Qualifications
Micro-credentials
Micro-credentials are a digital form of certification indicating that a person has demonstrated to master a given competence or skill. To earn a micro-credential, a student needs to complete a certain number of activities, assessments, or projects related to the competence/skill being credited. Micro-credentials can be implemented on a blockchain platform.
Competence Clusters’ learning outcomes might be mapped to specific Micro-credentials; this way students might earn credits by packing Micro-credentials throughout their academic path.
Micro-Credentials promote equity by granting new opportunities for those that for some reason cannot overcome with traditional teaching/learning forms.
Blockchain
The introduction of micro-credentials is supported by a backbone transversal blockchain-based infrastructure facilitating data exchange and reducing paperwork and bureaucratic non-productive overloads. The information available through blockchain platforms may represent certificates, curricula or anything else that can be described in digital form.
Entries are permanent, transparent, and searchable, which makes it possible for community members to view transaction histories in their entirety and to provide access to trustworthy certification of students’ achievements. The common ATHENA backbone platform for student’s certificate management and verification is based on the Blockchain technology.
At a technical level, the automatic recognition of qualifications will be supported by the technical infrastructure based on EduCTX, an innovative platform based on Blockchain developed by the University of Maribor.
