How are World Vision Using HPass Digital Badging: Q&A with Ashley Inselman
HPass is growing fast. There are currently over 23,500 myHPass users, and 30 organisations are using HPass to issue digital badges to their staff, volunteers and learners. World Vision has been with us since the start of our journey. We spoke to Ashley Inselman, Technical Director in charge of Humanitarian Capacity, to find out how they are getting on.
What are some of the skills/learning that are important for the global staff of World Vision to demonstrate, and how does HPass help?
World Vision uses a competency-based framework (link to career in humanitarian sector page) which assesses knowledge, attitude and skills. We have both technical competencies which we support staff to develop (for example WASH or Child Protection), and general Disaster Management competencies. A few examples of these would be ‘Be Safe and Resilient’ (security and self-care), ‘Partner and Collaborate’ (emphasising the importance of cross-cultural collaboration), and ‘Embrace Change’ (particularly important for humanitarians who operate in fast-moving contexts).
HPass helps us recognize the knowledge acquisition element of some these competencies, and somewhat the skills where there are simulations and case studies as part of the training. We currently have seventeen different badges which we issue to our staff.
How are you using HPass to recognise these skills, and what are the benefits to using digital badges?
World Vision is using HPass to validate the acquisition of knowledge. Many of our trainings require a kind of simulation or case-study which we hope will translate into “skills” when learners are put into a deployment situation. Benefits of badging include an “external” kind of validation of the learner’s dedication and accomplishment as they often don’t have any other opportunities for self-development such as diplomas or advanced academic studies.
You have been involved with HPass since its inception, what potential do you see for a sector-wide approach to recognising humanitarian skills and experience?
Similar to platforms like LinkedIn, I think it will take time for HPass to catch on and as more and more people see the benefits and create profiles, it will gain in greater acceptance and use. The more that the NGO community can promote it, and raise awareness, the faster it will catch on. It should not be seen as an alternative to LinkedIn but rather, a complementary platform for humanitarians to demonstrate their verified knowledge. It would be wonderful to see HPass used for recruitment in future as well.
What’s next for World Vision, are there further badges your staff will be able to earn?
YES! We are looking at expanding our use of badges. In 2021, we were able to add about 12 new badges. As World Vision’s primary focus is operational work in the field, we do not turn out as many courses for badging as an organization whose mandate is to provide learning resources. However, with the pandemic creating more demand for online resources, and looking at becoming more sustainable in the area of learning and development, there are new courses in the works!
What process did you use to develop badges within your organisation, and who did you consult?
Unlike some organizations that have one department that creates all learning content for the organization, World Vision is a federation of offices and departments and all of us create content to sit on our Learning Management System. I have had success in approaching colleagues in other parts of the organization and helping them see the benefit to their learners of badging their content with HPass badges. Hopefully, more and more instructional designers and learning/training authors will see this and want to be part of HPass as well.
