SIM Unlocks Career Agility Through Micro-Credentials - Taiwan News

Micro credentials are short, focused courses designed to equip professionals with in demand skills quickly. Unlike full degree programs, they enable learners to upskill or reskill without disrupting their careers. For industries shaped by rapid technological change such as digital marketing, artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, and sustainability, these credentials are becoming essential for staying relevant. According to the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025, 39% of workers' core skills will change by 2030, and 59% of the global workforce will need reskilling to meet evolving demands. This shift, driven by automation, AI, and sustainability imperatives, makes continuous learning a necessity rather than an option.

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6269858

The Skills Revolution: Why 63% of Americans Say Four-Year Degrees Aren't Worth the Debt - Chris John, University Herald

Something fundamental has shifted in American attitudes toward higher education. In a startling reversal, 63% of registered voters now believe a four-year college degree isn't worth the cost, according to recent NBC News polling—a dramatic increase from just 47% in 2017 and 40% in 2013. The numbers tell a story of eroding confidence. Only 33% now agree that a degree is worth the cost, down from 53% just over a decade ago. Even more telling: this sentiment isn't confined to those without degrees. College graduates themselves have flipped, with only 46% now saying obtaining a degree is worth the cost versus 63% in 2013. "The cost overwhelms the value," explained Jacob Kennedy, a 28-year-old Detroit resident with a two-year degree who now works in the service industry. "You go to school with all that student debt—the jobs you get out of college don't pay that debt, so you have to go find something else that can pay that debt."

https://www.universityherald.com/articles/80061/20251222/skills-revolution-why-63-americans-say-four-year-degrees-arent-worth-debt.htm

How two new rules are reshaping career education - Dana Godek, University Business

The new gainful employment and financial value transparency rules fundamentally change the way the federal government decides which college programs deserve access to federal financial aid. Instead of assuming that anything offered by a college has inherent value, the government is now asking a more pointed question: Does this program actually improve a student’s economic future compared to what they could earn with a high school diploma or a short-term workforce certificate? Under these rules, colleges must show evidence that their graduates earn more than typical high school graduates and more than those completing equivalent certificates that are often available through high school CTE, workforce boards or industry credentialing bodies. Programs that cannot demonstrate this “value add” are now at risk of losing eligibility for Pell Grants, federal loans and work-study.

https://universitybusiness.com/gainful-employment-financial-value-transparency-rules-reshaping-career-education/

DELSU VC Commended For Online Certificate Processing Initiative - Oasis Magazine

Graduates of Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, can now process and monitor the collection of their certificates online, following the introduction of a new digital platform by the university management.The system enables alumni to complete all required procedures and track the status of their certificates remotely, significantly reducing delays and eliminating the need for repeated physical visits to the university. The initiative is part of DELSU’s broader efforts to improve efficiency and enhance service delivery through digital innovation. The development has attracted widespread commendation, with many stakeholders praising the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Samuel Ogheneovo Asagba, for removing middlemen who often exploit graduates during the certificate collection process.

https://oasismagazine.com.ng/2025/12/delsu-vc-commended-for-online-certificate-processing-initiative/

The Future of Learning Will be Shaped By a Growing Focus On Agile, Job-Ready Skills, Says Prof Akanazu - This Day Live

Discussions at the forum reflected a shared understanding that the future of work, innovation, and productivity is inseparable from how effectively a nation equips its people with relevant, adaptable skills. Contributing to this dialogue as a panellist, the Executive Principal of Docenti Global Business School and former country director and co-founder of Rome Business School Nigeria, Prof. Humphrey Akanazu, spoke extensively on how the future of learning is being profoundly shaped by a growing focus on agile, job-ready skills, with micro-credentials emerging as a key driver of this global transformation. He explained that education is increasingly moving away from broad, time-based qualifications toward more precise, competency-focused learning that reflects what individuals can actually do.

https://www.thisdaylive.com/2025/12/15/the-future-of-learning-will-be-shaped-by-a-growing-focus-on-agile-job-ready-skills-says-prof-akanazu/

New micro-credentials recognise 21st-century skills gained through youth arts programs - RMIT Australia

VITAL ARTS recognises and values the practice-based skills that young people develop through arts engagement and creative practice. Rather than requiring additional academic study, the credentials are awarded based on existing participation, making visible the often overlooked but deeply valuable skills that the arts nurture. "These skills are richly transferable into education, employment, and civic life," said Professor Anna Hickey-Moody, who leads the project. The credentials focus on four key competencies aligned with UNESCO and World Health Organisation frameworks for 21st-century skills: Critical Thinking; Creativity; Communication; Collaboration.

