Realdegree

Realdegree refers to a method of awarding academic degrees based on real-world experience and skills rather than traditional educational credentials. The concept emerged in the early 21st century, specifically in the context of online and alternative education, as an alternative to established degree-awarding institutions and their traditional methodologies.

The term "realdegree" is derived from the phrase real-world degree. Realdegree systems aim to provide learners with an opportunity to demonstrate competence in specific areas, often by setting up a process for candidates to showcase their skills through works, projects, or professional certifications. Examples include projects completed for a client, certifications in a particular trade or skill, or articles published in a trade publication. Those who pass a rigorous evaluation process, often administered by a panel of experts, can be awarded a degree or certification in a specific field.

Realdegree systems are often applied in areas like alternative education, vocational training, and professional certification. Due to a significant shift towards competency-based assessment in the learning industry, realdegrees help transform a traditional, paper-based certification process into an outcome-based assessment model, where recognition is centered around real-world performance rather than formal academic processes.

Sometimes, realdegrees might not be equivalent in status or recognition as a traditional degree from a mainstream university; however, they are gaining growing acceptance from a diverse range of companies. These organisations value relevant skills and competences, and realdegrees deliver a coherent and more practical way to attest to them.