Reflections from Convergence 2024: Credential Innovation in Higher Education
Reflections from Convergence 2024: Credential Innovation in Higher Education Originally published by UPCEA on December 18, 2024 Credential innovation was once largely a collection of grassroots experiments—individual badges, certificates, and short-form programs developed across different corners of an institution. By Convergence 2024, something had begun to shift: institutions were increasingly approaching this work as a coherent, strategic ecosystem. This reflection from the second Convergence gathering, hosted by UPCEA and AACRAO, explores two themes central to that evolution: establishing “truth” in alternative credentials and building more authentic relationships with employers. Truth begins with transparency. Learners and employers need to understand what a credential represents, who issued it, which competencies it verifies, and where it can lead. That requires consistent language, accurate records, sound governance, credible outcomes, and greater alignment among program d...