Awarding micro-credentials using digital badges has recently gained momentum in Japanese higher education. However, the digital badge system has grown in the Liberal Skill Formation System, facilitating short-term adaptation to job-based employment culture. East Asian countries, on the other hand, have developed a different lifelong learning storage system known as the Academic Credit Bank. The badge system and credit bank have their own benefits and adaptability; therefore, this paper overviews their usage in each East Asian country with their different skill formation systems. In conclusion, the badge system has more strength in job-connected fields such as professional education, technology, and engineering. However, a central credential storage platform is also necessary for verifying macro-credentials, such as degrees and graduate certification, and various credits that will be accumulated to attain them.
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