Trinity College Beenleigh will become the first Brisbane Catholic Education School to offer students digital badges to assist employability.
Using the platform Credly, the College will this year issue digital badges for verified skills or competencies completed by students.
Skills could include money handling, leadership, software programs and even community service.
Trinity College Careers and Pathways Leader Max Stocki said this was a great way for students to show their achievements to the wider community.
“This is so important because gives students a sense of accomplishment and a way to upskill them for the future,” he said.
“Every student has a different path, and showing recognition towards that path gives them more purpose and helps direct them where they want to go.
“Jobs of the future are changing and we are supporting this by creating a dynamic system that helps students get the skills they need for where they want to go.”
Digital badges can be loaded digitally to an email, a LinkedIn profile, or attached to a resume. It has the ability to be clicked on and displays detailed criteria of that particular skill or accomplishment, including currency.
Trinity College is actively liaising with industry, encouraging service to the community and providing personalised options to its students.
Principal Allison Elcoate said digital badges and microcredentials enable certified skills to stay with students for life.
“While we have offered these types of opportunities at all BCE schools, we haven’t offered something tangible for students to show employers in today’s digital world,” she said.
“The beauty of this is we can take these skills, that may not be enough for a full qualification, and we can give them accreditation that they can take to their employer.
“Digital resumes are now being asked for by employers and we need to be responsive to employment requirements in the future for our students.”
Brisbane Catholic Education Head of Education Marisa Dann said the microcredentials programs in schools represent an innovative approach to education.
“By offering short courses aligned with industry needs that not only recognise and motivate students’ achievement, it also provide tangible proof of their learning outcomes, fostering confidence and a culture of lifelong learning,” she said.