Symposium FY 2025

“The Potential of Digital Badges to Promote Equitable Learning Opportunities”　Open the leaflet

Digital badges empower learner-centered education by enabling individuals to showcase their learning achievements and chart a personalized pathway toward further development. In recent years, they have attracted growing attention as a tool for certifying learning outcomes—particularly within higher education institutions engaged in lifelong learning and distance education.

Beyond simply visualizing achievements, digital badges are increasingly expected to address broader educational challenges. These include reducing learning disparities, enhancing the stackability of credentials to support continuous learning, and ensuring the international quality of education through mutual recognition and interoperability across borders.

This symposium will convene domestic and international experts to explore the current landscape of digital badges from diverse perspectives. Drawing on real-world case studies, participants will examine both the challenges and the transformative potential of digital badges, while discussing pathways for their broader adoption across society.

Theme

“The Potential of Digital Badges to Promote Equitable Learning Opportunities”

Date

December 3, 2025 1:00～5:30 pm

Place

Multipurpose Lecture Room 1, B1 Floor, Tokyo Bunkyo Study Center, The Open University of Japan
3-29-1 Otsuka, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 112-0012
※Online streaming available via Zoom

Program

MC: Prof. Kumiko Aoki (OUJ)

1:00 – 1:10 pmOpening Remarks

Prof. Masaya Iwanaga (President, OUJ)

1:15 – 2:00 pmKeynote Speech 1

Jeanne Kitchens　(CTO, Credential Engine, USA)

"Credential Transparency and Digital Badges: Unlocking Meaning and Opportunity"

2:00 – 2:45 pmKeynote Speech 2

Serge Ravet　(President, Open Recognition Alliance, France)

“Open Recognition: Where [authentic] Open Education Begins”

2:45 – 3:05 pmBreak

3:05 – 3:50 pmInvited Speech 1

Koichi Nakasaki　(Member of Strategic Advisory Council, Groningen Declaration Network Japan/ Chief Research Officer, Institute for Future Engineering)

“From Latecomer to Leader: Global and Japanese Developments in the Interoperability of Digital Learning Credentials”

3:50 – 4:35 pmInvited Speech 2

Ayaka Noda　(Professor, Japan University Association for Academic Degrees and Academic Degree)

“Micro-credentials in Japanese Higher Education: Institutional Development and Quality Assurance”

4:35 – 4:45 pmBreak

4:45 – 5:20 pmPanel Discussion

“Expanding Learning Opportunities and Ensuring Reliability with Digital Badges”
Moderator: Prof. Kumiko Aoki
Language: English

5:20 – 5:30 pmClosing Remarks

Prof. Emi Nishina (Director, Library , OUJ)

Registration

Please register in advance using the link below.
Registration link:https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_wiq_JIZ0RNytfgC3hw4nQQ

On-site: Please register using the registration link above and come to the Multipurpose Lecture Room 1, Tokyo Bunkyo Study Center, The Open University of Japan (Doors open 12:30).

On-line: Please register using the registration link. An e-mail with the Zoom URL will be sent to your address on Dec 2, 2025.

Automatic Translated Captions

The languages used at the symposium are Japanese and English. The automatic translated captions on Zoom are available. For participants attending on-site, please bring a laptop, tablet, or smartphone if you wish to use the automatic translation captions.

Inquiry

International Affairs Section, The Open University of Japan
Email: kokusai@ouj.ac.jp