MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Capella University and Pearson announced today a collaboration to issue digital badges for students completing the online university’s National Security Agency (NSA) and Department of Homeland Security designated master’s program. Capella University is one of the first online universities to leverage Pearson’s Acclaim digital badging platform to signal to employers the professional skills and competencies its students have gained through coursework and certificate programs.
“The IT landscape is constantly evolving. Digital badges complement our master’s in information assurance and security program because they are secure, verifiable and provide full context of the capabilities our students bring to an employer,” said Bill Dafnis, Ph.D., PMP, Capella’s interim dean of technology. “Capella University is committed to providing students with the skills they need to immediately be effective members of the workforce.”
Capella is designated by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance/Cyber Defense. As a result of this designation, Capella is able to offer NSA Focus Area digital badges to students completing its master’s in information assurance and security, network defense and digital forensic specializations.
“While transcripts and diplomas are longstanding, trusted validations of student achievement, digital badges provide employers with more detailed, transparent aggregations of a student’s earned skills,” said Peter Janzow, senior director of business development, Acclaim, Pearson. “We are pleased to add Capella to our growing roster of academic institutions offering badges through Acclaim. Pearson is proud to be at the forefront of the growing trend toward badging to connect higher education and employability, which advances the transition from college to careers and improves communications between higher education, learners and employers.”
Badges issued through Acclaim can be shared via popular networking sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter, over email and other online destinations. They can be verified by clicking on the badge. Each badge includes metadata that shows who earned the credential, what was accomplished, and the organization that issued the badge. This portability and transparency make it easy for individuals to represent online their full range of abilities to academic institutions, employers and industry peers.
About Pearson
Pearson is the world's learning company, with
36,000 employees in more than 70 countries working to help people of all
ages to make measurable progress in their lives through learning. For
more information about Pearson, visit http://www.pearsoned.com.
About Capella University
Capella University (www.capella.edu)
is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Founded in 1993, the
university is dedicated to providing flexible, professionally aligned
online degree programs designed to help working adults advance in their
careers. As of December 31, 2015, approximately 37,000 students were
enrolled in Capella’s bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and certificate
programs. Known for its commitment to learner success, academic quality
and innovations in online education, Capella pioneered competency-based
direct assessment programs allowing students to learn at their own pace.
Capella University is a wholly owned subsidiary of Capella Education
Company (NASDAQ: CPLA).
