Postgraduate Digital Badges in Higher Education: Transforming Advanced Programs Using Authentic Online Instruction and Assessment to Meet the Demands of a Global Marketplace

Post-secondary education is a massive industry undergoing significant growth. The demand for post-secondary education has never been higher, and it is increasing every year (British Council, 2012). Moreover, globalization and technology are transforming this marketplace in dramatic ways. In general, the higher education marketplace is becoming more open and dynamic as traditional geographic barriers are disappearing. These transformations are leading to increased levels of international outsourcing and partnerships to develop and deliver education. In addition, the global workplace itself is becoming more dynamic; specifically, the individual demand for ongoing high quality lifelong education is increasing as the nature of jobs and work skills continuously changes (Hanover Research Council, 2010). This increasingly open global marketplace for post-secondary education requires new innovative educational programming through flexible and innovative delivery methods. This is especially true in professional and applied fields such as engineering, business, management, and health administration. Educational leadership, in particular, could greatly benefit from more innovative programming, since the next generation of educational leaders need training and direct experiences in new educational delivery models, particularly for the quickly globalizing nature of post-secondary education, but eventually for leadership in the primary and secondary education sectors as well. (C) 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.