Open Badges in Education and Training in Europe
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3311/ope.284Abstract
The article gives an overview of open badges, a type of micro-credentials spreading lately in Europe applied to recognize non-formal and informal learning actions and outcomes. Open badges are viewed by many experts as the greatest potential for a reliable presentation of skills gained outside the formal education system, in many cases in adult learning. Specifically, open badges very often record and prove the acquisition of so called 21st century skills (i.e. communication, creativity, cooperation and critical thinking) considered by a large majority of the employers as a significant aspect of selection.What exactly digital open badges are? How, by whom and to whom are they awarded? How is the validity of information and the quality of content represented by the badges assured? To what extent are the employers aware of the value of open badges, and how much individuals know how they can capitalize on the collection of their badges?The article attempts to offer some views on the above questions by structuring the relevant findings and outcomes of the Open Badge Network and the ReOpen projects.Author Biography
Ferencz Tátrai
Ferenc Tátrai
graduated as chemical engineer at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (TUB), and got his MA diploma in applied mathematics at the University of Arts and Sciences Lóránt Eőtvös. He made his postgraduate studies at the Ecole Politechnique Federal de Lausanne, and got his PhD from the TUB. After his PhD he spent two years at the University of Brisbane (Australia) doing research and writing a textbook in computer simulation of chemical plants. In 1996 he was appointed to director of the Phare Office of the Ministry of Education, in 1998 he became the CEO of he first information technology science park „Infopark” in Budapest. From 2000 he became the educational director of the Centre for Informatics of TUB. A year later he was asked to organise the work of the European Social Fund National Implementing Agency. He was the director and the Authorising Officer of the Phare programmes and later responsible for the ESF programmes mostly in the area of education and training. He is expert in drafting, implementing, managing and monitoring EU funded projects and programmes. After eight years he went back to the TUB where he has been teaching for almost 40 years and retired as associate professor from the Department of Chemical Technology of same university. Published over 50 scientific papers, co-author of 3 patents and several textbooks in chemical and environmental technology. Five years ago he joined EDEN as senior advisor.
