A new study found that 94% of colleges and universities
are offering some form of alternative credentials to their students. It also
noted millennial students were more likely to favor educational rewards built
around badging and certificates rather than the traditional bachelor’s degree.
The research from the University Professional and
Continuing Education Association (UPCEA), Pennsylvania State University, and
the publisher Pearson reported that one in five institutions offer badges and
64% of respondents said their institution saw the use of alternative credentialing
as an important strategy. It also found that 71% of institutions consistently
work with the business community to offer their students internships and job
placement.
“The
degree will always be an important credential, but it won’t always be the gold
standard,” Jim Fong, director of the UPCEA Center for Research and Marketing Strategy,
said in a release.
“As millennials enter the prime years of their careers and move into positions
of greater power, we’ll see more alternative credentials for specific
industries and possibly across the board. Higher education institutions,
especially those in our survey, are showing that they are being progressive
with workforce needs.”
