Digital Badging @ UMD

What are micro-credentials?

Micro-credentials are unaccredited competency-based certificates granted to individuals who have completed a non-academic educational training or program. Open badges awarded by University of Maryland and our issuers are awarded to individuals who have successfully completed a micro-course or other type of learning experience. These open badges are verifiable micro-credentials that can be shared through social media or LinkedIn. Each badge awarded comes with a unique Credential ID and URL, allowing each badge to be verifiable by current and prospective employers.

Purpose and Value of Digital Badging @ UMD 

Highlight Knowledge and Skills Gained Within Courses and Programs  

• Micro-credentials can encourage participation and showcase specific skills or knowledge developed in existing courses and programs, providing a granular view of student competencies (Cumberland et al., 2022) to support their academic or professional pursuits.
• This granularity allows for recognition of achievements at a more detailed level than traditional course grades or degrees.

Articulate Learning from Co-Curricular Experiences  

• Capture artifacts and validate learning through co-curricular activities to encourage student engagement and reflection on the connections between formal and informal learning
• Accentuate the value of on-campus learning experiences
• Help students articulate their skills to potential employers

Complement Formal Degrees and Professional Development   

• Micro-credentials offered by disciplinary experts in other colleges, communities, and cultures help undergraduate students access a more comprehensive range of competencies (Workcred & UTS, 2023).
• This approach aligns their portfolios with future skills for industry and scholarship, potentially improving learners' career or post-baccalaureate readiness.