Razan Alslaysil was already working in the fashion industry and found Central Michigan University’s online program while looking for an online program that would help her pursue her creative goals and long-term dreams.
A new microcredentialing program is helping Alslaysil, who lives in Kuwait, demonstrate how her academic work translates into real-world fashion skills.
Alslaysil has earned the Fashion Styling & Digital Communication and Fashion Retail Management badges through the program. She said that they’re proving value as she works in the fashion industry while also pursuing her degree.
“I actively reference these badges when applying for internships and entry-level roles, as they clearly communicate my skills to industry professionals,” she said.
The Fashion Merchandising and Design Digital Badges program was prototyped by a Cotton Sustainability badge developed by Seung-Eun (Joy) Lee, a faculty member in the Fashion, Interior Design and Merchandising department. The fashion department partnered with CMU Online to develop the full badge program.
Students can qualify for badges based on the courses they take and skills they demonstrate.
“We recognized the benefits of digital badges, such as how they motivate and recognize student achievement while increasing visibility in the job market,” said Lee, a faculty member in the Fashion, Interior Design and Merchandising Department. “We wanted those benefits to be available to all fashion, merchandising and design students, so we built a program-wide badge initiative.”
Students can share the badges on LinkedIn or through digital portfolios. There are 25 total badges available along six pathways. Each badge may be earned through stackable levels that progress from basic to advanced.
There are a few paths that fashion students follow, and it’s always easy for students to communicate the skills they’ve developed. For Oster, who wants to go into purchasing, her badges help businesses screen potential employees for the skills they’re looking for.
“This is a great way to show what specific skills you’ve developed and classes you’ve taken,” said Oster, who is also in the fashion program’s accelerated master’s degree program.
Oster has earned 11 badges, including the advanced badges of Fashion Buying & Retail Operations and Fashion Brand Building & Promoting.
College of Education & Human Services, News