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Glossary
Short meanings for the letters and terms you see on IKON SKILLS™.
IKON Practitioner
You. The person who learns, practices, and proves practical skills on IKON SKILLS™. One account opens Micro-Credentials, Community, dashboard, and certificates.
Micro-Credential
A Proof of Practical Skill (PPS™) credential with 10 Core Competencies and 10 ECTS. You earn a Certificate of Mastery when you finish.
Proof of Practical Skill (PPS™)
Proof of Practical Skill (PPS™) is the IKON SKILLS™ standard. In each Micro-Credential you practice and show the skill in realistic work scenarios through Learning, Practice, Final Scenario Assessment, and Reflection. When you finish, you earn a Certificate of Mastery.
Core Competency
One skill inside a Micro-Credential. Each Micro-Credential has 10 Core Competencies. Each has its own Learning Journey.
Domain
A work field, such as AI & Automation or Energy, Sustainability & Green Economy. IKON SKILLS™ focuses on emerging work fields, where new jobs and skills are growing. There are 40 Domains. Each Domain groups job-role Micro-Credentials you can browse and stack.
Learning Journey
The path for one Core Competency. It usually runs Warm-up, Learning, Practice 1 to 4, Final Scenario Assessment, then Reflection. Practice is for learning only. Final Scenario Assessment and Reflection together decide Competent or Not Yet Competent.
Dashboard
Your home page after you sign in. It shows pathways, Micro-Credentials, points, profile, and next steps. You claim a free Micro-Credential with spendable learning points from here.
EQF (European Qualifications Framework)(EQF)
A shared European scale for skill levels. On IKON SKILLS™ we write EQF level-N aligned (for example EQF level-7 aligned). That means the Micro-Credential is built to align with that level of job skill.
ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System)(ECTS)
Study-load credits used across Europe. Every IKON SKILLS™ Micro-Credential carries 10 ECTS.
AIP (AI Interaction Points)(AIP)
Each time IKO builds a scenario or scores an answer, one point is used. The guide shows x of 20. You can still retry after 20. These points never block you. They are not reward points. Only spendable learning reward points can unlock a free Micro-Credential.
Points
Verified learning earns learning points. Approved participation earns activity points within daily and lifetime limits. Activity has a limited contribution to level points. Levels also require completed Micro-Credentials and, for some levels, completed degree pathways. Only spendable learning points buy free Micro-Credentials; spending never reduces lifetime level points. Learning points have no lifetime cap. See How you earn points below for the current admin-configured rates and requirements. A redemption code is separate from points.
Leaderboard
A Community ranking that shows Practitioners by points and related activity. It is for recognition only. It does not change your Competent result.
Redemption code
A code you type on the Redeem page. If it is valid, that Micro-Credential unlocks at once with no payment. This is not the same as spending points.
Certificate of Mastery
The certificate IKON SKILLS™ issues when you finish a Micro-Credential. It shows Proof of Practical Skill (PPS™). You can open a verify link from My Certificates or the certificate page. Use your legal name on your profile so it appears correctly.
Emerging Degree
A pathway built by stacking Micro-Credentials on IKON SKILLS™ toward a Bachelor, Master, or DProf with European International University, EIU-Paris. Standard stacks are Bachelor 18, Master 24, and DProf 36 Micro-Credentials (some education paths differ). EIU-Paris assigns your real student ID number and issues the Emerging Degree documents on its own site. University enrollment and credential fees are paid to EIU-Paris, not here.
Student ID number
The ID number European International University, EIU-Paris assigns when you choose an Emerging Degree path. It is issued on the EIU-Paris site, not by IKON SKILLS™.
European International University, EIU-Paris
The university in Paris, France, that awards the Emerging Degrees. EIU-Paris Emerging Degrees are powered by IKON SKILLS™. When you choose an Emerging Degree path, EIU-Paris gives you a student ID number and issues your Emerging Degree documents, such as your transcript. IKON SKILLS™ gives you the Certificate of Mastery for each Micro-Credential.
BDP (Business Development Partner)
A partner who brings Practitioners to IKON SKILLS™. BDPs can earn USD 5 per Micro-Credential sold and a share of the Emerging Degree fee after EIU-Paris confirms it is paid.
Doctor of Professional Practice (DProf)
An Emerging Degree pathway made of many Micro-Credentials at EQF level-8 aligned practice.
