A New Chapter for This Blog

Since 2021, this blog has shared curated articles and resources exploring developments in alternative credentials and the broader learn-and-work ecosystem. Thank you for reading, subscribing, and engaging with these conversations. 

Beginning Tuesday, August 11, this blog will transition to a weekly publication schedule, with new posts appearing each Tuesday. Along with the new schedule, it will take on a refreshed focus and a new name: Credential Innovation Curated Reading.

The updated blog will continue exploring how institutions are applying signals from the learn-and-work ecosystem and innovating with credentials to better serve learners, employers, and communities. Curated by a rotating group of authors, it will bring together a wider range of perspectives on emerging developments in credential innovation, workforce alignment, and institutional innovation.

I will continue sharing my perspectives through Online: Trending Now, my biweekly column in Inside Higher Ed, along with my other curated blogs:

• UPCEA Professional, Continuing and Online Education Update 
• UPCEA Artificial Intelligence in Higher Ed 
• UPCEA Ray's Curation 

I hope you will continue to follow the column and these blogs. 

Thank you again for reading and subscribing. I am grateful for your support over the years, and I hope you will enjoy the new direction of this blog as we continue the conversation.

--Ray

Micro-Credentials Offer College Grads A Leg Up In A Tight Job Market - Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes

College graduates who earn a micro-credential are likely to fare better in an increasingly challenging job market than those without one. That’s one of the main takeaways from Coursera’s just released Micro-Credentials Impact Report 2026. The findings in the report point to the role that micro-credentials can play in helping students build career-relevant skills, enabling employers to confidently hire new workers, and allowing universities to align their curriculum more closely and quickly to emerging demands for the workforce.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaeltnietzel/2026/06/05/micro-credentials-offer-college-grads-a-leg-up-in-a-tight-job-market/

Chamber Workforce Development Luncheon talks AI, micro-credentials, partnerships - Ft Myers Florida Weekly

John Roszell called it “a co-pilot for a career… how to get where you’re going.” Kelly Thawley pointed out the importance of teaching how to use AI ethically and as an enhancement to a career. Panelists emphasized, however, that skills come first and demonstrated programs their institutions have developed for making training more accessible, including “earn while you learn” curricula, job shadowing, internships, having a presence in high school classrooms, and short-term options like micro-credentials. Learning and “stacking” niche workplace skills can improve hire-ability, build a career and possibly provide a pipeline to college education, they said. Many of these programs depend upon industry partners’ participation. Heights Institute is being designed to create the reality of the workplace with one floor set up like a hospital, another like an automotive shop, said Kelly. Besides healthcare and automotive mechanics, the panel mentioned manufacturing, construction and marine mechanics as high skill priorities.

https://www.floridaweekly.com/articles/fort-myers-business/chamber-workforce-development-luncheon-talks-ai-micro-credentials-partnerships/

California launches first-in-the-nation AI literacy initiative with SDSU leadership - San Diego State University

San Diego State University is co-leading AI-Ready California, a first-in-the-nation statewide pilot micro-credential program, offered to Californians interested in expanding their AI literacy and preparing to join the workforce of the future. “Artificial intelligence has rapidly become a foundational skill for work, much like digital literacy became a generation ago,” said James P. Frazee, SDSU’s vice president for information technology and chief information officer. “AI-Ready California is about ensuring every Californian has the opportunity to build the knowledge, judgment and confidence to use AI responsibly and effectively – regardless of their background or career path – and to be competitive for our changing workforce,” said Frazee, also a founding member of the California State University AI Workforce Acceleration Board. 

https://www.sdsu.edu/news/2026/07/california-launches-first-in-the-nation-ai-literacy-initiative-with-sdsu-leadership 

Here’s why momentum for paid apprenticeships is surging - Alcino Donadel, University Business

