Digital Credentials Are the Degree of the Future

As we navigate the evolving landscape of education and work in the post-pandemic era, the traditional back-to-school season has taken on a new dimension. In the late summer of 2020, when anticipation for the academic year would typically fill the air, students and parents found themselves closely following news updates, not just about class schedules, but about the very nature of education itself.

This shift is not confined to the K-12 realm; it extends to post-secondary education, impacting colleges, universities, and various higher learning institutions. The challenges are not limited to a single demographic; both young students and adult learners are grappling with the uncertainties brought about by the necessity for remote and online learning.

The implications reach far beyond geography and age. The once-standard on-campus, full-time, in-classroom model is no longer the primary option, at least for the foreseeable future. This new normal prompts a myriad of questions, challenging educators, students, and professionals alike to adapt and reimagine their approaches to learning and skill development.

The ripple effect extends to adult learners who are actively pursuing further education, whether it's acquiring advanced degrees or enhancing skills for the rapidly evolving job market. The emphasis is no longer solely on physical classrooms but on the flexibility and adaptability demanded by remote and online learning platforms.

In this era of continual change, the need for innovative solutions and resilient mindsets becomes more pronounced. As we forge ahead, it becomes evident that the educational landscape is undergoing a transformation—one that requires us to rethink, reevaluate, and embrace the possibilities that remote and online working bring to the forefront.

• What will the future of post-secondary education look like?
• Will people be getting four-year degrees anymore if the on-campus experience isn't part of the value?
• What is the quality of job applicants that employers will find when this is over?
• What are young people supposed to do now, while learning is taking a pause?
• What does it all mean for employers who still need to conduct business?

It seems clear that earning digital credentials can bridge the gap between a person getting a higher education degree and landing their dream job after graduation. Even before the pandemic, many companies were shifting toward skills-based hiring. Now, it's even more crucial for companies to focus on hiring for the skills employees need to get the job done, simply because it will be more difficult for people to get the four-year degrees that employers have used as a benchmark in the past.

How unemployment adds to the mix

Has your company had to lay off or furlough employees during this time? If so, you're not alone. Hardest hit industries include retail and hospitality, but this pandemic and the economic shutdown hit every industry. The numbers speak for themselves. According to Forbes magazine:

• 30 million Americans are receiving unemployment benefits. That's 20% of the workers in this country.
• 47% of American households have experienced job losses related to the pandemic and believe those jobs won't ever return.
• 4.1 million Americans lost jobs in the first and second week of July.