And five character qualities: Curiosity; Initiative; Persistence (or grit); Leadership; Social and cultural awareness. "Taken together, these competencies and qualities belong to people who employers and communities increasingly value: people who are adaptable, creative, collaborative, thoughtful; people who possess cultural sensitivity, initiative, and resilience. They can troubleshoot and make things work," Professor Hickey-Moody said.

https://www.rmit.edu.au/news/all-news/2025/dec/vital-arts-program-micro-credential

The US wants more apprenticeships. The UK figured out how to make them coveted roles - Kelly Field, Hechinger Report

Most students here and in the United States wouldn’t get access to expensive equipment like this until graduate school. Goshawk — a 21-year-old undergraduate student and one of 149 “degree apprentices” employed by AstraZeneca across the U.K. — started using them his second week in. “It shows the trust we’ve been given,” said Goshawk, who is working nearly full time while studying toward a degree in chemical science at Manchester Metropolitan University that his employer is paying for. By the time he graduates next spring, he will have earned roughly 100,000 pounds (approximately $130,000) in wages, on top of the tuition-free education.

https://hechingerreport.org/us-apprenticeships-uk-coveted-roles/

Reasoning Models Ace the CFA Exams - Jaisal Patel, et al, arXiv

A new study just found that six leading AI models now pass all three levels of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) certification exams, with Gemini 3.0 Pro scoring a record high of 97.6% on Level 1. Researchers tested GPT-5, Gemini 3.0 Pro, Claude Opus 4.1, Grok 4, and DeepSeek-V3.1 across 980 questions spanning all exam tiers. GPT-5 topped Level II at 94.3%, while Gemini 3.0 Pro dominated the most difficult constructed-response section with 92%. In 2023, GPT 3.5 failed the first two levels, and GPT-4 passed only Level I — with the leap to near-perfect scores taking roughly 24 months. An NYU study in September also showed models passing all three levels, but with scores in the 70s vs. the near-perfect numbers of current frontier systems. Why it matters: Acing a standardized test and handling daily demands of financial analysis are still very different things, but the speed of improvement on these exams is wild — and models mastering finance knowledge could shift the profession’s value toward human skills like client judgment and relationship management.

https://elinke1c.daily.therundown.ai/ss/c/u001.Q334NVcZU4O6L6VKRz8ijMNgampOZl8dF7lEf1g2D9OlYV1yRyWOM_tuvK4JPLtgxGixLXSHzjenudvEAMcncQ0fOaJRL5wOoJZ-nGDhb6iMK5fSSScQQLvOXuCEhin6jixPZE8vkXxQcH3XpS4CD4Vn080vcd7XACgoE6Ztk7oT5dWoX84lVf8D9xlWg5V1dHwwqib7Nqje-0R0NdQfb4rXe7W9T2Ik3op-Dk8Kzio5-5wEav7sVioMELH5DbbE/4mh/XPw-J0iFT52qovcivcc8GA/h10/h001.2_0S4gW5trZ4tx2u8n_KgFAQk0ejbfuW6JDtpH39_gs

University To Offer Expanded Programming, ‘Micro-Credentials’ In Summer 2026 - Tatiana Zaragosa, The Clue Echo

California Lutheran University will introduce expanded programming and “micro-credentials” for the summer 2026 session to combat low enrollment, keep students on campus and generate revenue, according to Brandy Yee, assistant to the provost for summer programming and partnerships. 

https://cluecho.com/30143/news/university-to-offer-expanded-programming-micro-credentials-in-summer-2026/

University of Phoenix successfully pilots new scheme adding student credentials to digital wallets - Rachel Lawler, EdTechInnovation Hub

“We are focused on building practical opportunities that provide our learners with the ability to preserve and present credentials of all kinds, including degrees, badges, skills, and achievements outside of a classroom,” explains John Woods, Provost and Chief Academic Officer at University of Phoenix. “This was our vision in developing a skills-mapped curriculum aligned to digital badges. A learning and employment record would allow these to be compiled together as a valuable resource for our students as well as their current and potential employers.” The University worked with the Experience You Project, which is led by the US Chamber of Commerce, and Gobekli, an independent startup developing TalentPass - a digital wallet - on the LER. 

