Course Market Delivers Alternative Credentials and Certificates to Higher Ed

A new digital marketplace, launched on Thursday, is helping colleges and universities turn existing courses and content into certificates and digital credentials. Course Market aims to streamline any institution's ability to deliver modular course offerings that meet shifting learner and employer demands.

A collaborative effort among education technology companies, Course Market combines iDesign’s design and processing support, Instructure’s learning management system technology and Credly’s credential technology, allowing institutions to:

  • Enroll students in continuing education programs;
  • Accept payments;
  • Deliver content; and
  • Issue digital badges or certificates, shareable via LinkedIn or Facebook.

For the initial launch, Course Market is offering several online courses from the University of Pittsburgh, which piloted Course Market earlier this year to deliver online courses offered at the Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business. The project provides alternative learning options for students in the Management Essentials certificate program.

"Alternative credentials are unquestionably gaining traction among working adults looking for accelerated pathways to new schools and executive education. We view Course Market as a great tool for universities that want to expand access to learners who may otherwise be unable to take advantage of traditional degree programs," said William Valenta, assistant dean of MBA and executive programs at University of Pittsburgh, Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business, in a prepared statement.

Further information is available on the iDesign site.

About the Author

Sri Ravipati is Web producer for THE Journal and Campus Technology. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Abstract widescreen image with geometric shapes, flowing lines, and digital elements like graphs and data points in soft blue and white gradients.

    5 Trends to Watch in Higher Education for 2025

    In 2025, the trends shaping higher education reflect a continuous transformation of the higher education landscape to meet the changing needs of students and staff, while maintaining sustainable and cost-effective institutional practices.

  • illustration of a football stadium with helmet on the left and laptop with ed tech icons on the right

    The 2025 NFL Draft and Ed Tech Selection: A Strategic Parallel

    In the fast-evolving landscape of collegiate football, the NFL, and higher education, one might not immediately draw connections between the 2025 NFL Draft and the selection of proper educational technology for a college campus. However, upon closer examination, both processes share striking similarities: a rigorous assessment of needs, long-term strategic impact, talent or tool evaluation, financial considerations, and adaptability to a dynamic future.

  • DeepSeek on AWS

    AWS Offers DeepSeek-R1 as Fully Managed Serverless Model, Recommends Guardrails

    Amazon Web Services (AWS) has announced the availability of DeepSeek-R1 as a fully managed serverless AI model, enabling developers to build and deploy it without having to manage the underlying infrastructure.

  • Two stylized glowing spheres with swirling particles and binary code are connected by light beams in a futuristic, gradient space

    New Boston-Based Research Center to Advance Quantum Computing with AI

    NVIDIA is establishing a research hub dedicated to advancing quantum computing through artificial intelligence (AI) and accelerated computing technologies.