The Chemical Industries Education & Training Authority (CHIETA) is reshaping how South Africa measures and validates skills, positioning digital badges as a cornerstone of the country’s transition into a digitally enabled economy. In an era where trust, transparency, and speed define employability, CHIETA’s digital badging initiative signals a future in which skills recognition is no longer static but dynamic, verifiable, and globally portable. 

This step reflects a decisive shift in skills development thinking: moving from paper-based proof of learning to secure, real-time credentials that directly connect learners to opportunity. The first artisans to benefit were four learners from CHIETA’s Coded Welding skills programme, who became pioneers in receiving these secure, verifiable badges. Their achievement not only validates individual competence but also exemplifies how digital badges are redefining the bridge between learning and employability in South Africa. 

A digital badge is a modern, portable, and verifiable credential that recognises a learner’s skills or achievements in a visual, digital format. Unlike traditional paper certificates, each badge carries embedded data that can be instantly authenticated and shared online, from email signatures and CVs to professional networks like LinkedIn. This makes badges both proof of competence and a currency of trust in a skills-driven economy. 

The value of digital badges lies in their ability to bridge the gap between learning and employability. Employers can verify skills at a glance, learners can showcase their 2 

achievements with confidence, and industries gain from a more transparent and credible skills ecosystem. 

“Skills are the currency of South Africa’s future economy. With digital badging, we are not just issuing certificates but creating globally recognisable, instantly verifiable credentials that empower learners and build trust in our national qualifications system. This innovation positions South Africa to compete in a digital economy where transparency, credibility, and mobility of skills are non-negotiable,” - Yershen Pillay, CHIETA’s Chief Executive. 

For PrivySeal, the digital accreditation partner powering this initiative, the significance lies in the shift towards recognition systems that are not only modern but transformative. “By embracing digital badging, CHIETA is setting a benchmark for how South Africa recognises skills. This represents a decisive shift toward transparency and lifelong learning — essential ingredients for a workforce that must continuously adapt to digital and economic change,” said Stephen Logan, CEO of PrivySeal. 

The rollout of digital badging forms part of CHIETA’s broader strategy to future-proof South Africa’s workforce. Alongside the nationwide rollout of Smart Skills Centres across South Africa’s provinces, which bring cutting-edge training and digital access to underserved communities, CHIETA is bridging the skills, digital, and employability divide. By modernising how skills are recognised, CHIETA is strengthening industry credibility, supporting learner employability, and ensuring that qualifications in critical industries such as chemicals, engineering, and advanced manufacturing are aligned with global best practice. 

This milestone reinforces CHIETA’s role as a catalyst for the skills revolution, driving transformation not only in training but in how learning achievements are communicated, valued, and trusted.