UH Digital Badges
Aloha and welcome to the University of Hawaiʻi (UH) Digital Badges website! Are you interested in learning more about digital badges at UH? Use the sub-menu below to navigate this microsite!
What are Digital Badges?
A digital badge is a visual representation of an incremental credential* that is earned by an individual upon attainment of an achievement(s), skill(s), and/or competency(ies). Digital badges can be shared online and across digital platforms such as social media, email, or online profiles. They contain metadata (e.g., the issuer, date earned, and criteria for earning the badge), which can be used to verify a badge’s authenticity and validity.
*UH has currently adopted the term incremental credentials and is participating in the Credentials-As-You-Go 2023 cohort.
# UH Digital Badges
What are Digital Badges?
A digital badging system creates, tracks, and reports on learner progress by issuing badges after the successful completion of a specific task or stage. Often, such systems are used for microlearning or non-credit learning situations where the person awarded the badge is able to present their credentials as needed.
Why UH Digital Badges?
UH's badging system creates a reliable, consistent, authenticated, and persistent way to track progress in educational activities that are not necessarily tied to a specific credit class and is one of many steps to ensuring implementation of a quality digital credential framework at UH.
Promotes Achievement
Digital badges promote achievement and recognition, both within and outside of the organization.
Helps Employers
Helps employers find employees with skills they are looking for.
Tracks Learning
Digital badges help keep track of learning and professional development for faculty and students.
Resumes and Tenure Track
Digital badges can be showcased on resumes and tenure track promotions as proof of achievement and knowledge.
Updates Skills
Achieve mastery of skills needed in a dynamic economy.
Motivates Learning
Digital badges are a great way to visually see your achievement and motivates learning.
Badges Created
Badges Disseminated
Badge Issuers Participating
*Last updated on: December 5, 2025
Badges Available
Badges Awarded
CCs participating
Students participating
UH Digital Badge Timeline
The UH Digital Badge initiative is a grassroots effort supported by the collaborative efforts of the Digital Badges Work Group. The timeline below highlights the work progress since the formation of the group in 2019.
July 2019
The Digital Badges Work Group, consisting of faculty and staff from across the UH System, was formed. Discussions surrounding the aims/goals of the work group, stakeholders involved, and the creation of the digital badge approval process began.
August-December 2019
Established a digital badge governance plan to set the foundation for the work group moving forward. This included journey mapping the digital badge approval process, identifying stakeholders, researching badging systems, identifying quality assurance strategies, etc.
January-February 2020
Began drafting the digital badge proposal form (for badge issuers to complete) and guide alongside the stakeholder & engagement plan. Finalized the journey map for the digital badge approval process.
March-June 2020
Researched and reviewed potential digital badging platforms that aligned with UH's needs and objectives. Completed vendor demonstrations and evaluations.
September 2020
Finalized the selection of Canvas Credentials (formerly known as Badgr) as UH's enterprise digital badging platform.
October-December 2020
Finalized the digital badge approval process and stakeholder & engagement plan. Continued digital badge quality assurance strategies and approach discussions.
March 2021
Digital badge platform purchase proposal approved and transitioned to the procurement process.
April-June 2021
Completed Canvas Credentials (formerly known as Badgr) training and preparation of the platform for pilot testing. Continued iterating upon the digital badge approval process.
July 2021
The Digital Badge Work Group members began pilot testing the approval process.
August-November 2021
Soft launch of the UH Digital Badge website (first draft) and approval process.
December 2021
UHOIC digital badges approved and tested in Canvas Credentials.
March 2022
Presented a summary of the UH Digital Badge initiative work to the UH Micro-credential Work Group.
July 2022
A memo from the UH Micro-credentials Work Group provided system-wide guidance that allows for programmatic innovation while system and campus policies and processes are developed. Limited implementation is authorized for noncredit and workforce training (including professional development).
August-October 2022
Finalized discussions regarding the UH digital badge taxonomy and began discussions on the definition of digital badges at UH.
November 2022
UH Campuses begin disseminating professional development-related UH digital badges.
January 2023
Continued revising the definition of digital badges. Revised the UH Digital Badges website. Continued iteration of the digital badge approval process.
August 2023
Official launch of UH Digital Badges program and website.
Frequently Asked Questions
For more FAQs, visit the Digital Badges Overview section of the FAQs for UH Digital Badges document or visit the Parchment Instructure Community page to access common questions and support resources.
At present, digital badges and related terms are continuously evolving with regard to their definition and usage. Industry experts are working towards standardizing the definitions of terms. However, institutions/organizations are currently using their own adapted definitions, which are based on common core elements identified by industry experts, as they start to incorporate digital badges. As a result, these terms are often used interchangeably, with some subtle differences depending on the institution/organization context.
Similar to other institutions, UH has developed a definition for digital badges that is unique to our institution. Other terms such as microcredentials and incremental credentials are more distinguishable as UH participates in the Credentials-As-You-Go 2023 cohort. Incremental credentials is the umbrella term for credentials at UH and refers to a stackable approach to earning credentials, where learners can earn a series of smaller credentials along a learning pathway that can be combined into a more comprehensive credential. Digital badges and micro-credentials would then refer to the smaller credentials that build toward an incremental credential.
There are several benefits to using digital badges. Badge issuers can map out learning opportunities with different pathways, along with required specific and measurable criteria to earn digital badges. Badge earners can publicly display attained digital badges as proof of their achievements through different professional and social media platforms. Third-party observers, such as potential employers, supervisors, department/university administrators, and others can verify digital badges earned, which may potentially enhance the competency and qualifications of the earners.
At this time, badge earners are limited to UH faculty and staff for non-credit opportunities (including professional development). Future programming includes the expansion of UH Digital Badges for credit-based badges as part of departmental academic programs.
Examples of how other institutions leverage Parchment Digital Badges (formerly known as Canvas Credentials) include, but are not limited to, Jones College, Louisiana State University, and Florida Gulf Coast University.
- Axiom Elite. (n.d.). Types of Alternative Credentials and Non-Traditional Programs. https://www.axiomhighered.com/posts/types-of-alternative-credentials-and-non-traditional-programs
- Connecting credentials. (2016, June). Glossary of Credentialing Terminology. https://connectingcredentials.org/common-language-work-group-glossary/
- Corporation for a Skilled Workforce, George Washington Institute of Public Policy, Workcred. (2020, December). Understanding Certifications. https://workcred.org/Documents/Understanding-Certifications-Report-Dec-2020.pdf
- Credential As You Go. (n.d.). Key terms. Retrieved from https://credentialasyougo.org/key-terms/
- Downs, L. (2022, June 30). Potato/Potahto, Microcredential/Micro-credential…Finding and Providing Clarity in Defining Microcredentials. WCET Frontiers. https://wcet.wiche.edu/frontiers/2022/06/30/potato-potahto-microcredential-and-clarity-in-defining-microcredentials/
- University of Hawaiʻi. (2023, January 24). UH System launches first-ever incremental credentials cohort. Retrieved from https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2023/01/24/uh-system-incremental-credentials-cohort/
Credit: All people-related illustrations by Storyset