States and universities are providing new blueprints for making college-based, paid apprenticeships the backbone of new workforce pipelines. “Every year, millions of Americans turn down the promise of a degree because they need to work,” Joe Ross, president of Reach University, said at a June Congressional hearing on modernizing the nation’s apprenticeship system. “Many take jobs in the very schools and hospitals where employers can’t fill the higher-paying roles that require postsecondary credentials.” Stringent accreditation standards, state regulations and a lack of federal guidance have stymied degree-embedded apprenticeships. Witnesses at the U.S. House hearing last month argued that financial aid, employer buy-in and reduced administrative barriers can support uniform growth nationally. One way K12, community colleges and universities can better cultivate relationships with employers is by aligning curriculum and learner pathways with on-site workforce training programs.

https://universitybusiness.com/heres-why-momentum-for-paid-apprenticeships-is-surging/

Build your learning pathway - University of Limerick (Ireland)

Micro-credentials also known as MicroCreds are short, University accredited, assessed and enterprise powered qualifications. These bite-sized courses allow learners to control their own professional development while enabling companies to nurture and retain top talent and increase their competitive advantage. Find out more about Micro-credentials below and find the short course that meets your upskilling needs.

https://www.ul.ie/study/short-courses/microcreds

Employers favor hiring talents with 'micro-credentials'— Coursera study - Arthur Fuentes, ABS-CBN News

A vast majority of Filipino employers are willing to offer higher starting salaries to job graduates who hold micro-credentials or skills certifications, according to a report released Monday by online learning platform Coursera. The Coursera Micro-Credentials Impact Report 2026, which surveyed over 3,500 employers, learners, and higher education leaders across seven countries, found that 89 percent of employers in the Philippines would pay a premium for these specialized qualifications. Furthermore, 36 percent of those surveyed expressed willingness to offer more than a 15 percent salary increase specifically for generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) micro-credentials, the company added. The findings highlight a decisive shift toward skills-first hiring in the Philippines, Coursera said. 

https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/7/6/employers-favor-hiring-talents-with-micro-credentials-coursera-study-1317

IMA introduces micro-credentials to help finance professionals build practical, future-ready skills - Gulf News

According to IMA, finance professionals are increasingly expected to move beyond traditional reporting responsibilities and provide strategic insights that help organizations respond to economic uncertainty, technological change, and evolving business challenges. The organization says its micro-credentials are intended to equip learners with practical knowledge that can be applied in day-to-day professional roles while also providing employers with a scalable approach to workforce development. "Finance professionals are being measured against a new standard — one that requires them to turn data into insight, and insight into action," said Michael DePrisco, President and CEO of IMA. "Our research continues to show that AI-readiness in finance isn't just about technology. It's about judgment, process, and human competencies that drive better decisions. These micro-credentials are designed to help professionals build those skills in ways they can apply immediately in their work."

https://gulfnews.com/business/corporate-news/ima-introduces-micro-credentials-to-help-finance-professionals-build-practical-future-ready-skills-1.500598365

The Value of Microcredentials for Industry: Workforce Development and Productivity in Alberta and Canada - Vis Naidoo, Evolllution

The central issue is therefore not whether microcredentials have potential value but whether they are framed, designed and governed in ways that industry recognizes as meaningful to workforce development and productivity. For Alberta—where economic growth is closely tied to sectoral transitions in energy, clean technology, advanced manufacturing, digital industries and health—microcredentials must function as credible, validated and productivity‑oriented training instruments, not merely shorter courses.5,6 Addressing this challenge requires alignment among government policy, postsecondary quality assurance, common standards and industry engagement. Recent developments in Alberta and nationally suggest that such alignment is beginning to take shape.

https://evolllution.com/the-value-of-microcredentials-for-industry-workforce-development-and-productivity-in-alberta-and-canada

Challenges and Strategies for Expanding Apprenticeships in the St. Louis Region - Nishesh Chalise , Neelu Panth; Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Apprenticeship is an age-old practice in which a trainee gains relevant skills while working on the job under guidance from a highly skilled mentor. The formal apprenticeship model in the U.S. began with the passing of the National Apprenticeship Act of 1937. Apprenticeships usually have four components: learning derived from on-the-job (OTJ) training, classroom or other instruction to develop specific skills to prepare the apprentice for the job; mentorship; graduated wages from apprentice to full-time employee; and a job beyond the term of apprenticeship.1 Apprenticeships have seen a lot of growth in recent years. Nationally, the number of active apprenticeships grew by 77% between 2016 to 2025. The types of occupations hosting apprenticeships have also increased. Construction trades continue to dominate, but apprenticeship has expanded to other occupations in the health care and technology sectors. However, the number of active apprentices as a percentage of labor force remains low at 0.41% in 2025.2 In other countries, such as England, Germany and France, this number ranges between 2% and 3%.

