Chester Credentials: students as partners in the co-designing of online short courses

11.40am – 12.40pm BST, 3 July 2025 ‐ 1 hour

Workshop

The University of Chester’s Education Plan outlined the concept of Chester Credentials: a suite of nano-credentials (online, non-credit bearing short courses) created by the university as a means of enabling students to showcase digital certificate accolades to prospective employers. Upon completion of the nano-credentials, Chester students are awarded a digital badge in topics including ‘Introduction to Digital Literacy’ and ‘Career Preparation’.

Chester Credentials’ distinctiveness stems from its innovative approach of having students as partners in the co-designing, road testing and marketing of the nano-credentials, including:

• Student Council and the wider student body participating in concept-testing surveys.
• A student being paid to function as a consultant for the Chester Credentials Working Group, collaborating with academics and professional services staff.
• Students being paid to function as beta testers and road test the final suite of nano-credentials.

In this workshop, a University of Chester student and professional services colleagues discuss aspects of this pilot project, including:

• Approaches to incorporating students as partners in the co-designing and road-testing of projects.
• How nano-credentials can be used as a vehicle to develop students’ academic and employability skills.
• Ethical aspects surrounding students as partners (including payment for services rendered).

Speakers

Richard Hind

Learning Technologist, University of Chester

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Richard Mendez

DASA (Directorate of Access, Skills & Apprenticeships), University of Chester

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Richard Hind

Learning Technologist, University of Chester

Richard Hind works as a Learning Technologist for eight years, and within higher education for ten. Supporting faculties across the University of Chester on dozens of projects.  His focus is always around the user experience for both staff and student, removing the friction that causes engagement to decline. His current projects are within game-based learning, encouraging team-based experiential learning in policing and criminology through repeatable practice and externally focussed University content to preload and prepare students coming to the University of Chester.

: richard-hind-972b91195

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Richard Mendez

DASA (Directorate of Access, Skills & Apprenticeships), University of Chester

Richard Mendez is the Director of DASA (Directorate of Access, Skills & Apprenticeships) at the University of Chester. The role entails strategic oversight for a multi-discipline directorate that supports students across the entirety of the student journey; from access through to progression. The directorate has oversight for several student success services including academic skills, access and participation, careers and employability, degree apprenticeships, outreach and work-based learning (curriculum-based placements). Richard has presented keynote talks and conference papers on the topics of widening participation, curriculum development and employability in the UK and abroad.

: richard-mendez-22a0112a