UNF expands digital badging offerings that help students compete in the workforce

The University of North Florida is expanding its Digital Badging Initiative, equipping students with more opportunities to gain valuable skills and specialized knowledge sought by potential employers.

UNF already offers more than 50 digital badge programs and recently added these programs:

• Innovation Skills for Career Success:Learn career success skills related to creativity, critical thinking, growth mindset and leadership. Badges are earned in each area, and then lead to an Innovation Skills for Career Success Meta Badge. The badges are issued by UNF's Blackstone LaunchPad in the Coggin College of Business and are available to UNF undergraduate and graduate students.

• Introduction to Artificial Intelligence:Learn about the basic principles and concepts of AI, as well as the ethics and applications of AI in the workplace and in educational settings. Offered by UNF and available to UNF undergraduate and graduate students.

• Ready for Research: Learn how to use the UNF library's website to search for and select academically appropriate research, connect with librarians for consultation appointments, reserve space to do research and a variety of other tools to become more proficient in library academic research skills, all which help students efficiently gather, evaluate, and synthesize information, while fostering critical thinking and analytical abilities essential for navigating complex challenges in the workforce.Offered by the UNF Thomas G. Carpenter Library and available to UNF undergraduate and graduate students.

• Total Osprey:Student-Athlete Leadership: Learn to harness the skills developed as an athlete, including teamwork, work ethic and resilience, to cope with high-pressure situations and apply them to the workforce. Offered by UNF Athletics and available to UNF graduate and undergraduate student-athletes.

• Foundations of 3D Printing:Learn about the basic principles of 3D printing, including types of 3D printers, 3D printing materials and the fundamentals of the maker community and crowdsourcing 3D design resources. Offered by the UNF College of Education and Human Services and is available to UNF undergraduate and graduate students.

• Covey LeaderU:Learn about leadership by completing modules related to The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, 5 Choices to Extraordinary Productivity, Leading at the Speed of Trust, The 4 Essentials Roles of Leadership, The 4 Disciplines of Execution and Unconscious Bias. The badge is offered by the UNF Taylor Leadership Institute and is available to UNF undergraduate and graduate students.

More badges are under development and will be announced soon.

UNF's digital badges complement academic degree programs by teaching specific skills that can help students throughout their time at the University and when they get into the workplace. After completing badging program requirements, students earn a digital badge they can share on social media, on a resume or website and with potential employers to verify successful completion of the program.

Other popular badge programs offered include IGNITE Healthcare Leadership Scholar, Fintech & Business of Sport, and Sport Management: Industry Workplace Culture. All UNF freshmen earn the Fundamentals of Written Communications and Career Education in coordination with required courses, and it's also open to other interested students.

Some badges can be earned by all UNF students, while others are offered to students enrolled in specific courses. Some badges are self-paced and can be started at any time, while others are term-based. More information can be found on the UNF Digital Badging Initiative website.

UNF also collaborates with industry partnersto prepare students for specific industry skill needs and to help employees refresh or expand their skills and knowledge. And UNF's Division of Continuing Educationoffers badging programs to members of the community.

UNF will host three Digital Badging Initiative events at the beginning of this semester.

• Stop by the Digital Learning and Innovation badging table from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 28, in Osprey Plaza during Market Days.

• Celebrate with University leaders and enjoy a DJ, special menu, treats, free swag, and T-shirts from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 3, at Osprey Cafe.

• Celebrate some more with University leaders and enjoy free pizza at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 4, at the Thomas G. Carpenter Library in Room 2102 A&B.

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