https://www.stlouisfed.org/open-vault/2026/june/challenges-strategies-st-louis-area-apprenticeships

Hearing Recap: "Workforce Rewired: Modern Apprenticeships for a Modern Economy" - U.S. House Workforce Committee

Subcommittee Chairman Burgess Owens (R-UT) started the hearing by discussing how Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the skills needed to be successful in nearly every sector of the economy. “Researchers estimate that 40 percent of the skills required for today’s jobs will change over the next decade. That reality presents a challenge not only for workers, but also for employers who need talent that’s able to adapt to changing business needs... In today's economy, workers increasingly need opportunities to upskill, reskill, and acquire new competencies as they work. The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence is only making that need clearer,” he said.

https://edworkforce.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413449

A program that offers paid apprenticeships for student teaching is expanding to Wisconsin - Brooklyn Heyn, News 8 Now

A national effort to address teacher shortages is expanding into Wisconsin, with a program aimed at removing financial barriers for aspiring educators. The National Center for Grow Your Own has received a $300,000 grant to bring its teacher apprenticeship model to the state. The program is designed to support people already working in schools—such as paraprofessionals and support staff—by allowing them to earn a paycheck while completing the training required to become licensed teachers.Local education leaders say that kind of financial support could make a significant difference.

https://www.news8000.com/news/education/a-program-that-offers-paid-apprenticeships-for-student-teaching-is-expanding-to-wisconsin/article_2684d2ce-1215-45ff-94b6-c30cf166400d.html

Fueling the Future: SRS Adds New Opportunities for Youth Apprenticeships - U.S. Department of Energy

 Six youth apprentices are making a meaningful impact this year as part of the Savannah River Site’s (SRS) Youth Apprenticeship Program. The program, integral to the SRS Apprenticeship School and its 29 registered apprenticeships, welcomes high school students from Aiken, Columbia and Richmond counties. Since its expansion sitewide in 2020, the Apprenticeship School has graduated nearly 850 apprentices, with 91% successfully securing full-time positions at the site. “To modernize the nation’s nuclear deterrent, we need a strong and diverse base of national expertise and educational opportunities in specialized technical areas that contribute to this mission,” said Sean Alford, senior vice president and chief administrative officer for Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS), the site’s managing and operations contractor. “Our program is designed to support STEM disciplines that are critical to the Nuclear Security Enterprise and the Department of Energy, such as nuclear operations and other technical areas.”

https://www.energy.gov/em/articles/fueling-future-srs-adds-new-opportunities-youth-apprenticeships

Spectroscopy Around the Globe, Connecting Students to Internships - Will Wetzel, Spectroscopy

We released a new episode of "Pathways in Spectroscopy," and this one is essential viewing for students trying to break into the field. Mary Kate Donais of St. Anselm College sits down to discuss how networking and flexibility can make all the difference when it comes to landing an internship. She talks about the power of LinkedIn, leaning on your personal and professional networks, and importantly, why the perfect internship doesn't need to perfectly match your career goals. Any experience that sharpens your laboratory skills, communication, and teamwork is experience that opens doors. There was a lot of good practical advice given here.

https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/best-of-the-week-spectroscopy-around-the-globe-connecting-students-to-internships-acs-fall-2026-meeting

Why embedding lifelong learning in university is needed - Lyndsey El Amoud, University World News

The European Union has positioned lifelong learning at the heart of its competitiveness agenda, while universities are routinely identified as key actors in supporting citizens to learn throughout their lives. At first glance, higher education appears to be responding. Microcredentials are expanding rapidly. Professional and executive education continues to grow. Digital delivery has accelerated. Lifelong learning now features prominently in institutional strategies and national policy frameworks across much of Europe. Yet beneath this visible growth lies a more uncomfortable reality. European universities have become remarkably good at delivering lifelong learning. What they have not yet done, in most cases, is redesign themselves around it.

