Digital Badges at University of Phoenix: Upgrade Your Skills For Today's Workforce

The COVID-19 pandemic didn't usher in the digital age of commerce, but it certainly sped it up for those straggling behind. According to research published by Statista, U.S. employees working from home jumped from 17 percent to 44 percent as a result of the pandemic. This trend is expected not only to remain but to become increasingly common moving forward.

To stand out in today's digital marketplace, entrepreneurs and burgeoning professionals are turning to digital badging.

University of Phoenix is collaborating with Credly to help students with the access they need when it comes to digital credentialing. Students can earn badges within weeks or months depending on the curriculum. Those who acquire a digital badge from University of Phoenix can upgrade their LinkedIn and ZipRecruiter accounts to demonstrate their abilities.

What Are Digital Badges?

Digital badges are a visual representation of your skills and abilities. Earned from educational providers such as University of Phoenix, a digital badge can be a fantastic way to tell the story of your skills while boosting the credibility of your work in the field.

As businesses focus on bringing in qualified applicants in a competitive applicant pool, being able to quickly stand out is more important than ever before. One way to do this is to visually display the skills that set you apart from the competition when applying. Digital credentials earned through an badging program can be a great way to achieve this.

A 2020 study on non-degree credentials revealed that nearly 70% of college graduates with an associate degree as well as a non-degree credential found that the latter “made them an attractive job candidate.” Interest in digital badges increased demand, and the award of these credentials is up 83% since the pandemic.

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Validate Your Skills and Level Up Your Experiences

While digital badges are far from a required asset when exploring your chosen industry, they can provide an instant and actionable uplift to your online representation. According to Mary Elizabeth Smith, a learning innovation strategist at University of Phoenix, "Badges provide a way for students to validate and document skills they are achieving in their coursework."

Smith described that badging can help students share their stories while simultaneously boosting the presence of the individual through robust metadata. A digital badge can offer information including your name, accredited university, badge verification URL and a link to full credential details.

Other reasons to consider adding a badge to your online resume can include:

• Help you stand out in a pile of resumes
• Appear more professional
• Provide transparency into your skillset
• Showcase in-demand skills
• Underscore your commitment to progress

How to Earn a Digital Badge

Acquiring a digital badge has never been easier or more accessible. Most professionals seek out digital badges from online workshops, training programs or higher education providers like University of Phoenix.

At University of Phoenix, Smith outlined a sample badging program, "To receive a badge for Emergency Preparedness, the student must successfully complete two courses and the aligned assignments." After meeting the specified criteria, students are able to claim and share their badge.

Digital badges are becoming more common throughout online education. Human resources professional Shannon Wilson explored the topic on Medium: “Digital badges are quickly becoming an appropriate, easy and efficient way for educators...and other professional organizations to exhibit and reward participants for skills obtained.”

There are four common ways to earn a digital badge in today's workplace.

• Achievement: Provided through an outside agency or governing body in a specific industry, an achievement-based badge is earned through accomplishments in the field.
• Internship: Companies often award digital badges to interns preparing their skills for the field. This is a common practice particularly in business administration.
• Competency: The most common form of the digital badge is earned through competency-based programs, traditionally via a higher education provider. Digital badges can highlight new skills to help professionals develop or strengthen previously established abilities. This is common in human resources, technology and business administration professions.
• Membership: Membership-based badges are particularly common in athletics.

Digital Badges, Micro-Credentials and Certificates

In the world of online resources, there are quite a few terms that need a closer look so you can be sure of what you are earning and how to best use it. This includes digital badges as well as micro-credentials and certificates.

Micro-credentials are similar in action to a mini-certification. They tend to be relatively low cost, brief and completed online. Acquiring micro-credentials is often a self-guided activity.

A certificate is similar to a badge although it denotes a specific educational program. Digital badges don't always point to a specific course, but they can be more visibly appealing when prospective employers are skimming through resumes since they point to a specific skill .

Digital badging is likely to become more common in the years to come. As more companies seek to hire people who demonstrate critical skills and prioritize ability over traditional educational backgrounds, professionals can take advantage of the visibility a badging program can offer.

About University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix provides access to the higher education opportunities students need to develop and empower their skills in today's job market. The University strives to help students achieve their educational goals and improve organizational performance throughout their education process. For more information, visit www.phoenix.edu.