Kacey Thorne, Sarah DeMark, Tyson Heath, Kristian Young
{"title":"Ensuring student-centered value with skills-denominated credentials","authors":"Kacey Thorne, Sarah DeMark, Tyson Heath, Kristian Young","doi":"10.1108/ijilt-01-2023-0003","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"PurposeThe global labor market has been upended and a new landscape has emerged. New models for ensuring the value and relevance of post-secondary education are needed. Learners need better understanding of the value and relevancy which the education provides and more immediate return on the educational investment. Education providers must ensure the relevance of the credentials. Employers require transparency into skills an individual possesses based on the credentials they hold. New models are needed to guide an understanding of credentials so that all have equitable pathways to opportunity. This paper aims to discuss the aforementioned objectives.Design/methodology/approachThe authors in this paper discuss how Western Governors University implemented a Unified Credential Framework (UCF) for ensuring credentials are relevant, verified, transparent and portable. The UCF is predicated on the use of skills as an underlying foundation.FindingsUsing a structured theory for understanding skills and micro-credentials creates more transparency into what post-secondary credentials represent, and the value they hold for individuals, employers and education providers.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper represents a use case where the proposed solution is still emergent. Additional research is warranted as longitudinal data become available on student outcomes and impacts.Originality/valueThis paper presents a model that any organization can implement for clearer line of sight into the value and relevance of post-secondary credentials.","PeriodicalId":51872,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Information and Learning Technology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4000,"publicationDate":"2023-06-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"International Journal of Information and Learning Technology","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1108/ijilt-01-2023-0003","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"COMPUTER SCIENCE, INTERDISCIPLINARY APPLICATIONS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
PurposeThe global labor market has been upended and a new landscape has emerged. New models for ensuring the value and relevance of post-secondary education are needed. Learners need better understanding of the value and relevancy which the education provides and more immediate return on the educational investment. Education providers must ensure the relevance of the credentials. Employers require transparency into skills an individual possesses based on the credentials they hold. New models are needed to guide an understanding of credentials so that all have equitable pathways to opportunity. This paper aims to discuss the aforementioned objectives.Design/methodology/approachThe authors in this paper discuss how Western Governors University implemented a Unified Credential Framework (UCF) for ensuring credentials are relevant, verified, transparent and portable. The UCF is predicated on the use of skills as an underlying foundation.FindingsUsing a structured theory for understanding skills and micro-credentials creates more transparency into what post-secondary credentials represent, and the value they hold for individuals, employers and education providers.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper represents a use case where the proposed solution is still emergent. Additional research is warranted as longitudinal data become available on student outcomes and impacts.Originality/valueThis paper presents a model that any organization can implement for clearer line of sight into the value and relevance of post-secondary credentials.
期刊介绍:
International Journal of Information and Learning Technology (IJILT) provides a forum for the sharing of the latest theories, applications, and services related to planning, developing, managing, using, and evaluating information technologies in administrative, academic, and library computing, as well as other educational technologies. Submissions can include research: -Illustrating and critiquing educational technologies -New uses of technology in education -Issue-or results-focused case studies detailing examples of technology applications in higher education -In-depth analyses of the latest theories, applications and services in the field The journal provides wide-ranging and independent coverage of the management, use and integration of information resources and learning technologies.