New Economy Skills Unlocking the Human Advantage 2025

CASE STUDY 6 University of Los Andes, Colombia: prove competence in practice Context: Based in Bogotá, Colombia, the University of Los Andes is introducing undergraduate digital credentials to make specific competencies with high professional value visible, verifiable and portable before degree completion. Soon, this will also include competencies in interdisciplinary areas related to critical global challenges, such as global environmental change and public management, and in human-centric skills such as leadership. The initiative recognizes that employers increasingly prioritize evidence of competency in real contexts over traditional transcripts. Approach: Each credential is built around a formative pathway of at least 10 academic credits, combining courses, internships and experiential learning. Completion alone does not confer a credential: students must pass an authentic performance evaluation that provides concrete evidence of applied competence in real or simulated work. Credentials are student-initiated yet centrally verified for integrity; once requirements are met, the Registration Office issues a blockchain-secured digital badge to ensure authenticity, portability and employer-friendly validation. Digital badges and micro-credentials are recognized within formal programmes, not merely as co-curricular add-ons. The model is designed for scale: three undergraduate credentials were approved in September 2024 from the School of Faculty of Arts and Humanities, with additional offerings in development across the university’s 11 schools that will be underpinned by critical human-centric skills including active listening, communication, emotional intelligence and collaboration. To keep offerings aligned with emerging labour-market needs, the institution uses an AI- powered trend analysis tool to identify high-demand topics in both academic and professional fields and inform the design of new pathways courses and programmes. Results: Though early in implementation, the approach modernizes academic options or minors into competency- based, credentialled pathways. The initiative aims to improve employability and entrepreneurship preparation to current students and future graduates by certifying competencies prior to graduation and offering meaningful recognition for students who exit early. The assessment’s first design, grounded in authentic performance evaluation, assures employers that credentials represent proven capability, while blockchain-verified badges streamline verification and reduce administrative burdens. It builds on the model of micro-credentials offered through the continuing education portfolio, which certify employability-valued competencies through digital badges, based on verified evidence that learners have acquired these skills. New Economy Skills: Unlocking the Human Advantage 35