The pilot project for an open-badge constellation of the circular economy meets this need by offering employers a method for circular economy competence recognition and development. The open-badge constellation also serves the employees and applicants by making circular economy competences more visible.
Open-badge constellation of the circular economy
Digital Open Badges have been created for the recognition of generic circular economy competences. The badges are piloted from April to September within the construction, chemical and technology industries.
The constellation consists of four open badges, on two levels, to be completed.
- Basics of the circular economy
- Principles and operating models of the circular economy
- Milestone badge: Basic skills of the circular economy
- Digitalisation, data and AI in the circular economy
- Circular economy development and application
- Milestone badge: Solution finder for the circular economy
Competences are verified with badge applications. Each of the four badge applications consists of multiple-choice questions and for example open-ended questions and information search tasks.
Completing the first two badges, the person will receive the Basics of the circular economy milestone badge. Once all badges have been completed, the person will receive a Solution finder for the circular economy milestone badge.
The circular economy open-badge constellation serves the purposes of both employers and employees. Employers get a comprehensive picture of the current status and development needs of their organisation’s circular economy competences. The open-badge constellation makes it easier for both employees and applicants to identify and verify their circular economy competences and highlight it as they see fit.
The project concentrates on identifying existing competences accumulated during the work, so training is not included. However, at its best, the badges inspire participants to develop their circular economy competences already during the pilot and discuss the themes in their workplace and networks.
Project details
The project is carried out by AFRY, Turku University of Applied Sciences and the Finnish Information Society Development Centre (TIEKE) between November 2023 and October 2024. The project has been funded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment and the source of financing is NextGenerationEU of the European Union.
More information on the project website (in Finnish)
Why Open Badges?
An Open Badge is a concrete digital proof of competence. The badge includes information of the competence objectives and assessment criteria on which competence has been identified.
Benefits of Open Badges for Employers:
- easy to assess employees’ skills, competencies, and development needs,
- serve as recruitment tools,
- can highlight hidden competencies,
- helps to plan future development of skills,
- increases job satisfaction and well-being at work when the organization is development friendly.
Benefits of Open Badges for Employees:
- an easy way to demonstrate both previously acquired and new skills,
- the badge receiver owns their personal skills data,
- they decide how to utilise and share their skills data in different ways,
- support career development and working in positions that best correspond to competences,
- increases job satisfaction and well-being at work.
Collaborate with TIEKE?
Want to help organizations in themes such as digital competence, data economy, real-time economy, or sustainability? Partner with us!
TIEKE Finnish Information Society Development Centre is a non-profit organisation founded in 1981 aiming to develop, improve and support a thriving information society and all its digital endeavours.
We help organizations in various ways:
- Projects and initiatives
- Networking and ecosystem work
- Surveys and studies
- Expert services and advice
- Webinars, online trainings and coaching programmes
- Materials and guides
We have a track record working in various project roles: coordination, partner, expert, comms and more. We run around 15 projects per year and are familiar with instruments such as CERV, Erasmus, ERDF and ESF.
We work with wide array of target groups such as SMEs, large companies, educational organizations, public sector and associations.
Don’t hesitate to get in touch to discuss collaboration opportunities with us!
