From Badge to Business Value: Making Digital Credentials Work for Learners, Issuers, & Employers

There are plenty of programs that issue digital badges and certificates to their learners. But many of those credentials stop delivering value the moment they’re issued: Learners struggle to explain them, employers struggle to trust them, and learning teams struggle to show the impact of their programs.

Drawing on research from over 500 employers and lessons from renowned credentialing programs in higher education, workforce development, and professional training, this session focuses on how to design credentials that are not just earned, but also explained, shared, verified, and valued.

You’ll learn how effective programs distribute credentials that are:

• Clear and explainable to learners and external audiences
• Easy to share, discover, and verify
• Consistent and scalable through strong frameworks and governance
• Aligned to outcomes learners and employers care about

Whether you’re launching a new credential or refining an existing strategy, you’ll leave with practical guidance to make credentials more usable, more trusted, and more impactful.