https://www.edtechinnovationhub.com/news/university-of-phoenix-successfully-pilots-new-scheme-adding-student-credentials-to-digital-wallets

What Are Stackable Credentials - Boise State University

In today’s fast-moving digital world, flexibility isn’t just a nice-to-have — it’s essential. Whether you’re shifting careers, upskilling in your current role, or starting fresh, you need a degree that adapts to your goals. That’s exactly what Boise State University’s online Bachelor of Arts in Digital Innovation and Design offers through its modular structure and stackable credentials.

https://www.boisestate.edu/online/2025/06/28/what-are-stackable-credentials/

“With micro-credentials, we strengthen the social role of the university and consolidate lifelong learning as an accessible tool for everyone” - UniversidaddeCádiz

The university is like a bicycle: if it does not move forward, it is destined either to fall or, in this case, to wither until it disappears. Even more so in an increasingly competitive environment, where higher education must face challenges that were unthinkable barely a decade ago. Among them is the adaptation to common teaching frameworks designed to transform the transnational space—particularly within Europe—into a vast shared campus. A place where curricular and teaching projects flow across borders and where mobility becomes the rule rather than the exception. Equally crucial is the development of strategies that integrate the university within the broader learning ecosystem of society, especially among groups that traditionally remain outside the academic sphere. These two areas shape the daily work of María de Andrés, Director General for International Degrees and Continuing Education at the University of Cádiz. In this interview, she analyses how the UCA is adapting to new trends in the internationalisation of education and the role of micro-credentials in the present and future of the institution.

https://www.uca.es/noticia/with-micro-credentials-we-strengthen-the-social-role-of-the-university-and-consolidate-lifelong-learning-as-an-accessible-tool-for-everyone/?lang=en

10 Questions With... Devin Miles, director of alternative credentials - Theresa Hogue, Oregon State

How do alternative credentials complement the university’s primary mission of educating undergraduate and graduate students? I believe alternative credentials meet learners where they are. Prosperity Widely Shared highlights the need for OSU to stay responsive as student expectations and workforce demands continue to shift. Part of that responsiveness is offering shorter-term, skills-based options in addition to traditional degrees. More students are looking for pathways that let them upskill, change direction or explore a new field without jumping straight into a full degree. OSU’s microcredentials are designed for exactly that. At OSU, a microcredential is made up of at least three courses and usually 8-12 credits and they allow students to gain a specific set of skills to demonstrate their abilities to employers.

https://today.oregonstate.edu/all-stories/10-questions--milesdevin-director-alternative-credentials

Future-proof provision means offering degrees plus skills - Brendan O’Malley, University World News

To improve employability, tertiary education should recalibrate provision to focus additionally on ensuring students acquire skills useful in the current and future labour market and improve how they make those identifiable to employers. Key steps include identifying what those skills are, examining whether the curriculum and learning experience delivers on them and embedding micro-credentials for skills in degree pathways, expert speakers told ACU 2025 Congress, the annual conference of the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) hosted at the University of Nairobi, Kenya, on 26 to 28 November.

https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20251213211619391

Lifelong learning is the case he’ll never close: University Police investigator becomes Double Eagle - Georgia Southern University

Ellis’ education will not stop with this master’s degree. He is currently enrolled in the Graduate Certificate in Cybercrime program, which focuses on applied digital forensics. He is on track to complete the certificate in 2026. “My goal is to strengthen my technical capabilities and enhance my abilities to investigate digital related incidents with precision and professionalism,” Ellis said. “This program provides training on how to identify, collect and preserve digital artifacts using best practice methods that align with contemporary standards in the field. I see it as an important step forward in supporting the evolving needs of the community.”

https://www.georgiasouthern.edu/2025/12/12/lifelong-learning-is-the-case-hell-never-close-university-police-investigator-becomes-double-eagle

Upskilling Community Cancer Centers: A Training Pilot Hints at Promising Ways to Boost Oncology Clinical Research - Kara Bastarache, et al; Applied Clinical Trials Online

