Embedding Certifications

Embedding Certifications into Degrees

Ray Schroeder
UIS Senior Fellow for Online

https://sites.google.com/view/embed-certifications/home

Embedding Certifications into Degrees

With support from Lumina Foundation, UPCEA, the Coalition of Urban Serving Universities, Workcred, and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) hosted a series of meetings that included experts representing higher education institutions and accredited certification bodies to fulfill the following objectives:

Forge relationships between higher education institutions and industry certification bodies to facilitate stronger university-certification body partnerships;
Enhance strategies, data, and transparency through information exchanges and reporting so the requirements and value of both degrees and certifications are respected by academia and industry groups; and
Summarize the key findings and themes in a framework that can be used for pilot programs seeking to align efforts across universities and certification bodies.

https://upcea.edu/aligning-and-embedding-industry-certifications-with-bachelors-degrees/

Full Report: https://upcea.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Embedding-Certifications-into-Bachelors-Degrees_Certification-Degree-Pathways-Project_Framework-Report_November-2020.pdf

U Illinois Gies College of Business Develops Microcredential Pathways with Google

The University of Illinois Gies College of Business is partnering with Google to bundle certificate programs in job-ready skills and create microcredential pathways for adult learners. Learners now can complete any of the Google Career Certificates along with Gies' Professional Success Skills Certificate to receive a dual badge of completion. All courses for the certificate programs are delivered on the Coursera platform.

https://campustechnology.com/articles/2021/11/22/u-illinois-gies-college-of-business-develops-microcredential-pathways-with-google.aspx

Google Career Certificate Program

https://grow.google/certificates/

https://upcea.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/How-Do-Credentials-Differ_One-Pager.pdf

VALUE PROPOSITIONS

STUDENTS » Gain both a broad-based education and industry-specific skills that hiring managers seek in new hires. » Expand the possibility of students’ career opportunities and awareness of career and credential pathways.

CERTIFICATION BODIES » Increase awareness and attainment of their certification as well as improve understanding of how the certification relates to a variety of career and credential pathways. » Better understand how a broadbased education afforded by a bachelor’s degree contributes to the success of industry professionals who hold both degrees and certifications.

UNIVERSITIES/HIGHER EDUCATION » Improve responsiveness of universities to the needs of students and employers. » Recruit new students by developing more opportunities to count certifications for academic credit toward a bachelor’s degree.

Examples Highlighted in Report

West Virginia University

ACEPersonal Trainer; Certified Health Education Specialist; Certified Strength and ConditioningSpecialist® (CSCS®); and National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) CertifiedPersonal Trainer (NSCA-CPT®).

Purdue University Global and Kaplan

U.S. Department of Labor registered apprenticeship program in cybersecurity
Network+, Linux+, Security+, Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), and Certified
Information Securities Systems Professional (CISSP) certifications are embedded into the apprenticeship program
(1) MSCA Linux on Azure; (2) AWS Certified SysOps Administrator – Associate; and (3) AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate

University of Cincinnati

Cisco Certified Network Associate CCNA) is embedded in the BS in IT program, and SAP

Middle Tennessee State University

Mechatronics degree meeting Siemens Level 3 certifications

Ohio University

ETM degree Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering’s (ATMAE) Certified Manufacturing Specialist (CMS) examination as a requirement for all of this programs’ seniors

Ohio State University

In Engineering is aligning curriculum to industry certifications

Florida International University

Launching pilots this term, using certifications related to cloud platforms

California State University, Northridge

Plans to include certification exam for Project Management Institute’s Certified Associate in Project Management

Felician University collaboration with DevOps Institute

Possible Opportunities

For example, biology or chemistry majors would be well positioned to earn certifications from the ASCP Board of Certifications (BOC), such as the Medical Laboratory Technician, MLT (ASCP), or Medical Laboratory Scientist, MLS (SCAP).

CertNexus, which is developing a new certification, the Certified Ethical Emerging Technologist™ (CEET) – CET-110, to focus on the ability to apply foundational ethical principles to ensure that emerging data-driven technology (e.g., artificial intelligence, internet of things, and data science)

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) has formed partnerships with 144 bachelor’s programs across the country whose graduates meet the education coursework requirements to sit for the certification exam. Other certification bodies like the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) have developed curriculum standards for bachelor’s degree programs so that the curriculum is aligned with the skills required for human resource professionals

Survey - after examining the report: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JSC25FG

Growing ‘maze’ of education credentials is confusing consumers, employers - Jon Marcus, Washington Post

There is, in fact, a “maze” of nearly a million unique education credentials in the United States, the nonprofit Credential Engine reports, including not only degrees but also badges, certificates, licenses, apprenticeships and industry certifications. More have popped up during the pandemic as career-switchers seek education and training. The result is confusion among employers scrambling for workers — and growing concern that unsavory players may be taking advantage to sell fraudulent credentials. “What folks are struggling with is whether or not that credential means what it says it means,” said Julie Uranis, vice president for online and strategic initiatives at the University Professional and Continuing Education Association.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2021/12/26/education-credential-certificate-scams/