Awero team
Cities of Learning heading to Badge Summit across the pond
4 Aug, 14:15
Partners from the Cities of Learning Network will be at the Badge Summit at the University of Colorado Boulder sharing our expertise in Open Badges, and learning from international colleagues.
The summit brings together a whole host of innovators all working in the field of Open Badges, with non-profits, businesses, educators and many more represented.
As well as networking and making connections, you can find the Cities of Learning team delivering sessions too…
In Nerijus’ session, he’ll be sharing knowledge about our Quality Label for badge recognition project, as well as encouraging participants to share their experience of defining quality when it comes to badge recognition and working with stakeholders to standards.
Speaking ahead of the summit, Nerijus said: “We’ve been following Open Badges development across the Atlantic, often learning from organisations and initiatives in the United States, Canada and elsewhere around the globe. Having been involved in the Open Badges community since it began, I’m really looking forward to sharing how we use them in Europe and discovering more about different approaches to the quality of badge recognition.”
7 August: Sustainable growth in badging: decade-long insights from Europe with Laimonas Ragauskas (Lithuania)
In Laimonas’ session he’ll be sharing our experience of developing and growing the Cities of Learning network which began in 2012 with six partners, and now has hundreds of organisations across Europe and beyond issuing Open badges.
Liamonas said: “Over the past decade the Awero team has collaborated with hundreds of partners to create an Open Badges based recognition ecosystem across Europe, and I’m looking forward to sharing that journey. In my session, I'll be diving into the challenges and achievements of scaling and sustaining badging initiatives, fostering international partnerships, and navigating political landscapes..”
20 August: Open Badges: connecting education, business and government in the Netherlands with Sandra Zoomers (Netherlands)
In Sandra’s session she’ll be exploring how Open Badges are transforming the recognition of non-formal learning in the Netherlands with an emphasis on youth work. As part of the session participants will hear how youth work initiatives are connecting with adult education, business, formal education and government bodies through the use of Open Badges, with practical examples of partnerships across sectors.
Sandra said: “We’ve witnessed the transformative power of Open Badges in connecting non-formal education, adult education, business and government, seeing firsthand how these collaborations can create powerful ecosystems of learning and recognition. And, I’m excited to be sharing this at the Badge Summit.”
20 August: Participation badges: Why do they matter in university settings? with Dr Ingrida Lescauskiene (Lithuania)
In Ingrida’s virtual session she’ll be sharing the experience Vilnius Gediminas Technical University has had using badges in its settings. Join Ingrida to discover how the university has been offering badges to recognise achievement at a more granular level during student’s study, as well as in their extracurricular activities.
Ingrida said: “These badges do more than just mark attendance; they document student learning pathways, highlight competencies gained, and foster emotional connections. Most importantly, participation badges encourage student engagement in contact-based activities that build essential interpersonal skills such as communication, teamwork, technical creativity, and intercultural awareness - skills crucial for both personal and professional success.”
If you can’t make it to the sessions, the Cities of Learning team would love to connect with you elsewhere during the summit, so if you see us come and say hello.
20 August: The Lisbon City of Learning: a badge-powered city of learners with Hélder Touças (Portugal)
Hélder Touças from the Lisbon City Council will discuss, along with his team, the Lisbon City of Learning initiative, a transformative effort to promote lifelong learning opportunities for all citizens, particularly the most vulnerable. His session will highlight how the initiative leverages Open Badges and a collaborative ecosystem of over 50 public, private, and third-sector organizations to break down barriers to education and foster an inclusive learning environment in Lisbon. Participants will learn how this initiative is turning Lisbon into a vibrant City of Learning where every individual can explore diverse learning opportunities and showcase their skills through digital badges.
Hélder shared, “The Lisbon City of Learning is more than just a project—it’s a city-wide ecosystem that connects learning with the needs of the community by dismantling barriers of access and ensuring that every citizen has a chance to grow and succeed. By utilizing Open Badges, we’re not just recognizing learning; we’re transforming interests and passions into opportunities for success.”
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