The conference, hosted by UPCEA and AACRAO, centers on the shifting landscape of higher education where institutional prestige is increasingly measured by learner mobility. Booker and Tolnai will lead discussions on creating value chains that link life experiences directly to academic and professional outcomes. Their sessions will specifically outline how "CPL-to-skills-to-microcredential" workflows help institutions provide tangible value to students long before a final degree is awarded.
In section Releases
University of Phoenix leaders to chart future of credential innovation
Marc Booker and Cate Tolnai are taking the stage at the 2026 Convergence conference in Washington, D.C., to challenge traditional academic models. The University of Phoenix executives aim to demonstrate how integrating prior learning assessments, skills recognition, and microcredentials can fundamentally reshape how students translate experience into career advancement.
Beyond technical integration, the presenters are tackling the cultural shift toward skills-based hiring. Tolnai is slated to co-present a session on future-casting, utilizing AI-enabled assessment frameworks to help educators anticipate trends in credentialing. The duo will also contribute to panels on the expanding spectrum of credit for prior learning, ranging from portfolio assessments to challenge exams, as universities seek more equitable pathways for working adults. These appearances build on a year of industry engagement for the university, following contributions at major forums including the ASU+GSV Summit and SXSW EDU.
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first!