How and why are digital badges being used in higher education in New Zealand?

Digital technologies, as mediators and facilitators of learning, are altering tertiary education; how when it occurs, what entails, who has access, capabilities skills acknowledged. badges one such technological tool. Created to acknowledge competency, skill or achievement they have been adopted for a variety purposes including motivate learners, recognise accredit learning. Internationally, the use digital is growing; however, much existing literature addresses potential while there relative paucity empirical research, particularly in Australasian region. This research explored within New Zealand’s public higher education sector. Using mixed methods approach (national survey staff followed by interviews), results revealed over half institutions were using planned future. Identified benefits included displaying achievement, motivating learners evidencing Challenges also noted, faculty members’ lack knowledge about badges, inconsistent formal regulation badges. The findings suggest that badge at early adoption stage provide valuable insights from which develop future practice.