Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera is part of the Fundación Universitaria San Pablo CEU, the largest private educational institution in Spain. With more than 90 years of experience in delivering high-quality education, it comprises 37 centres, 4,000 staff members, a network of over 40,000 students and 230,000 alumni. The CEU Foundation is committed to innovation and excellence in teaching and learning, and its adoption of Canvas Credentials is a testament to that commitment.
The Challenge
As early as 2015, CEU Cardenal Herrera University began certifying competencies using PDF certificates awarded to undergraduate students upon graduation. However, PDF certificates lack verifiable security and dynamic updates, making them vulnerable to forgery and quickly outdated. The university sought to recognise and certify its students' skills, while enhancing student employability and supporting lifelong learning for working professionals. These programmes are designed to keep skills and knowledge up to date, helping workers adapt to ongoing changes in the labour market and new technologies.
In this context, both the OECD and the European Union have promoted policies to foster the development of a microcredential ecosystem, encouraging their integration into educational systems and recognition in the job market. CEU’s adoption of Canvas Credentials aligns perfectly with these European objectives and reinforces its leadership in educational innovation.
The Solution
In 2017, after a thorough analysis of Open Badge issuing platforms, CEU chose Canvas Credentials. The platform was selected for its ease of use, compatibility with CEU’s existing systems, and the ability to create enriched metadata, including learning pathways. It enables the university to issue microcredentials in the form of Open Badges that can be easily shared and verified online.
The Results
Thanks to this Credentials, CEU has achieved:
- Improved student employability by providing verifiable digital credentials, allowing students to showcase their skills to companies and organisations seeking talent.
- Development of a microcredential ecosystem aligned with labour market demands.
- Industry collaboration to improve national employment. Lifelong learning has been further promoted through the pioneering Work Academy on-the-job learning project in collaboration with PwC Spain.
- Facilitation of Learning Pathways to structure complex competencies and connect students with relevant job opportunities.
- Increased student motivation and engagement through digital badges that encourage commitment to learning.
- Promotion of lifelong learning to working professionals by enabling continuous development and reskilling opportunities.
- Improved peer-to-peer collaboration. CEU has enabled peer issued badges - fostering greater student-to-student support.
CEU has gained prestige as a pioneering university and strengthened its partnerships with companies and associations.
The Future
CEU plans to expand its use of Canvas Credentials by forging more partnerships with leading companies and further integrating the platform into its academic programmes. These initiatives aim to create lifelong learning ecosystems that have a meaningful impact on organisations and 21st-century society. The university envisions a future in which microcredentials play a vital role in recognising and validating skills both in higher education and the labour market.
Canvas Credentials has enabled us to take a leap forward in the digital credentialing of competencies, becoming pioneers since 2020 in issuing digital badges in Spain and distinguishing our students with globally recognised and verified digital credentials.
Dr María José González Solaz
Project Director