Credentialing

Skillsoft Taps Accredible for Digital Badging

• By Dian Schaffhauser
• 02/16/21

Digital learning and training company Skillsoft has bolstered the pathway programs on its learning platform Percipio with help from portable digital badging company Accredible.

Learners can earn digital badges by completing Skillsoft courses and assessments in skills such as agile development, cloud computing or leadership. They can also pursue "Aspire" tracks, learning paths designed around specific roles, in technology areas or leadership. And they can follow a more complete "Aspire Journey," which usually has four tracks with 40-plus hours of training. In all of these cases, the learner acquires badges by demonstrating mastery of the given topic as part of preparing for new responsibilities or going after a new role altogether.

According to Skillsoft, the company has already issued some 9.3 million digital badges since February 2020. The digital badges can be stored in a badge "wallet" or "backpack" and then added to résumés, social profiles and other digital venues. The Accredible technology enables the employer or hiring manager to click on the badge, to learn what specific skills it encompasses.

The badges are available for users on the Percipio platform and for all customers accessing Skillsoft content through an integration with a learning management system or learning experience platform.

"Skills are the currency of the future. It is more important than ever for organizations and individual learners to measure and demonstrate verifiable skill gain," said Apratim Purakayastha, Skillsoft chief technology officer, in a press release. "To overcome the widening skills gap and maintain the rapid pace of change required in today's business environment, organizations need a future-fit, agile workforce. Skillsoft's stackable Digital Badges empower learners to demonstrate their mastery of a new skill while providing organizations with visibility into how their employees are best equipped to drive change."

"We are proud to help Skillsoft recognize the accomplishments of millions of learners with our portable, shareable, verifiable digital credentials," added Danny King, co-founder and CEO of Accredible.