employers.
Final Notes
Digital credentials offer a multitude of benefits not only for students, but also for the issuing organisation. Here’s a quick overview:
Benefits for institutions issuing digital credentials:
- Cost savings of up to 90%
- Efficient, effective issuance via automated processes
- Automated verification, no manual resources involved
- Increased brand awareness from social media sharing
- Traffic to the website of the institution delivered via student advocacy
- Streamlined issuance and credential management
- Improved learner experiences
- Enhanced security and fraud prevention
- Enhanced credibility and trust
- Better data management and analytics
- Encourage life-long learning
- Digital connection to alumni
Student benefits:
- Increased job market competitiveness
- Detailed and transparent records of achievements and skills
- Instant verification and recognition of acquired skills
- Increased portability and accessibility
- Enhanced credibility and trust
- Enhanced networking opportunities
- Social media sharing and personal branding
- Increased student mobility
- Increased motivation and engagement
Contact us to learn more about how your organisation and learners can benefit from digital credentials.