https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20260630110114992

Penn State acoustics offers online certificate program for career advancement - Sarah Small, Penn State

The Penn State Graduate Program in Acoustics is now offering three graduate certificate options, enabling working professions, as well as engineering graduate students in other discipline areas, the opportunity to further their careers by upskilling or reskilling. The program recently rounded out its first academic year, having matriculated its first class in the fall of 2025. “Penn State acoustics has a long history of delivering courses online. We launched our online program in 1987, well before anybody else did,” said Julianna Simon, director of the program. “This certificate program continues that tradition. It allows people to acquire skills that really aren't taught anywhere else in the country so they can do their jobs better or to change their careers.”

https://www.psu.edu/news/engineering/story/penn-state-acoustics-offers-online-certificate-program-career-advancement

Why these three-year degree pilots are sparking strong pushback - Alcino Donadel, University Business

Two leading educators associations are speaking out against the growing wave of three-year bachelor’s degrees as two pilots gain approval in Massachusetts. On Sunday, the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and American Federation of Teachers (AFT) lambasted accelerated programs for prioritizing speed over academic integrity. “A bachelor’s degree should both prepare students for the workforce and provide them with deep learning, broad intellectual development, and sustained engagement with faculty and peers—not simply the fastest possible route to the labor market,” AAUP President Todd Wolfson and AFT President Randi Weingarten said in a joint statement.

https://universitybusiness.com/why-this-three-year-degree-pilot-is-sparking-strong-pushback/

Trump administration expands list of graduate degrees subject to higher borrowing limits - Annie Nova, CNBC

Many graduate students will be subject to higher federal student loan caps than previously expected, after a court ruling last week. On Monday, the Education Department published the updated and longer list of over 20 professional degrees that will qualify enrolled students to borrow up to $50,000 a year instead of $20,500. Those eligible degrees include registered nursing, physician associates and speech-language pathologists.

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/30/student-loan-borrowers-subject-to-higher-borrowing-caps-than-expected.html

Keep Learning: Keep Winning - Carl Magadia, Daily Tribune

That is the picture emerging from Coursera’s Micro-Credentials Impact Report 2026**, which found that 89 percent of Philippine employers are willing to offer higher starting salaries to graduates who possess industry-recognized micro-credentials, while 96 percent hired at least three credentialed candidates over the past year. Employers are no longer asking only where applicants studied. They increasingly want proof that learning never stopped after graduation.

https://tribune.net.ph/2026/06/30/keep-learning-keep-winning

Virginia and Ohio join effort to design 3-year bachelor’s degrees - Ben Unglesbee, Higher Ed Dive

Virginia is teaming up with Ohio to design a blueprint for three-year bachelor’s degrees that would require 90 credits for graduation. The partnership comes as more states and institutions mull shorter pathways to college. The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia announced Thursday that it plans to work together with several private and public colleges in the state, Ohio higher education representatives, and a handful of nonprofit groups on an initiative named “Scaling College in 3” led by the organization Jobs for the Future. Institutions involved aim to map out two three-year programs to propose by spring 2028, according to SCHEV.

https://www.highereddive.com/news/virginia-and-ohio-join-effort-to-design-3-year-bachelors-degrees/824033/

The Apprenticeship Wish List - Johanna Alonso, Inside Higher Ed

Apprenticeships are growing. But experts say that without more funding, updated laws and better data, the U.S. is still far from the system they know is possible. The No. 1 thing missing, they say, is money. The most recent House Appropriations Committee bill to fund labor, health and human services, and education proposes $290 million for apprenticeships, up $5 million from 2026. That’s on top of the $145 million to support a pay-for-performance incentive program announced earlier this year. But apprenticeship researchers and advocates say that scaling participation to that one million number is a distant dream without long-term investments in apprenticeship infrastructure and pay for instruction, staff, wages and employer incentives, where applicable.

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/tech-innovation/alternative-credentials/2026/06/29/apprenticeship-wish-list