IKO (IKON Kortex Optimizer)
IKO (IKON Kortex Optimizer) is your guide inside the IKON SKILLS™ ecosystem. Real-time AI interactions with IKO are core to IKON SKILLS™. IKO builds a new workplace scenario for each Core Competency, reads your answers, and gives you clear feedback on what to improve. IKO helps you practice, but you show the skill yourself. IKO was formerly the IKON Intelligence™ AI Competency Engine. It was renamed IKO once it took form and shape.
The World Brands Foundation (TWBF)
Custodian of The BrandLaureate Awards and of TBAC | IBES, The BrandLaureate Accreditation Council and its International Brand Excellence Standard. Named on Brand Leadership and related Certificate of Mastery materials.
Community
The peer area inside IKON SKILLS™. It includes a feed, chat, events, Profiling, and 12 topic groups: Teaching and Learning; People and Wellbeing; Health and Care; Brand and Growth; Strategy and Ventures; Finance and Governance; AI and Data; Software and Cloud; Machines and Manufacturing; Mobility and Space; Energy and Climate; Supply Chain and Buildings. There is no separate Community login.
Profiling
A short preference test in Community. It matches you to domains, Micro-Credentials, Emerging Degrees, news, jobs, and Community groups. It is a preference match, not a grade, and it does not decide Competent.
Warm-up: where you're starting
Not scored. Tell IKO your starting point so Learning and Practice fit your real work.
Practice
Steps Practice 1 to 4 are for learning only. You get feedback and you can retry anytime. They do not decide Competent or Not Yet Competent.
Final Scenario Assessment
The main skill check for a Core Competency. Together with Reflection, it decides Competent or Not Yet Competent (75% or more is Competent). You can retry anytime. Your best score is the one that counts.
Reflection
A short written note after the Final Scenario Assessment. It counts with that assessment toward Competent or Not Yet Competent. You can retry anytime. Your best score is the one that counts.
Spaced review
Short reminders to practice again after you finish a Core Competency, so you remember the skill and keep using it.
Competent
You reached 75% or more on the combined Final Scenario Assessment and Reflection for that Core Competency.
Not Yet Competent
You scored below 75% on the combined Final Scenario Assessment and Reflection. You can retry either part anytime. Your best score on each part is the one that counts.
How you earn points
Learning points — no daily or lifetime cap
- Clear a Core Competency: 1 learning point, once for each Core Competency cleared at Competent or better.
- Finish a Micro-Credential: 10 learning points, once per Micro-Credential finished.
- Finish an Emerging Degree pathway: All required Micro-Credentials: Bachelor 100, Master 200, Doctor 400 learning points, once per degree. This rewards pathway completion; EIU-Paris issues the degree.
Activity points — 1 per day, 300 lifetime
- Complete Profiling: 5 activity points once, exempt from the daily limit but included in the lifetime activity limit.
- Share a validated social post: 0.1 activity points per checked link, maximum 1 per day.
- Share your Skills Passport: 1 activity point, once every 7 days.
- Publish a helpful Community post: 0.1 activity points. Original published text only.
- Publish a helpful Community comment: 0.1 activity points; at least 20 characters, on another Practitioner’s post.
- Finish IKON Challenge™: 0.1 activity points per server-graded Trivia or Scramble round. Reveal earns no credit. No Duo.
Levels and free Micro-Credentials
- Learning comes first: Activity points can never make up more than 10% of your level points; learning always comes first. Levels also require completed Micro-Credentials and, for Mentor/Fellow, degree pathways.
- Use learning points only: 200 spendable learning points unlock one free Micro-Credential, up to 20 per Practitioner. Spending never reduces lifetime level points. Points keep counting beyond 5,000.
Level requirements — meet both points and completed Micro-Credentials
- IKON Starter: 100 level points + 2 completed Micro-Credentials.
- IKON Builder: 250 level points + 5 completed Micro-Credentials.
- IKON Specialist: 500 level points + 10 completed Micro-Credentials.
- Master Practitioner: 1000 level points + 25 completed Micro-Credentials.
- Senior Master: 2000 level points + 50 completed Micro-Credentials.
- Mentor: 3000 level points + 100 completed Micro-Credentials + 1 Bachelor pathway.
- Ambassador: 4000 level points + 150 completed Micro-Credentials.
- IKON Fellow: 5000 level points + 200 completed Micro-Credentials + 1 Master pathway.
Recognition certificates with verification QR codes are issued automatically from Master Practitioner up. The same rules apply to direct, affiliate, white-label, company, organization and sponsor-code Practitioners. Owner and QA accounts earn zero. Only work done counts.