The 21st Century Skills Digital Badging project is a collaboration between the Foundation for California Community Colleges and the New World of Work (NWoW) initiative, and is aligned with the Doing What Matters for Jobs and the Economy framework, which works to establish California Community Colleges as essential catalysts for expanding the state’s workforce and closing the skills gap. The badges are based on employer-driven essential 21^st Century Employability Skills identified by New World of Work:

• Adaptability
• Analysis/solution mindset
• Collaboration
• Communication
• Digital fluency
• Entrepreneurial mindset
• Empathy
• Resilience
• Self-awareness
• Social/diversity awareness

The Foundation and NWoW have conducted trainings with educators on integrating digital badges into their classroom curriculum. Students enrolled in 21st Century Skills courses can now earn digital badges in these areas through LaunchPath.

The following California Community Colleges are currently participating in the project:

• American River College
• Feather River College
• Shasta College
• Sierra College
• Folsom Lake College
• Santa Rosa Junior College
• Pasadena City College
• San Diego Miramar College
• Lassen Community College
• Hartnell College
• Santa Barbara City College
• Columbia College
• Skyline College
• West Hills College - Coalinga
• Lake Tahoe Community College
• College of the Canyons
• College of the Siskiyous
• Evergreen Valley College
• Golden West College
• Napa Valley College
• West Valley College
• Saddleback College

This project receives support from the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship, and is funded through a generous grant from the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office.

Development of the ten 21st Century Skill Digital Badges commenced with the Digital Badging Advisory Group Meeting that took place in Sacramento in August 2015. Leaders in the Community College system, state government, and the business community were convened to provide input on digital badge assessments. Specifically, the 21st Century Skills were discussed thoroughly.  

Advisory group members agreed that the 21st Century Skills, including analysis/solution mindset and social/diversity awareness, are essential for success in the next economy. Members shared observable workplace behaviors that demonstrate attributes of each skill, which have been incorporated into the assessment methods and awarding of digital badges in LaunchPath.

A special thank you to members of our Digital Badging Advisory Group!