It’s an exhilarating time for digital credentials, and that’s never been more apparent than at the 2025 1EdTech Digital Credentials Summit. Whether in conversations with newcomers to the field or with those who have been advancing the work for over a decade, the message was clear: we are at an inflection point. The need for digital credentials to support student success, highlight the value of educational institutions, and meet employer demands is no longer questioned. Now, our collective mission is to bridge the remaining gaps and scale adoption.
Supporting Student Success
One of the most impactful sessions at the Summit was a panel featuring learners who have earned microcredentials to complement their traditional degrees. The energy in the room was palpable, and the buzz continued in hallway conversations long after the session ended. These students—spanning generations and diverse motivations—shared stories that deeply resonated with attendees.
Each of the learners expressed how their microcredentials helped them stand out in competitive job markets, enabling them to acquire specific skills more rapidly than traditional degrees alone. They articulated the value of microcredentials in bridging education and career goals and, importantly, shared their desire to earn even more credentials to continue advancing their careers.
Hearing directly from learners was a powerful validation of what we have long believed: microcredentials make a difference. They increase learners' chances of success and add value to employers during hiring. In fact, according to a recent Gallup poll, nearly 60% of U.S. employers now prefer candidates with microcredentials or industry certifications alongside traditional degrees.
Learners discuss the value of traditional degrees and credentials at 1EdTech's Digital Credentials Summit 2025.
Highlighting the Value of Educational Institutions
As learners increasingly seek diverse pathways to career success, educational institutions are using digital credentials to showcase the competencies they develop and create direct connections with employer needs.
A compelling example comes from Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), which collaborated with local employers to co-design credential programs that ensure graduates have the skills necessary for high-demand jobs. This kind of cross-sector collaboration is vital to building successful credentialing programs.
Additionally, the Barton School of Business at Wichita State University recently announced that its Spero program is the first in the world to offer 1EdTech TrustEd Micro-credential certified programs. Launched in Fall 2024, Spero offers two tracks: Career Readiness and Entrepreneurship. The Career Readiness track equips students with essential job skills through hands-on sessions and employer connections, while the Entrepreneurship track provides training in differentiating ventures, creating consumer demand, and scaling operations.
Meeting Employer Needs
The week’s recurring theme was that employers are increasingly embracing skills-based hiring, but the journey from interest to implementation remains challenging. With the workforce aging and fewer graduates available to fill open roles, businesses are under pressure to reskill and upskill their current employees. Yet, despite growing interest, only about 20% of companies have fully integrated skills-based hiring practices, according to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).
The disconnect often stems from lack of time and perceived risk in adopting new hiring models. As keynote speaker Clayton Lord from the SHRM Foundation pointed out, “You are never fired for hiring someone from Harvard, and you are never fired for saying ‘no’ to something new.” His words captured a central challenge: overcoming institutional inertia to adopt more dynamic and inclusive hiring practices.
Scaling Solutions
To scale solutions, we must reduce the barriers to implementing skills-based hiring and make it abundantly clear that learners with digital credentials possess valuable, verifiable skills. Digital credentials that follow Open Badges and the Comprehensive Learner Record Standard™ (CLR Standard®) from 1EdTech, and Verifiable Credentials (VCs), are the answer. They provide rich metadata, cryptographic security, and interoperability, allowing learners to easily share their achievements with potential employers.
The release of CLR Standard 2.0, aligned with Open Badges 3.0, marks a critical milestone, making it easier than ever for learners to move seamlessly between platforms and systems as they advance their careers. Endorsed by AACRAO, this standard aligns credential transparency with industry expectations.
Our Call to Action
The TrustEd Credential Coalition at 1EdTech is leading the way by convening educational leaders, edtech suppliers, and K-12 districts to address concerns about rigor, data quality, and relevance. Yet, to truly transform the landscape, we need more employers to actively participate.
Employers are a crucial link in the credentialing ecosystem, and their direct involvement is essential to realizing the full potential of digital credentials. We urge employers to join the conversation, partner with educational institutions and embed skills-based hiring practices into their recruitment and development strategies. This is how we make real progress toward a future where learners are empowered, employers are confident and institutions are relevant.
To learn more about joining this movement, visit our website here.
About the Author
Curtiss Barnes
Curtiss Barnes, CEO of 1EdTech, has more than 30 years of experience in the education industry, with expertise spanning enterprise systems, instructional solutions, and education technology. He has held leadership roles at universities, technology start-ups, large enterprises, and educational publishing companies. Curtiss holds an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Clark University.
