How Solving Plastic Waste CRC is using My eQuals digital badges to support lifelong learning

Building workforce capability in the plastics sector with My eQuals

In 2024, Solving Plastic Waste CRC became the first Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) to join My eQuals — marking an important step forward in recognising skills and supporting lifelong learning in Australia’s plastics sector.

Led by Microcredential Manager Deb Friel, the initiative is helping learners, researchers and industry professionals showcase their skills through trusted digital badges issued via My eQuals.

Established in July 2024, Solving Plastic Waste CRC is a 10-year cooperative research centre bringing together universities, industry and research partners to address Australia’s plastic waste challenges. Alongside its research programs, the CRC is also focused on developing workforce capability through microcredentials and professional learning pathways.

Supporting a new generation of learners

Deb Friel leads the development of microcredentials and training pathways for PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, industry professionals and the broader community.

The goal is to create accessible, industry-aligned learning opportunities that help learners build skills while providing credible recognition for those achievements.

“We wanted learners to have a clear and trusted way to demonstrate their skills,” says Deb.

By partnering with My eQuals, Solving Plastic Waste CRC is able to issue digital badges that complement formal qualifications such as degrees and testamurs, while also supporting learners outside traditional university pathways.

Why Solving Plastic Waste CRC chose My eQuals

With 11 university partners involved in the CRC, the organisation needed a trusted digital credentialing platform that could support collaboration across higher education and industry.

“My eQuals already has strong recognition across the Australian university sector,” Deb explains. “That made it a natural fit for us.”

Another key benefit was the ability for learners to curate their own digital profiles — bringing together badges, qualifications and other credentials into a single portable portfolio.

This creates a more connected learner experience and helps individuals demonstrate lifelong learning in a clear and credible way.

The growing importance of digital badges

As short-form learning and microcredentials continue to grow, trusted recognition becomes increasingly important.

Digital badges provide learners with verifiable evidence of their skills and achievements, allowing employers and industry partners to instantly validate credentials.

For learners, this means:

• Greater visibility of skills and capabilities
• Stronger employability outcomes
• Recognition for ongoing professional development
• Pathways into further study and qualifications

For industry, it supports workforce upskilling and helps organisations respond to rapidly evolving skills needs.

“This collaborative approach not only accelerates the translation of research into practical application,” says Deb, “but also helps ensure graduates are job-ready and equipped with competencies relevant to emerging sectors and national priorities.”

A practical approach to lifelong learning

For many professionals, maintaining industry registration and remaining current in their field requires ongoing learning and evidence of skill development.

Digital credentials help bridge the gap between formal education and continuous professional learning by making skills more visible and portable throughout a learner’s career journey.

“The acquisition of skills — and being able to show them via digital badges — can improve employability and provide lifelong learning opportunities,” Deb says.

The approach also supports clearer pathways between vocational education, higher education and industry learning.

Lessons learned along the way

Implementing a new digital credentialing strategy requires more than just technology. According to Deb, one of the biggest lessons has been the importance of building understanding and confidence internally.

“It’s imperative to really know the product so you can clearly articulate the value to both your internal teams and learners,” she says.

Early planning, clear badge methodologies and alignment with organisational branding have all been critical to success.

One ongoing challenge is encouraging badge uptake and helping learners recognise the value of claiming, sharing and curating their credentials over time.

Looking ahead: the future of the skills economy

Over the next decade, Solving Plastic Waste CRC expects growing demand for workforce upskilling across the plastics sector — from research and manufacturing through to recycling and circular economy initiatives.

Microcredentials and digital badges will play an important role in supporting this evolving skills landscape.

Deb believes broader integration of microcredentials into Australia’s education and qualifications frameworks will be essential as lifelong learning becomes increasingly important across industries.

“Microcredentials can enhance workforce capability through a reimagined education system,” she says, “enabling recognition of skills throughout the lifelong learning journey.”

As Australia’s skills economy continues to evolve, initiatives like this demonstrate how trusted digital credentials can help connect education, industry and employability in more meaningful ways.

About Solving Plastic Waste CRC

Solving Plastic Waste CRC was established in July 2024 as a 10-year cooperative research centre focused on addressing Australia’s plastic waste challenges.

Its research programs focus on:

• Upgrading high-volume plastic waste streams
• Increasing mechanical recycling of end-of-life plastics
• Enabling a circular economy for plastics
• Reducing the transmission of microplastics into soils

The CRC currently offers six microcredential courses designed to support workforce capability and lifelong learning across the plastics sector.