1. Employers’ perception of digital / open badge accreditation
Dr Joy Perkins, Educational & Employability Development Adviser,
Careers Service
& Dr Mary Pryor, Senior Academic Skills Adviser,
Centre for Academic Development

2. Careers Service, Employer Board, January 2017
A twilight event devoted to discussion of the concept and implementation of digital / open badges, in recognition of students’ HE skills development
Strategic-level group, chaired by the VP Teaching & Learning
Attended by senior academic staff and 10 employers from different organisational sizes and sectors
Presentation of overview of digital / open badges
Small group discussion of employers’ perceptions of the value of open badges in the recruitment and selection process

3. What’s in a Open Badge? Name Description Criteria Accreditor Evidence
Example: Leadership Knowledge & Skills
Description: The Leadership Programme is designed to develop students' Aberdeen Graduate Attributes. Participating students are required to engage in at least eight hours of leadership workshops, led by external organisations/leaders, and submit a reflective account of their learning and professional development.
Criteria:
Participate in a minimum of 4 leadership workshops led by external organisations
Submit reflective account of co-curricular learning and development to a required level
Accreditor: University of Aberdeen
Evidence: Successful participation and submission
Date issued: June 2017
Name
Description
Criteria
Accreditor
Evidence
Date Issued
Leadership
Knowledge
& Skills

4. Small group 10-minute discussions
1. As an employer what would you consider to be the main challenges and benefits of adopting Open Badges in Higher Education?
2. In what ways could Open Badges encourage students to develop the skills sought by employers?
3. How would you envisage utilising Open Badges in your recruitment and selection processes?
4. From an employer’s perspective, what information should an Open Badge contain and how could they be shared by applicants?

5. Key Findings Challenges: Benefits:
Development of a robust awarding framework to avoid fraudulent use of badges is crucial
Don’t confuse the use of digital and open badges
Don’t over-badge:
It reduces the value and significance of the student’s achievement
It also reduces the credibility of the student and the institution in the eyes of the employer
Benefits:
Open badges, with embedded metadata:
Have the potential to add value to the student’s academic and professional credentials
Can motivate students to showcase their skills-set
Can facilitate sharing across academic and professional domains

6. Beware the over-use of digital badges!
Take home message
Beware the over-use of digital badges!