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You can find more information on sponsorship options below.
Ensuring equal Inclusion
The 4th ICoBC Symposium is focused on the theme of “Ensuring equal Inclusion,” which explores the importance of creating a level playing field for all learners, regardless of their background or circumstances. This theme builds on the previous symposiums, “From Theory to Practice“, “The journey of the champions“, and “Connecting the dots“, which emphasized the need to bridge the gap between theory and practice, celebrate the successes of digital badges and verifiable micro-credentials, and connect stakeholders across the ecosystem.
Ensuring equal inclusion is particularly important when it comes to the design and adoption of digital badges and verifiable micro-credentials globally. These credentials have the potential to transform the way we recognize and validate learning, but only if they are designed and implemented in a way that is equitable and accessible to all. Without equal inclusion, some learners may be left behind, perpetuating existing inequalities and hindering progress towards a more just and equitable society.
The 4th ICoBC Symposium, organized under the theme “Ensuring equal Inclusion,” presents a comprehensive program that addresses the critical need for equitable access to education and professional development in the digital age. The symposium’s focus on micro-credentials and digital badges is particularly relevant as they represent a growing trend in recognizing and validating skills and knowledge in a tangible and accessible way.
The program begins with a keynote on Micro-credentials for All, which sets the stage for the day by emphasizing the importance of providing equitable access to competency-based digital credentials. This is a crucial step in ensuring that all individuals, regardless of their background, have the opportunity to showcase their skills and competencies in a manner that is recognized and valued by employers and educational institutions alike.
Following this, the symposium delves into Empowering Inclusive Innovation and Connecting Talent and Industry, highlighting the need for inclusive practices that bring together diverse talent with industry needs. This aligns with the global movement towards a more inclusive economy where everyone has the chance to participate and contribute meaningfully.
The morning and afternoon sessions, along with the break-out discussions, are strategically placed to facilitate deep dives into specific topics such as Global Insights and Best Practices, Inclusivity and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), and Digital Testing and AI in Education. These sessions provide a platform for sharing best practices, discussing challenges, and exploring innovative solutions that can drive inclusivity and equity in education and professional development.
The break-out discussions are particularly important as they aim to develop actionable outcomes, such as guidelines for equitable design and implementation of digital badges and a manifesto on integrating AI in education and digital testing. These outcomes are expected to have a lasting impact on the policies and practices surrounding education technology and credentialing.
The symposium’s structure, with its mix of keynotes, sessions, discussions, and networking opportunities, is designed to foster collaboration, idea exchange, and consensus-building among participants. This approach ensures that the symposium is not just a series of presentations but a collaborative effort to make real progress towards ensuring equal inclusion in the digital credentialing space.
The 4th ICoBC Symposium’s program addresses the pressing need for inclusivity in the digital age. It recognizes the transformative potential of technology in education and professional development and seeks to harness this potential in a way that benefits everyone, regardless of their starting point. The symposium is an important step towards creating a more equitable future where everyone has access to the opportunities they need to succeed.
Program
Time (CET)
9:00 AM – 9:30 AM
9:30 AM – 10:00 AM
10:00 AM – 10:20 AM
Title
Registration & Networking
Opening Remarks, introduction & expectation setting
Keynote: Leveraging the power of Micro-Credentials to ensuring equitable access to education
by Martin Hall (Emeritus Professor, Graduate School of Business, University of Cape Town
Non-Executive Director, Advanced Secure Technologies)
Martin Hall underscores the critical importance of providing fair and inclusive educational opportunities in today’s competitive knowledge economy. He highlights pervasive examples of exclusion, from petrol pump attendants in South Africa to refugees from conflict zones like Syria and Gaza, and regional disparities in higher education participation. Hall advocates for flexible curriculum structures, next-generation credit accumulation and transfer systems, and secure methods for verifying achievements to build personalized learning pathways. He emphasizes that micro-credentialing can transform education by focusing on demonstrated competencies rather than traditional status rankings, offering a significant step towards equitable access to competency-based qualifications for all.
10:25 AM – 10:45 AM
Keynote: Connecting Global Talent and Industry through Digital Credentials
by Tim Miller (CEO @Certif-ID)
Tim Miller elaborates on the transformative impact of blockchain and AI technologies on the recruitment landscape. He highlights how Certif-ID and TalentSure are setting examples by creating transparent, efficient, and trustworthy systems for verifying technical skills and qualifications. By leveraging digital credentials, these platforms not only bridge the global skills gap but also ensure that talent is matched with the right opportunities, fostering economic growth and innovation. Tim emphasizes the importance of harmonization and trust in the recruitment process, showcasing real-world examples of how these technologies are revolutionizing the way companies source and develop talent in technical professions.