The pilot project aimed to build clinical research capacity and enhance diversity in oncology trials at community cancer centers. Phase 1 identified barriers such as patient recruitment, staffing, and training needs, while Phase 2 provided targeted training to research-naïve programs. Training improved participants' knowledge and confidence, suggesting potential for increased trial access and diversity in community settings. The initiative offers a scalable model for enhancing research readiness and expanding clinical trial sites across the U.S.

https://www.appliedclinicaltrialsonline.com/view/upskilling-community-cancer-centers-training-pilot-boost-oncology-clinical-research

AI Isn't Killing Education - John Nosta, Psychology Today

AI isn’t destroying learning, it’s exposing how education replaced thinking with ritual. Knowledge has shifted from static maps to living webs that demand judgment, not recall. The real risk isn’t ignorance, but fluent minds that no longer notice when thinking stops. For the first time, machines outperform humans in domains that education has long treated as proxies for intelligence, like recall, synthesis, linguistic fluency, and pattern recognition. That shift does not eliminate learning, but it does destabilize a system that equated those outputs with understanding. When the nature of advantage changes, institutions designed to preserve the old order rarely adapt gracefully. And brittle towers fall hard.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-digital-self/202512/ai-isnt-killing-education

Skills are the new hiring currency: 86% of employers say certificates show real job readiness - Preston Fore, Forbes

No longer does simply getting a degree guarantee career success; instead, employers are increasingly evaluating candidates based on demonstrable skills—and credentials that prove them. And a new report from Western Governors University released today, shared first exclusively with Fortune, underscores that shift: 86% of employers now see nondegree certificates as valuable indicators of job readiness. According to the school’s president, Scott Pulsipher, technological innovation is making it essential for professionals of all ages to acquire in-demand skills, making lifelong learning increasingly the norm. “The pace of change and the skills required to be highly productive in the world of work, it’s accelerating, meaning it’s just shortening the shelf life of the skills that we have,” Pulsipher told Fortune.

https://fortune.com/2025/12/09/next-level-leadership-job-readiness-report-western-governors-university-certifications-skills-upskilling/

Micro-credentials as shape-shifters: From learning to recognition - Simone Ravaioli, University World News

What is perceived as ‘new’ is the shape – the naming, the framing, the emerging infrastructure around them. What is not new is the spirit – the longstanding practice of short, targeted, work-based learning tightly connected to capability and performance. Employers have always participated in lifelong learning, but they have never called it ‘micro-credentials’. This is the first encounter with the shape-shifting metaphor: a thing that changes its visible form while retaining its underlying function. Employers are not confused because micro-credentials are too new – they are confused because they are not new enough to require a new category, and yet they are framed as something novel. The puzzle sits in the gap between naming and recognition.

https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20251212115505235

As Insta-Gen Z take to microlearning, HEIs are adopting new programme modules - Education Times

The Instagram generation’s preference for short-form learning is reshaping higher education in India and abroad. Recent data shows that short-form and modular learning models are increasingly converging with accredited university programmes. This structural shift is influencing how educational providers design and deliver their programmes.  A study found that 74% of Gen Z students in India prefer online learning. The 2024 Udemy India Report shows that 98% of Gen Z learners spend at least one hour per week learning new skills. Another report, Deloitte’s 2025 Global Generation Z Survey, shared that 94% of respondents favour practical learning over traditional theoretical instruction. Gen Z has redefined how learning happens. It is shorter, faster, and more career-aligned. This generation does not reject degrees; it expects degrees to adapt to its learning habits.

https://www.educationtimes.com/article/campus-beat-college-life/99740331/as-insta-gen-z-take-to-microlearning-heis-are-adopting-new-programme-modules?amp=1

College initiative exemplifies the quick rise of micro-credentials - Jeff Budlong, Inside Iowa State

In about a year and a half, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) has gone from one micro-credential badge awarded through a single track to more than 160 awarded through seven tracks. Micro-credentials -- short, flexible learning experiences that verify skills students or employees gain -- often don't show up on a college transcript or resumés, but many business leaders see them as key employee attributes. In CALS, the Pathways to Innovation and Leadership program grew quickly because it leveraged skills and high-impact practices already being taught to build micro-credentials, tracks and badges. Pathways staff also worked with the Student Innovation Center, learning communities and the Academic Success Center to build micro-credentials.

https://www.inside.iastate.edu/article/2025/12/02/college-initiative-exemplifies-quick-rise-micro-credentials