Make credentials useful and beautiful again!

One area where higher education (HE) has not seen much innovation is credentials. For a really long time now, there have been only two types - the diploma and the transcript of records. The only exception is microcredentials, but the uptake on them has been slow and the underlying idea is not new. It’s time for a revolution! Something more informative, user-friendly, and futureproof than what we have now. What about a Competence Map?

This post’s cover image is a fictitious example of my own Competence Map. It is a 3D map with areas of knowledge laid across the horizontal plane and vertical peaks indicating which domains I am competent in, as per the assessments from the educational institutions I studied at. The user, (for example, a recruiter), could rotate the map, zoom in and out, and hover their cursor over the peaks to learn which specific skills and knowledge they possess. What do you think?

The first advantage of the Competence Map is its simplicity. Once a recruiter memorises where the individual domains of knowledge are located, a glance is enough to give them an idea about an applicant's competence profile. On the other hand, it does not compromise on detail and contains enough information for the subject matter expert on the hiring team to go more in-depth, if needed.

A few things would need to happen for the Competence Map idea to spread. First, HEIs and employers would need to adopt a shared competence framework. For example, the 2022 European classification of Skills, Competences and Occupations (ESCO) could be a good starting point. Next, HEIs would need to start formulating learning objectives in line with the competence framework and assess them accordingly.

Third, HEIs would need to provide students with an interoperable and updateable digital database containing assessment results. Fourth, graduates would attach their competence database to job applications and employers would then upload it to a piece of competence mapping software that would display the candidate’s competence profile as a Competence Map.

Let me know how credible this credential proposal is.

Image credit: I butchered Terence Fosstodon's beautiful population density map of Nigeria. Go check out his other maps!