Original article on Nationale Onderwijsgids
One in three organizations ticks the box: the certificate counts more than proven competence
Nearly half (48%) of employees in essential roles feel that simply showing up for an in-person or virtual course is enough to receive a certificate or diploma. A certificate therefore no longer guarantees proficiency. That is the conclusion of research by Drillster (opens in new tab), the specialist in adaptive learning, among more than 1,000 employees in essential professions such as healthcare, education, and public transport.
The “checkbox culture”
One in three (33%) employees in essential roles admits that their organization operates with a “checkbox culture”: processes and policies are controlled using checklists. As long as team members hold the required certificates and diplomas, the boxes are ticked. Yet that does not automatically translate into the right level of knowledge. Employees report that many courses bring limited value. More than one in three (36%) says they gain little from the online programs they take. Classroom days perform better; only 13% indicate they get little out of an in-person course.
Marco van Sterkenburg, CEO at Drillster, explains: “When employees take a course or training program, it is essential that critical knowledge and skills stick. Employers want their teams to have the right, up-to-date expertise at all times. Because attendance alone is often enough, diplomas and certificates have little practical value. It is alarming to settle for a piece of paper—it may grant authorization, but it does not guarantee capability. The consequences can be severe in essential sectors. A continuous learning solution that provides constant insights into knowledge levels, instead of sporadically checking whether everyone is up to date, is far more effective. That holds true even when it is an online solution.”
Download the research report here.
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