EUNIS 2021

Everywhere and Nowhere: student mobility in the era of micro learning, digital credentials and blockchain

Join us to get updates on major initiatives to create the infrastructure and standards to support student mobility and find out how digital credentials and open badges are being used to support both formal and informal learning.

Afternoon Session 14.00-17.00 – Digital Credentials

What do we mean by micro-learning, digital credentials and Open Badges? What purpose do they serve and why should universities be interested?

Outline agenda (times are approximate)

14.00 – Playing with Micro-credentials: Going Beyond the Sandbox
Prof Mark Brown, Director, National Institute for Digital Learning, Dublin City University

Recording here. Slides here.

This talk explores the rapidly evolving micro-credentialing movement and the implications for higher education. It provides a working European definition of the concept of micro-credentials and endeavours to explain why there is such growing interest worldwide in alternative models of recognition—for better and worse. In attempting to get out of the micro-credential sandbox and position them within an expanded 21st Century credential ecology, a diverse range of both European and international examples will be shared with participants. The key message of the talk is that the micro-credentialing movement needs to be taken seriously, and European higher education institutions need to develop a strategic response to this potentially disruptive change force. Arguably, we have a once in a generation opportunity to reimagine traditional models of recognition and credentialing in the service of a more digitally connected learning society.

14.30 – Viewpoints: a range of perspectives on why micro-credentials are important and why universities should be looking to deliver value in this way.

Simone Ravaioli, Digitary
Yaz Hakim, VerifyEd

Recording here.

14.50 – Panel discussion
Previous speakers

Recording here.

15.15 – Break

15.30 – Who is already doing this and how does it fit the existing landscape? MICROBOL Project & survey findings. Recording here. Slides here.
Magalie Soenen, Flemish Government

15.45 – Who is already doing this?
Case studies from:

  • Middlesex University (student employability). Recording here.
    Alan Stuart, Middlesex University
  • World Bank/GIZ (supporting diversity in the workforce). Recording here. Slides here.
    Ekua Bentil, World Bank
  • Open Badges, Tim Riches, Navigatr (recording within the discussion below).

16.15 – Panel discussion
All speakers

Recording here.

Organised by: EUNIS Student Mobility and Learning and Teaching SIGs in collaboration with IMS Europe