How Can Digital Badges Benefit Professional Development?
Badges are used to publicly display a person’s qualifications, skill level, or accomplishments. Unlike certificates, they are intended for digital use and serve as visual proof of the recipient’s abilities. Badges require people to recognize the discipline, time, and effort they have put into acquiring professional development.
IBM has created a comprehensive digital badging program of ‘badge families’ related to knowledge and skills in analytics, cloud computing, mobile computing, business design thinking, and other areas. Cisco, Microsoft, HP, Oracle, and SAP have embraced the Mozilla Open Badges standard for any enterprise that wishes to build, issue, and validate digital badges.
Today's businesses are looking for applicants with job skills and are ready to start on the first day. Badges are an excellent way to demonstrate that ability, whether professional development knowledge or job-specific skills. Digital badges demonstrate to an employer that you have precisely what they’re searching for.
With the rise of digital badges, anyone can obtain a digital badge representing their abilities and knowledge. Badges are only as credible as the entity that issues them. Some colleges and boot camps award badges to students who complete specific courses, whilst employers may award badges to employees who complete professional development programs using digital badging platforms.
