Education Design Lab, a nonprofit that has pioneered digital badges for soft skills, is launching a platform for microcredentials. Called vsbl (pronounced: visible), it will let colleges embed eight badges covering interpersonal and communication skills such as collaboration, problem-solving and critical thinking into their courses.

These microcredentials are meant to signal to employers that prospective hires have the soft skills necessary to succeed in entry-level positions. Yet company leaders often say these are the very skills recent college graduates lack.

Around 40% of recruiters said job candidates didn't have communication skills, while 30% said the same of critical thinking skills, according to a 2019 survey from software firm Ellucian. Recruiters are also seeking problem-solving, adaptability and time-management skills, research in 2017 from recruiting software provider iCIMS found.

EDL worked with around a dozen colleges to pilot the platform. Higher Ed Dive spoke with Don Fraser Jr., EDL's chief program officer, to learn more about vsbl and where he sees opportunities for microcredentials in higher education.

HIGHER ED DIVE: What problem is vsbl attempting to solve? 

FRASER: We're trying to solve the challenge for learning providers to be intentional about the acquisition, practice and display of 21st century skills or soft skills. Up until now, it's mostly been done implicitly through courses, but that hasn't been enough.

We know that from what employers say about who's coming through the door and whether they have these skills.

Read the full article about soft skills by Natalie Schwartz at Higher Education Dive.