Prison learners now able to access digital badges with City and Guilds

At Novus, providing learners access to digital skills happens across all of our curriculum areas. We are very aware that without support, the pace of change in technology can leave learners at a real digital disadvantage, even with shorter sentences. 

Despite this strong focus on digital, until recently, learners still weren't able to access digital education records on release in the same way that learners from mainstream provision have been able to. 

However, thanks to hard work and collaboration, in recent months, a team made up of colleagues from Novus, Novus Works, HMP Humber and City and Guilds have made sure that a Novus learner was able to receive a City and Guilds Digital Credential for qualifications achieved whilst in custody. 

What are Digital Credentials?

City and Guilds Digital Credentials allow learners to achieve digital certificates. These certificates list the skills and other criteria gained in achieving the qualifications. Learners are issued with a badge, or digital certificate that can be shared on social media platforms like LinkedIn and the badge can also be shared with potential employers via email, which helps to validate their qualifications quickly and showcase the skills and knowledge the learners have gained. 

More information on the digital credentials is available on the City and Guilds website: Digital Credentials | City & Guilds. 

Why are digital certificates only happening now in prison education?

Prison learning has so many more additional complexities around security and access to technology and data. Whilst in prison, learners don't have access to email, which is a requirement of obtaining the Digital Credentials. 

In the recent case, the learner achieved Level 3 in Computer Aided Design (CAD) at HMP Humber. The collaborative team at the prison then worked very hard to make sure that we were able to support the learner, giving them the access to the information that they needed when leaving prison. Novus Admin Team, Digital Team and Novus Works supported the learner to register and receive his City and Guilds Digital Credentials

The learner received a Digital Badge, detailing the qualification and the criteria gained. He has added to his LinkedIn profile to help with seeking employment and can also send a link of the digital badge to potential employers with his application via email. 

It took a lot to make this first digital qualification happen, but we are looking forward to making this more commonplace in the future and making it easier for even more learners to find successful careers on release. 

For more information on digital education in prison and how we support learners into employment, visit the news section on our website.