Proposal: Shifting Google Cloud Community Incentives from Swags to Vouchers & Certificates

[THANOS_BROTHER]

@Yugali  It's time to refine how we incentivize participation in Google Cloud community programs. The current focus on physical swags, while popular, often attracts individuals primarily interested in collecting merchandise, leading to superficial engagement. We've seen instances of "shell scripts" being used, which undermines the goal of genuine learning and skill development

To foster a truly responsible and interested learner community, we propose a strategic shift: replace physical swags with Google Cloud Vouchers and official Certificates of Completion.

This change offers critical advantages:

Attracts Authentic Learners: Vouchers (for Qwiklabs credits, exam discounts) directly motivate hands-on practice and deeper skill acquisition.

Provides Real Value: Official Certificates offer verifiable credentials that significantly benefit career growth and professional recognition, far surpassing the ephemeral value of physical items.

Focuses on Quality: By removing swag as the primary draw, we can cultivate a community of dedicated individuals genuinely committed to mastering Google Cloud technologies.

This move aligns directly with empowering users with tangible, valuable skills. We urge the community and Arcade team to consider this change to build a stronger, more skilled Google Cloud ecosystem.

[RAOKS · Accepted solution]

I completely agree with you. Last few months  most of posts are  related  to swags than technical know-how.

Google cloud team should come with way to stop this "scripts" culture of "YouTubers" to complete labs which is taking focus from learning. This also putting  unnecessary load on resources and actual learners are effected .There are some old time youtubers who still focus their content on learning by showing how to do entire lab and what is the purpose of lab.

Gamers are completing 70 to 80 skill badges in 1 1/2 to 2 months through facilitator program . Purpose of providing 600 credits  to learn is deviated. Any one one who concentrates on actual learning know on how much time it takes to complete/learn  skill badge/course .

Request @Yugali and Google cloud team  to come up  with practices/procedures  which focusses only on learning and improving  knowledge and skill.

[sathini]

Absolutely agree!

[GooeyCode]

I agree with most of the points mentioned, but I do have another angle to consider.

One of the main goals might be to increase adoption - among potential users especially students. I am not aware of any competitors having similar initiatives. For me, joining the Arcade actually motivated me to take up certification, so I think it can be a great way to get people started.

That said, I do worry that removing physical swags might reduce interest. Many people only go for credits or discounts when it directly helps their careers. So how many would still be interested in learning GCP just out of curiosity? In the end, it depends on the objectives and budget behind these events. Maybe it is a marketing strategy - and providing swags costs lesser.

However, I am against using scripts. In the end, it is about personal integrity. Some learners do choose to do things the right way, even when they know shortcuts exist. A stricter policy from Google Arcade team could help. But the general sense of entitlement among learners in the forum is sad as the conversations are more focused on these swags.

[seankhurana]

Thank you for bringing up this important discussion. I really appreciate the huge effort the Arcade team puts in every single day, managing over a lakh (100,000+) participants, handling our questions, and fixing lab issues – their dedication to fairness is truly clear. Your idea of moving from physical gifts (swags) to vouchers and certificates is understandable, especially to encourage deeper learning. However, it's important to remember that a main goal of these events is to make more people aware of Google Cloud (GCP) and its services. Physical swags, while simple, are very good at getting new people interested and make the program feel welcoming, acting as a low-cost way to get many to try GCP for the first time. If we only offer vouchers or certifications, some participants might not have an immediate use for them or find them as appealing, potentially lowering overall active participation. It's also clear the Arcade team is already working hard to stop misuse, like taking down videos with scripts, showing their commitment to real learning even with the current rewards. So, while encouraging deep skills is vital, we should be careful not to lose the broad appeal that helps so many new users discover Google Cloud.

[harshrajput2604]

Totally agree with you, providing exam vouchers instead of physical swags would be more valuable for learners or those who are thinking to pursue career in cloud

[debmalya]

Totally agree, while swags are cool, the real value lies in gaining knowledge. Events should prioritize learning and offer more certification vouchers.

[Nishi_90]

Agree 👍🏻 

[rajul97]

No, I do not agree with this because the main purpose of this program is
to educate and spread awareness. Everyone is taking it seriously, and this
is the only program where people are showing such genuine interest.
Everything has its good and bad sides, but if vouchers are introduced just
for swags, it may reduce the value of the program. People might lose
interest and stop taking it seriously. Moreover, this program helps boost
students' morale and confidence.

[Rachit-Garg]

yes i also agree with this decision.

[shubhamgborkar]

@Yugali , I really appreciate the direction of this proposal—shifting from pure swag to meaningful incentives like Google Cloud exam vouchers, certificates, or Qwiklabs credits definitely aligns better with skill-building and long-term growth. These are rewards that truly empower learners and professionals.

That said, I’d like to raise a concern that many of us in the community are noticing. Completely removing swag or mementos might seem fair, but for genuine contributors, these items often serve as motivation and recognition for their consistent effort. They're not just freebies—they're physical reminders of hard work and progress.

Unfortunately, misuse is growing—some participants are using multiple accounts purely for swag farming, which:

Undermines fairness

Demotivates honest learners

Drains valuable resources meant for community growth

A hybrid system could help:

Limit rewards (swag or voucher) to one verified user

Combine digital incentives (certificates, vouchers) with occasional curated swag

Additionally, there’s growing misuse from YouTube channels openly sharing step-by-step scripts and solutions to arcade challenges. These videos often lead to copy-paste behavior rather than actual learning. If possible, a copyright strike system or reporting mechanism could help discourage such behavior and protect the integrity of the Arcade platform.

Let’s make the rewards meaningful and keep the learning ecosystem authentic and fair for all. 🙌

[rajul97]

No, I do not agree with this because the main purpose of this program is to educate and spread awareness. Everyone is taking it seriously, and this is the only program where people are showing such genuine interest. Everything has its good and bad sides, but if vouchers are introduced just for swags, it may reduce the value of the program. People might lose interest and stop taking it seriously. Moreover, this program helps boost students' morale and confidence.

[katiya]

I respectfully disagree. - removing physical swags risks demotivating learners:

• Tangible rewards boost engagement: Studies show items like badges or physical tokens increase participation and momentum, especially in the early stages .
• Physical keepsakes reinforce milestones: Having a visible, tangible reward provides emotional payoff that certificates or vouchers alone can’t match .
• Certificates/vouchers are valuable, but not motivating enough on their own: Without physical tokens, many learners may lose that spark and drop off mid-program.

👉 So, Swag and vouchers/certificates should complement, not replace each other—this combination drives both motivation and real learning.

[GooeyCode]

I agree. The whole purpose of Google Arcade is to introduce the platform to new learners and motivate them. People already in the industry are self-motivated to do certifications for their career growth.

Also, swag vouchers have been discontinued for certifications for sustainability reasons. So we should really be careful about what we wish for.

[Rupankar]

@Yugali I dont agree to this decision, yes everyone is aware of the shell scripts produce by "Youtuber's" disrupting the overall hands on experience for learners but one must not forget that everyone is doing this labs for two things : 
1. To gain knowledge and yes only gaining knowledge will not motivate someone's mind 
2. To motivate and inspire swags definitely play a major role 
if swags will be removed then majority students and learners will lose their interests and thus affecting the overall virtual environment.
I suggest to keep the swags and yes google can limit then and also provide certificates but not totally replace them with "Vouchers & certificates"

[Saniya45]

I completely do agree with you

[Adyasha]

Yes, Google Cloud Certification are more helpful for getting jobs.

[JainishPatel]

Lol bro haven't knowledge of promotion lol actually they promoting google cloud through swags