10:45 AM – 11:00 AM
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Morning Break
Session 1:
Global Insights and Best Practices
Input 1: Building a Consensus for non-accredited learning: bringing stakeholders to the table at a national level to discuss the future of Digital Badging for the UK
by Patrina Law, Lifelong Learning Lead at The RSA
Patrina will discuss the importance of building a movement towards greater acceptance and implementation of digital badges, emphasizing their role in recognizing and rewarding lifelong learning. She will address the challenges and opportunities in ensuring the quality and interoperability of these credentials at a national scale, and make a compelling case for a lifelong digital record of learning. Problems that are being addressed by the UK Digital Badging Commission.
The presentation will also examine the feasibility of applying quality assurance frameworks to digital badges, enabling them to support flexible learning pathways in line with lifelong learning entitlements. By focusing on the theme of “Ensuring Equal Inclusion,” Patrina will highlight how digital badges can help bridge existing inequalities in work and skills and promote a more just and equitable society, ensuring that all learners, regardless of their background, have access to opportunities for growth and development.
Input 2: Quality Label for Badge Recognition
by Nerijus Kriauciunas, Partnership Development at AWERO
Nerijus will present the Quality Label for Badge Recognition, a pioneering initiative addressing the need for non-formal recognition organizations to self-define and achieve greater recognition of digital Open Badging programs. This initiative, developed by the Cities of Learning Network, promotes open, accessible, and inclusive learning and recognition opportunities across more than 50 locations. By working with non-formal education organizations and learners facing various obstacles, the network has demonstrated the benefits of inclusive recognition. With over a decade of experience in non-formal learning and digital Open Badges, the Quality Label for Badge Recognition aims to achieve greater external recognition for learning outcomes, particularly for young people with fewer opportunities and adults struggling to keep up with life demands. This fall, the Quality Label for Badge Recognition will be offered to organizations promoting community volunteering, digital inclusion, and youth employment.
12:00 PM – 12:45 PM
Break-Out Discussion 1
Topic: Equitable Design and Implementation of Digital Badges
Goal: Develop guidelines for equitable design and implementation
12:45 PM – 1:45 PM
1:45 PM – 2:45 PM
Lunch
Session 2:
Inclusivity and Recognition in Labour Migration
Input 1: Empowering Migrants: Equity and Inclusion through Digital Solutions
by Anna Derinova-Hartmann, Private Sector Engagement and Partnerships Lead at IOM – UN Migration
In her presentation titled “Empowering Migrants: Equity and Inclusion through Digital Solutions,” Anna Derinova-Hartmann, Private Sector Engagement and Partnerships Lead at IOM – UN Migration, will explore how digital solutions can play a pivotal role in supporting equitable labor migration pathways. She will discuss how leveraging digital tools can enhance migrants’ integration into the labor market, improve access to employment opportunities, and facilitate smoother transitions through complex bureaucratic processes. By focusing on digital strategies that support language training, professional development, and community engagement, Anna will highlight how these solutions can contribute to a more inclusive environment for migrants, ensuring their skills and qualifications are effectively recognized and utilized.
Furthermore, the presentation will emphasize the crucial role of private sector partnerships in advancing these initiatives. Anna will illustrate how collaboration with the private sector can drive impactful programs that support labor migration pathways, creating opportunities for employment, skill recognition, and socio-economic integration, thereby reinforcing IOM’s commitment to fostering a more inclusive and equitable future for migrants.
Input 2: interID – An Interoperable Verfiable Credential Verifier
by Hakan Yildiz, Tech Innovation Strategy Manager at Accenture
The realm of Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) is in its early stages of development, with its adoption still progressing. The most advanced implementations, such as the Bhutan eID project and state-level Canadian eID projects, are currently being executed on a relatively small scale. In Europe, initiatives like the EU Digital Wallet and the European Blockchain Services Infrastructure (EBSI) are transitioning from proof of concept to operational readiness, aiming to support a wide range of use cases.
This presentation will introduce interID – an adaptable and comprehensive platform designed to verify Verifiable Credentials (VCs) across various SSI technology stacks. This service is strategically crafted to deliver reliable validation results to service providers, even those unfamiliar with SSI, thereby providing an accessible entry point into SSI as an extension to their existing identity and access management systems.
This talk aligns with the broader session theme of Inclusivity and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), particularly in the context of international migration.
2:45 PM – 3:15 PM
Afternoon Break
3:15 PM – 4:45 PM
Workshop Session: Developing a Visual Badge Framework by Ensuring Equal Inclusion
by Andreas Hörfurter, Managing Director at common sense eLearning & training consultants
The “Developing a Visual Badge Framework: Ensuring Equal Inclusion” workshop session, to be held during the 4th ICoBC Symposium and facilitated by common sense eLearning & training consultants GmbH, aims to collaboratively discuss and finalize a visual badge framework based on the qualified submissions received from ICoBC’s and eAA’s Call for a Visual Taxonomy for Badge Design – with a focus on inclusion and equity. Over 1.5 hours, the workshop will include a comprehensive overview of visual badge taxonomies, showcasing previous work from GIZ atingi, TUI Care Foundation, and ITCILO, and explaining various badge types. Participants will engage in an interactive session to provide feedback on an initial prototype and participate in group activities to design badges based on given scenarios. The workshop will conclude with discussions on workflow, timelines, deliverables, and next steps, ensuring that the developed framework aligns with the symposium’s theme of creating inclusive learning environments and equitable professional development opportunities.
