Welcome to our latest episode summary of Verify This! In our fourth episode, we were thrilled to have Dr. Keith Look, Vice President of Education Solutions at Territorium, join us. Territorium is a global EdTech company with 12 million users worldwide, dedicated to unlocking the power of education and experience through AI, digital credentials, and decentralised solutions.
In this episode, we covered a variety of topics within the education sector, specifically looking at the transformation of the industry, the learner experience, interoperability, and user ecosystems from education skills assessment to employment.
Dr. Look shared insights into the long-standing movement towards competency-based education. Traditionally, educational success was measured by information retention rather than the ability to apply knowledge. This paradigm is shifting, with increasing emphasis on processing information and acquiring micro-skills or stackable credentials. This shift enables a bottom-up and top-down approach, where learners recognise their skills beyond grades, and employers seek candidates with specific, demonstrable abilities. Evolution in Education: From Retention to Application
Territorium’s Innovative Solutions
To dig into the impact that innovation is having on the education sector, Lucie and Keith unpack what it is that Territorium offers aimed at bridging the gap between education and employment:
- Digital Wallets: A secure space for learners to store their credentials, making them verifiable and owned by the learner.
- Comprehensive Learner Records: A detailed record of all achievements and skills beyond traditional grades.
- Life Journey Toolkit: This toolkit includes an analysis of a learner’s skills, shows alignment to various career paths, and identifies remaining skills needed for specific roles.
These tools are designed to provide a personalised pathway to employment, allowing learners to showcase their skills effectively and efficiently.
Interoperability, a running theme across the Verify This series, is crucial in ensuring that digital credentials are recognised across borders and institutions. Dr. Look emphasises the importance of starting with the premise that learners should own and control their data. By adhering to open standards, Territorium ensures that data is exchangeable and verifiable. The challenge lies in establishing trust among institutions and employers to accept and value these credentials. Addressing Interoperability and Trust
Overcoming Resistance to Change
Keith addresses that change in the education sector can be slow, but the potential benefits are immense. By highlighting the immediate, practical value of skills acquired throughout the educational journey, we can move away from the model of delayed gratification. This shift requires a cultural change among academic institutions and employers, recognising the real-world applicability of skills over traditional success metrics and leveraging innovative solutions to do so.
Looking ahead, the integration of verified credentials and digital wallets could revolutionise the education sector. Verifiable credentials will enable a more dynamic marketplace where education and employment opportunities are more accessible and aligned with individual skills. This bidirectional approach could allow employers and educational institutions to actively seek out individuals with the necessary skills, creating a more efficient and personalised system. The conversation concludes that the evolution of education through digital credentials and skills verification holds the promise of a more adaptable, relevant, and personalised learning experience. As we embrace these changes, we can better prepare learners for the demands of the modern workforce, ensuring their success in an ever-changing world. The Future of EdTech
Listen on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube |
Join us on a journey as we unpack the complexities around identity
We’re connecting with experts across industries, shedding some light on the mysteries that surround digital identity. Subscribe to be notified every time we release a new episode, or find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube.