Create digital badges and learning pathways

Help learners articulate the skills, knowledge and experience they develop through your activities.

Digital badges explained

A digital badge is a smart, simple, and visual way of recognising non-accredited learning.

It helps the learner to understand what skills they have developed, and lets them share their achievement on their CV or on social media.

Badging standard

The RSA has created a badging standard to help learners progress on their learning journey.

Endorsed by City & Guilds, the badging standard has four layers, each with a specific purpose:

Engage

This shows that a learner has gathered information and experienced a topic. For example, they attended a careers fair, exhibition or an open day.

Participate

This shows that a learner has interacted with learning and joined in. For example, they attended a workshop, training or club.

Demonstrate

This shows that a learner has applied knowledge in a real world environment to gain experience and get feedback. For example, they took part in a competition, work experience or project.

Lead

This shows that a learner has embedded knowledge in different contexts and influenced others. For example, they joined an ambassador or leadership programme.

Learning pathways explained

A pathway helps a learner to progress through the steps needed to reach a goal. Each step on a pathway will feature a digital badge.

The goal of our programme is to:

• work with place-based leaders to identify existing learning pathways
• design new pathways that connect learners to employment opportunities and beyond.

Create a digital badge

Sign up to a membership with Badge Nation to start creating badges.

Anyone can create a badge, or series of badges, including:

• employers
• schools
• colleges
• training providers
• creative and cultural organisations
• charities and voluntary sector organisations.

Membership packages last for one year, with the option to renew.

Starting from £200 (plus VAT) a year, the cost of membership depends on how many:

• badges you want to create
• learners you want to offer your badges to each year.

Create a badge collection

Support other organisations to create badges and build an ecosystem of badges that addresses your goals. This could:

• increase participation in a portfolio of projects
• make opportunities, like apprenticeships, more attractive to learners
• create progression pathways for learners.

Other ways to get involved