Embedding Industry Certifications in Academic Programs: A Win-Win
Credential As You Go and Workcred co-hosted "Embedding Industry Certifications in Academic Programs: A Win-Win" Summit on July 12. Nearly 700 registered for the event. National experts defined what industry certifications are and highlighted the benefits of embedding certifications into academic programs during the first panel. Educational, training, and certification providers shared their experiences in aligning industry certifications with academic programs, providing information on who was involved, resources required, and lessons learned in the second session. Respondents reflected on issues raised by panelists. The recorded summit is available at the Credential As You Go YouTube channel here. There is also a related playbook on Embedding Certifications here.
As we near the third year of the Credential As You Go national initiative, there are notable key milestones in this work. These include:
Rapid expansion of the work in states and institutions/organizations: IES cohort includes 21 institutions/3 state systems, 61 academic teams/105 credentials; Walmart grant cohort includes 29 members across 22 states
Growing number of tools and resources for the field
Efforts to understand and leverage related efforts also working to improve the learn-and-work ecosystem
National Advisory Board Discussion
The Board’s in-depth discussion in June focused on four questions:
Where do you see the needle moving?
What are the continuing key challenges?
What do you see as priorities?
What is the final goal of all this work?
Key Takeaways:
Mapping/displaying credentialing: We could increase credentialing recognition by formulating a more efficient way to map the processes to get credentials and better display the credentials that people obtain.
Employers and credentialing: Employers want credentialed employees but we need to help low-income learners obtain credentials and address the many barriers to credentials and employment.
Measuring success: Organizations should push to measure success for unique credentials and identify success/failure rates and challenges experienced by low-income populations pursuing credentials.
Moving beyond traditional approaches: We’re stuck in a traditional mold within credentialing work and should explore ways to help people outside the traditional educational structures participate in high-value credentials. There should be an exploration into credentialing outside of limited degrees and certificates.
Faster tracks into employment: More specialized credentialing methods/programs are needed to better help individuals quickly gain employment within an industry through microcredentials.
Coordination and research: More coordination and research needed among Student Information Systems and organizations within the field to better identify how many people are making the leap from short-term credentials to Associate’s and/or Bachelor’s degrees.
Looking internationally: The international landscape surrounding credentialing offers helpful information to better understand the future expansion of incremental credentialing worldwide.
Credential As You Go Network
Credential As You Go Network hosted a Network meeting on July 20, open to participants across the country who are working on incremental credentialing. Three new Credential As You Go playbooks were unveiled as guides to support the many components of developing an incremental credentialing system:
All of the playbooks on topics of high priority in incremental credentialing are accessible at the Credential As You Go website. Each playbook includes a section on purpose, definitions, strategy, tactics, and resources for working on and implementing incremental credentialing. The playbooks are continually being updated so please check back for new information. Feedback is welcome on ways to improve and use the playbooks:
Report on Policies and Initiatives Related to Credential As you Go: Colorado, New York, and North Carolina
Credential As You Go Learn-and-Work Ecosystem Initiatives/Alliances
Playbook: Making the Case for Incremental Credentialing
Playbook: Credit for Prior Learning in Incremental Credentialing
Playbook: Learner Supports in Incremental Credentialing
Playbook: Leveraging Partnerships in Incremental Credentialing
The Learn & Work Ecosystem Library
The Learn & Work Ecosystem Library continues to add and update content, and grow in use. Please check out the Library, add content, andsuggest changes to keep the Library accurate and updated! For questions, please contact Holly Zanville or Lucia Weathers.
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