2026 Badge Summit

Micro-credentials and digital badges have gained popularity because of their accessibility, affordability, and flexibility. However, their definitions vary depending on who is issuing them and in what context. The purpose of this study is to review the range of definitions used in research for micro-credentials and digital badges. Articles that met the parameters for the study were decontextualized and coded for keywords, and coded frequencies were calculated. The research informed that micro-credentials and digital badges were valuable for growth and longterm success. The data is significant because industries could use this review to understand better the various components of micro-credentials and digital badges, and educational institutions can offer short-term programs that prepare students for authentic industry practice. This study contributes to the existing literature by synthesizing the definitions of microcredentials
and digital badges.