4:45 PM – 5:15 PM
Panel Discussion and Q&A
Participants:
Rita Fennelly-Atkinson, Senior Director, Credentials at Digital Promise
Johannes Hatz, Co-Founder, JOVEX AI
TBC Tobias Zimmermann, Head of Insights & Creation, StepStone
5:15 PM – 5:30 PM
5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Closing Remarks
Reception
Registration & Payment
Please make sure that you complete BOTH, the registration form and the payment. Members of ICoBC benefit of a reduced Symposium fee.
- Register here:
2. Pay here
Become a sponsor
Organizations that are working in this field have a unique opportunity to showcase their commitment to ensuring equal inclusion and supporting learners from all backgrounds. Sponsorship opportunities are available for those who want to demonstrate their leadership and contribute to the ongoing conversation around digital badges and verifiable micro-credentials.
Previous sponsors and supporters include Accenture, Microsoft, LinkedIn, Speexx, Lightcast / Emsi Burning Glass, Dataport, and relevantive. As a sponsors, you gain the following benefits:
- 2 complimentary registrations at the Symposium
- Hyperlink with company name and logo on the official 2024 Symposium web page
- Company name on promotional emails
- Logo/listing in the ICoBC onsite program as an official sponsor
- Logo displayed on banner at event entrance
- Logo displayed in video recordings
If you want to become a sponsor of the 2024 Symposium, please send us an email.
Participants of previous Symposiums
Organisations:
Access Microfinance Holding AG, AccessHolding, America Succeeds, ASIA PACIFIC UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION, Atlantic Technological University, Australian Catholic University, Badge Europe, Bayer, Bildungsplattform der WKO GmbH, Bloom Foundation, BMBF, Bookt, Brigham Young University, CanCred by Learning Agents, Certif-ID International OHG, CGFNS International, Concentric Sky / Badgr, Credential Engine, Credivera, CredShare, DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service), Digitary, Education Design Lab, Education in Motion, E-duProof UG, eLearning Africa, Emsi Burning Glass, Essential Skills Program, Fachhochschule Münster, FAO, Forever Day One (4ed1 GmbH), Gear Up, George Washington University, German Testing Board e.V., Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), ZDH, Hochschulforum Digitalisierung, Humanitarian Leadership Academy, ICDE, ICoBC, imc AG, Institute of Technology Sligo, International Organization for Migration (IOM), Jumia, kcg.edu, Knapp & Associates Int’l, Lightcast, LinkedIn, Microsoft, NAEC, Open University UK, Proctorio GmbH, RANDA Solutions, Regione Emilia-Romanga, relevantive GmbH, Seneca College, Speexx, SRH Berlin University of Applied Sciences, Stifterverband, Studieorganisasjon Folkeuniversitetet, T3 Innovation Network, Technical University of Applied Sciences Lübeck, Technische Universität Berlin, The Open University, TU Berlin, TÜV Rheinland International GmbH, University of Huddersfield, University of Kentucky, University of Maine System, UNSSC, VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH, Visions, Western Governors University, World Bank
Job Titles:
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Innovation in Digital Badges and Micro-Credentials, Assistant Professor, CEO, CGO, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Strategy Officer, Co-Founder, Consultant, CTO, Dean, Director, Director Business Development, Director Strategic Partnerships, Director UK Higher Education, Director, Digital Credentials Research & Innovation, Education Designer, Micro-Credentialing, Education Futures Architect, Employment Counselor, Entrepeneur, Founder, Geschäftsführer / Managing Director, Global Head PersCertification, Head of Issuing Authorities, Head of Marketing, Head of Online Learning Innovation, Head of Online learning Student Experience, Head of Platform & Blockchain Development, Head of Product, Instructor, Lead Engineer, Learning Specialist, Manager, Digital Authentication, Managing Director, Network Facilitator/Senior Scholar, Partnerships & Projects, PM, Policy Advisor, President, Product Manager Verifiable Credentials, Professor, Professor, Dr., project coordinator, Project Lead, Project Manager, Provost, Research Professor and co-director, PSCWP, Researcher and project manager, Sales consultant, Senior Account Director, Senior Desk Officer Digital Credentials, Senior Director, Senior Project Manager, Sr. Director, Sr. Staff Development and Learning Assistant, Team Leader Testing, Teamleader, Vice President of Partnerships, VP, Workforce Intelligence & Credential Integrity
The venue
The ICoBC Symposium 2024 takes place at the Atrium Tower, Berlin.