The Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority (CHIETA) is proposing the use of digital badges as a way of recognising and verifying artisans' achievements, skills and competencies.

The proposal to consider badging as an additional method for recognising learner achievement responds to the growing need for a more modern and effective approach to skills recognition in the evolving world of education and training.

CHIETA's staff, in a meeting in Midrand during the week of January 20 to 25, motivated for badging to replace physical certificates for specific competencies, such as bricklaying, sewing, coding, add-on skills for artisans, entrepreneurial skills, future green skills, hydrogen skills programmes and coded welders, and to recognise the achievements of learners exiting smart skills centres.

Badging can be seen as a bridge between learning achievement and job opportunities. Badging, using digital images, can serve as a visual representation of accomplishments, unlike paper-based certificates, CHIETA said in a statement.

Specifically, CHIETA digital badges will link to a landing page on its website that provides further insights into the skills and competencies achieved, it said.

"The proposal could have significant implications for skills development in the country. Badging's benefits, such as its alignment with current recruitment trends and its potential to influence South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) and Quality Council for Trades and Occupations certification, make it a compelling initiative," the training authority stated.

The world is evolving. While South Africa has reviewed the National Qualifications Framework, SAQA Act, Qualifications Framework, Educational Acts and quality assurance bodies, little has been done to review traditional forms of certification, CHIETA pointed out.

Additionally, the new occupational qualification framework limits recognition to short-term skills programmes, which were previous unit standard-based qualifications that allowed for combining unit standards and sector education and taining authorities recognition through Statements of Results.

CHIETA funds small, medium-sized and microenterprises, artisans and learners for add-on skills courses, such as digital and entrepreneurial skills courses, without properly recognising them.

The proposed digital badges would enable recognition of short courses and skills programmes, including non-credit-bearing courses, it said.

"Badging aligns with the digital nature of the workforce and shifts in recruitment practices, thus enhancing job opportunities," CHIETA said.