This document discusses the need for open educational credentials to evidence flexible learning pathways in an open and transparent manner. It outlines some issues with current digital credentials, including that they are expensive and closed, lack technical standards, and do not aggregate credential data. The document presents some existing technical standards and initiatives that could help build an open system for educational credentials, including open badges, blockchain technology, and projects creating open standards for credential documentation and verification. It argues that open educational credentials are important for a future where recognition of skills and learning is universal, automatic, and seamless.
2. Education is a PublicGood
This means
Open Access to Educational Opportunities
Use of Open Educational Resources
Empowerement of Students through Open Educational Practices
4. Credentials are still not digital
Limited Access to Underlying Information
Lack of (Technical) Standards for
Credential Information
Closed Standards for Security &Verification
No Aggregation of Credential Data
What’s
wrong with
(digital)
credentials?
6. The average
employer will
not research
applicants’
credentials
Source: Career Arc
If it costs an employer more to verify a credential then
to test the skills,
the credential is effectively worthless.
10. Closed
Credentials
expensive and time consuming to
acquire
hard to use and share
hinder Open Education by failing to
evidence flexible learning pathways
in a transparent manner
exclude the people who need them
most
can be abused by networks of
intermediaries
do not inform policy
13. EUStandards
for
Qualifications
EU standards for qualifications
European Qualifications Framework: gives an indication as to
the level of various qualifications
European Diploma Supplement: provides a standardised
template to give additional information about a degree
European CreditTransfer System: allows for individual
learning units to be described in terms of knowledge, skills,
responsibility and autonomy
European Skill, Competences, Qualifications and
Occupations database provides a standard terminology
14. EUStandards
for
Qualifications
EU standards for qualifications
European Qualifications Framework: gives an indication as to
the level of various qualifications
Not for non-formal education or microcredentials
European Diploma Supplement: provides a standardised
template to give additional information about a degree
Only for degrees
European CreditTransfer System: allows for individual
learning units to be described in terms of knowledge, skills,
responsibility and autonomy
Only for Higher Education - not included fully in qualification
European Skill, Competences, Qualifications and
Occupations database provides a standard terminology
Not used by all the tools above
19. Elements of a
System for
Open
Educational
Credentials
User-Held
Credentials
Open
Standards
OpenTech
Stack
Independent
Verification
Open
Aggregation
20. TwoOngoing
Initiatives
Our little big challenge….
Create a digital standard format
for documenting open education
credentials based on ECTS
oepass.eu
21. TwoOngoing
Initiatives
Our little big challenge….
Create a model blockchain
infrastructure for storing and
automatically verifying credentials
microcredentials.eu
25. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR ATTENTION
You can download this presentation at:
Ildiko Mazar
ildiko@knowledgeinnovation.eu
https://www.slideshare.net/ildikomazar
26. The European Commission support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the
contents which reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use
which may be made of the information contained therein.
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Notes de l'éditeur
There are no technical standards – employers do simple keyword search
No Aggregation of Credential Data: no data available on what skills are driving the job market in Europe
It is possible to check the average hotel rating in any European country, but not the job market’s demand for skills and qualifications (or supply of skills and qualifications by education providers).
Until a comprehensive solution emerges:
Use learning outcomes in certificates
Use secure certificates
Stay away from proprietary certificate software