A digital badge is a visual symbol that represents the development of a new skill that can be displayed, accessed, and verified online. Digital badges are becoming increasingly popular among professionals as a way to prove they have important skill sets, particularly among those working in technical fields.
“A digital badge is further proof someone has achieved a credential and maintained that credential,” Nader Qaimari, chief product officer at ISACA, told TechTarget.
Digital badges come embedded with metadata that provide information beyond only skill sets, including date of completion and the awarding organization. They may also include whether the badge needs to be renewed and if that has been accomplished through additional training.
Digital badges are becoming popular because of the benefits they provide for both workers and employers. For professionals, badges demonstrate proof of their skills and accomplishments, which they can display on their online professional profiles, in their email signatures, and on social media.
“They allow people to more easily express that they’ve been certified to employers and to each other,” James Stanger, chief technology evangelist at CompTIA, an organization that awards digital badges for its certifications, told TechTarget.
Why Do Digital Badges Matter to Organizations and Employers?
A number of organizations now offer digital badge programs for their employees. IBM has developed a comprehensive digital badging program of ‘badge families’ associated with the attainment of knowledge and skills in analytics, cloud computing, mobile computing, enterprise design thinking and more. In 2020, the company said it awarded three million digital badges since 2015. Additionally, Cisco, Microsoft, Hewlett Packard, Oracle, and SAP have embraced the Mozilla Open Badges standard, a free software and open technical standard for any organization that wants to develop, issue and verify digital badges.
For employers who acknowledge digital badges, it improves operations by motivating workers to boost their knowledge and skills, and is a smart way to show the world that they employ skilled, qualified professionals. Digital badges help organizations build their brand and find new audiences across social media. They also allow HR departments to quickly spot qualified candidates online, reducing the amount of time it takes to recruit such candidates.
Earn Digital Badges with IEEE
An IEEE digital badge is a credential that indicates an accomplishment or skill that has been earned through completing certain IEEE course programs or attending certain IEEE events. These badges can be displayed and verified online.
How Do You Earn IEEE Digital Badges?
Individuals can take part in IEEE digital badging by completing any of the course programs listed below through the IEEE Learning Network (ILN). Please note that you must complete all courses in the program in order to earn a digital badge.
IEEE English for Technical Professionals
This course program provides an overview of machine learning in the age of big data, cloud computing, and data-saturation.
Automotive Cyber Security
This five-course course aims to foster the discussion on automotive cyber security solutions and requirements for not only intelligent vehicles, but also the infrastructure of intelligent transportation systems.
AI Standards
This five-course series is to provide instructions for a comprehensive approach to creating ethical and responsible digital ecosystems.
Digital Transformation
This five-course program aimed to foster a discussion around how digital transformation can revolutionize various industries and provide the background knowledge needed to intelligently implement digital tools into organizations.
Machine Learning
This five-course provides an overview of machine learning in the age of big data, cloud computing, and our data-saturated society.
Bridging the 4G/5G Gap
Part One focuses on the historical overview of 4G/5G technology and how it has impacted society and residents of the United States.
Part Two focuses on the scientific evidence surrounding wireless facilities’ impact on property value and human health – including addressing conspiracy theories.
Individuals can also complete select IEEE Educational Activities virtual events to earn a badge:
Effective Remote Instruction Virtual Conference
This five-event series allows you to hear from faculty from across the globe as they share real-world examples and best practices in remote instruction.
Engineering Education 2.0 Series
Engineering Education 2.0 is a four-part series that equips participants with skills to apply best practices and understanding from current STEM higher-education research literature.
Organizations can get institutional access through ILN to these courses for their employees. Contact an IEEE Account Specialist to learn more.
[…] Whether you’re looking to grow within your current organization or find opportunities elsewhere, start preparing for your next move with continuing education courses specifically designed for engineers and other technical professionals. Many courses on the IEEE Learning Network (ILN) offer PDHs/CEUs, as well as IEEE digital badges that you can display on your professional social media profiles as proof of your knowledge. Learn more about digital badges in one of our previous articles. […]