University of Phoenix Shares Standards-Based Approach to Career-Aligned Micro-Credentials

Director of Microcredentials and Innovation Credential Strategy Cate Tolnai spotlights framework, open standards, and industry collaboration at 1EdTech 2026 Digital Credentials Summit.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 5:58pm

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University of Phoenix's Cate Tolnai presented at the 1EdTech 2026 Digital Credentials Summit, discussing how higher education and industry can co-design stackable, transferable micro-credentials that align with employer-validated skills and strengthen learner agency. Tolnai highlighted the University's Career Pathways framework and collaboration with EC-Council as a model for leveraging interoperability and open standards to create portable, verifiable credentials.

Why it matters

As employer demand grows across fast-evolving fields, the University's digital badging work supports working adult learners by helping them translate learning into clear, shareable evidence of assessed skills as they progress toward longer-term career goals. This approach aims to make credential pathways more responsive, portable, and verifiable for learners.

The details

In her session, Tolnai provided guidance on credential strategy and employer collaboration, including criteria for determining when a single micro-credential is sufficient versus when a full pathway is needed. She also discussed how the University's framework leverages interoperability standards like Open Badges 3.0, CTDL, and the TrustEd Credential Framework to align academic learning with employer-validated credentials.

  • The 1EdTech 2026 Digital Credentials Summit took place from February 18-20, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The players

Cate Tolnai

Director of Microcredentials and Innovation Credential Strategy at University of Phoenix.

EC-Council

A global cybersecurity certification body dedicated to advancing the information security profession through skill development and applied artificial intelligence education.

University of Phoenix

A university that innovates to help working adults enhance their careers and develop skills in a rapidly changing world.

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What they’re saying

“This community is proving what's possible when we build credential ecosystems that actually work for learners. For working adults, portable, verifiable credentials can turn progress into momentum—helping them communicate capabilities clearly and confidently as they build toward larger career-aligned competencies.”

— Cate Tolnai, Director, Microcredentials and Innovation Credentials Strategy

What’s next

The University of Phoenix recently announced a new cybersecurity pathway aligned with EC-Council competencies, building on the collaboration discussed at the summit.

The takeaway

University of Phoenix's approach to micro-credentials demonstrates how higher education and industry can work together to create portable, verifiable credential pathways that empower working adult learners to clearly communicate their skills and progress toward in-demand career goals.