Digital Badges Are Changing How We Recognize Learning — and CSUDH is at the Forefront
Completing a program at CSUDH’s College of Continuing and Professional Education has always carried a certain cachet. Lately, it comes with trackable, verifiable digital proof of those achievements, a system now fully implemented across the College.
CCPE has been at the forefront of developing digital badges and credentials since venturing into this arena a decade ago. The badges are clickable icons that link to information about the issuing institution, the date it was earned, and the criteria required to earn the badge. Students who complete their programs can share badges on LinkedIn, include them in their email signature, or embed them in an online “skills wallet.”
These badges provide easy-to-verify proof of student accomplishments or completion of specific tasks, and are linked directly to industry-defined skills, bridging the gap between completing a program and showing the capabilities employers are looking for.
“Unlike a traditional certificate that simply confirms completion, CCPE digital credentials help learners understand how their newly acquired skills align with current workforce demands and emerging career opportunities,” says Anissa Barton-Thompson, who administers digital badges and certificates at CCPE.
The College introduced digital certificates in 2016, followed by the launch of digital badges in 2023. CCPE digital credentials apply to 24 different career development programs, including extension credit/no credit certificate programs, a group of academic stackable credentials, and every course in CCPE’s OSHA Training Institute Education Center’s seven certificate programs.
Digital badges and credentials integrate with students’ Learning and Employment Records (LER), which are online records of their learning experiences, skills, and achievements acquired both inside and outside of traditional academic settings. They are rapidly gaining in popularity as an alternative or addition to traditional résumés.
“One of the great things about digital certificates is that they allow students to showcase the skills they want employers to notice,” said Barton-Thompson. “They can customize their LERs for each job they apply for and make sure that their skills stand out from the crowd.”
