By Sri Ravipati

A new digital marketplace, launched on Thursday, is helping colleges and universities turn existing courses and content into certificates and digital credentials. Course Market aims to streamline any institution's ability to deliver modular course offerings that meet shifting learner and employer demands.

A collaborative effort among education technology companies, Course Market combines iDesign’s design and processing support, Instructure’s learning management system technology and Credly’s credential technology, allowing institutions to:

• Enroll students in continuing education programs;
• Accept payments;
• Deliver content; and
• Issue digital badges or certificates, shareable via LinkedIn or Facebook.
  

For the initial launch, Course Market is offering several online courses from the University of Pittsburgh, which piloted Course Market earlier this year to deliver online courses offered at the Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business. The project provides alternative learning options for students in the Management Essentials certificate program.

"Alternative credentials are unquestionably gaining traction among working adults looking for accelerated pathways to new schools and executive education. We view Course Market as a great tool for universities that want to expand access to learners who may otherwise be unable to take advantage of traditional degree programs," said William Valenta, assistant dean of MBA and executive programs at University of Pittsburgh, Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business, in a prepared statement.

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