Innovation in digital credentialing for quality assurance (QA) took centre stage at the 2025 Caribbean Area Network for Quality Assurance in Tertiary Education (CANQATE) Conference, held from November 11–13, 2025, in Belize City. Dr Jako Olivier, Adviser: Higher Education at the Commonwealth of Learning (COL), delivered a pre-conference workshop and a keynote address at the invitation of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Technology of Belize.
The conference, hosted under the theme Next-Gen QA: Metrics that Matter, opened with a pre-conference workshop on 11 November attended by more than 60 participants. Dr Olivier guided delegates through emerging trends in credential integrity, highlighting how digital badging, blockchain and artificial intelligence can support secure, interoperable recognition systems across the Caribbean. Participants engaged in practical activities to assess readiness for technology-enabled QA, with COL’s micro-credentials work and the Commonwealth Micro-credential Framework for Lifelong Learning featuring prominently.
The conference formally commenced on 12 November with opening remarks from Belizean and regional leaders, among them Dr Angel Cal, Chair of the National Accreditation Council of Belize, and Mr Fabrice Henard, former CEO of International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education and an address by the Honourable Oscar Requena, Minister of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.
On the second day, keynote addresses explored regional QA developments and the role of generative artificial intelligence. A panel on micro-credentials underscored growing momentum across Caribbean institutions. Dr Olivier then delivered his keynote, emphasising the shift from transactional recognition to reciprocal lifelong learning systems grounded in openness, collaboration and interoperable micro-credential frameworks.
The conference, attended by 170 participants from across the Caribbean region, generated strong interest in COL’s initiatives. Dr Olivier engaged with policymakers, national QA agencies and institutional leaders, identifying several opportunities for future partnership. His participation helped strengthen regional understanding of COL’s leadership in micro-credentials and QA in open and distance learning. COL is now following up with interested attendees and CANQATE to explore concrete avenues for joint initiatives, ensuring sustained collaboration and strengthened quality assurance capacity across the Caribbean region.
Image caption: Dr Olivier presented a copy of the Towards a Micro-credential Framework for the Commonwealth report to the Honourable Oscar Requena, Minister of Education, Science & Technology of Belize and Honourable Ramon Cervantes, Jr., Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Science & Technology of Belize.
