Microcredentialing, Digital Credentials, Digital Badging, and Digital Certificates at Rutgers University

A Microcredential is a short, competency-based recognition that enables an educator to document a learner's mastery in a particular area. When these are digitally presented to learners, they are known as Digital Credentials.  Digital Badges and Digital Certificates (collectively referred to as "Digital Credentials") are shareable electronic documentation of this learning.

All Digital Credentials are Microcredentials, and some Microcredentials have Digital Badges or Digital Certificates to document the accomplished learning.

Microcredential programs break down learning into smaller components, and may incorporate co-curricular and extracurricular activity, or may be conducted outside of credit-related learning. Digital Badges and Digital Certificates are structured into competencies that may align with the interest of prospective employers and graduate education programs, with verifiable assessments for measuring learning outcomes.  Digital Certificates are a digital replacement of paper certificates presented to learners at the completion of a certificate program.  And similar to Digital Badges, these Digital Certificates enable the learner to share the documentation of their learning on electronic platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and through their email signature block. 

At Rutgers University, these opportunities exist and are rapidly expanding across our campuses and state, in our laboratories and libraries, and in our Continuing Education programs.