Open badges

Open badges are digital badges which show a range of learning achievements. You can share them on social media and employability websites such as LinkedIn.

Open badges:

  • Indicate an accomplishment or skill
  • Includes metadata held within the badge that has information about the awarding institution and the criteria for achieving the badge

Open badges at Newcastle University

ncl+

Open badges were approved for use on the ncl+ award in 2015 and over 1500 badges have now been awarded. The ncl+ award has recently expanded with 6 different strands including ncl+ and 5 advanced awards.

Academic pilot project

A successful innovation fund project is exploring the use of open badges in the School of Psychology, Newcastle University Business School and INTO.

The project team are evaluating student opinion about open badges. The results of this evaluation will help inform the future use of badges across the University.

Developing an extra-curricular Open Badge at Newcastle

If you have an idea that for an extra-curricular open badge we would like to hear your proposal. It is important that badges awarded by Newcastle University has value, and be difficult to achieve.

Please consider the following when developing your badge:

  • Developing criteria that each student should achieve before being awarded a badge.
  • Identifying what assessment will determine achievement of the badge and who will carry out the assessment.
Application process
  1. Complete the open badge application form and send it to ltds@ncl.ac.uk
  2. LTDS consider the application and complete a supporting statement
  3. The Student Experience Sub-Committee consider the full application
  4. If approved LTDS set up the badge on Open Badge Factory
  5. You manage the assessment process and confirm which students who should be awarded the badge
  6. Schools or Services can administer the awarding of badges to successful students via ePortfolio

How LTDS can help:

We can provide support and advice regarding open badges. Please contact ltds@ncl.ac.uk.