There is a growing premium placed on data related to student performance, progress to degree, and prospects after graduation. These measures relative to the cost of attendance seems to equal value these days.
The concept of open badges could also pose a challenge to existing educational institutions, given that they might no longer be the chief conduits for awarding qualifications. Will they fight against the concept of badges or make fundamental changes to become part of the lifelong learning ecosystem, recognising badges in the entry process and awarding badges for more than just the core skills set out by a course, e.g. awarding value badges and recognising badges awarded by peers?
" Openness - concepts like open content, open data, and open resources, along with notions of transparency and easy access to data and information - is moving from a trend to a value for much of the world. As authoritative sources lose their importance, there is need for more curation and other forms of validation to generate meaning in information and media."