ABSTRACT

In the past two decades, the number of education credentials has increased and the variety of credentials has evolved. New credential providers have entered the higher education marketplace, often collaborating with institutions of higher education, and new types of credentials have emerged. The chapter explores the nature of credentialing and this new credentialing landscape, and it reviews credentials such as certificates, massive open online courses (MOOCs), badges, and microcredentials. It then explores the primary stakeholders, their roles, and their motivations for engaging in this credentials landscape. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the implications of this new credentialing landscape on higher education access, affordability, equity, and completion.