Digital credentials for environmental competencies: A scoping review of open recognition systems in climate education

作者：Pablo Martín‐Ramos, Dileyni Diaz-De-Oleo, Fatma Fourati-Jamoussi, Kimberley Couchy, Lucio Alessandro Lo Giudice, Barbara Tosi, Frederico Oliveira-Pinto, Luís Veiga-Martins, Luis Manuel Navas-Gracia · 发表于：Open Research Europe · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.12688/openreseurope.20048.3 · 被引用次数：3 · 研究领域：Environmental Education and Sustainability、Sustainability in Higher Education、Educational Strategies and Epistemologies

Open education recognition systems are transforming how skills and competencies are validated across formal, informal, and non-formal learning environments. This scoping review examines current practices in open recognition systems-including micro-credentials, digital badges, and open educational resources (OER) completion certificates and participation badges-with particular emphasis on their application and potential in climate education. Following systematic search strategies across eight databases, we analyzed 70 publications (2010-2024) comprising journal articles, book chapters, institutional reports, and conference proceedings to map existing evidence, identify key concepts, and uncover gaps in applying these systems to climate education. The analysis reveals that while these systems have significant potential to bridge academic learning with professional demands and environmental action, their impact is limited by persistent challenges: lack of definitional consistency and quality-assurance standards across institutions; significant technological barriers to credential portability and verification; and lack of awareness and trust from employers, undermining these credentials' currency in the labor market. Despite these challenges, notable findings include the growing importance of micro-credentials for validating climate adaptation skills, the value of open badges in recognizing interdisciplinary competencies essential for environmental action, and the need for integr...