Singapore employers urged to look beyond degrees in hiring - Dexter Tilo, HRD

Employers across Singapore are being urged to hire candidates based on skills — despite persistent preferences for educational qualifications, according to reports.  This was the message in a panel discussion hosted by Accredify earlier this month, which gathered various experts who discussed the importance of looking beyond degrees in hiring practices, GovInsider reported. "We need to look away from hiring someone based on the job description, to what they can do to boost the competencies and capabilities of the organisation," said Zuhui Yap, HR Director with Singtel, in the report.

https://www.hcamag.com/asia/specialisation/recruitment/singapore-employers-urged-to-look-beyond-degrees-in-hiring/481629

Lamar Community College to Offer Five Micro-Credential Pathways in Behavioral Health this Fall - Barbara Crimond, Prower's Journal

In response to the escalating demand for skilled professionals in the field of behavioral health, Lamar Community College (LCC) is set to introduce five innovative “micro-credential” pathways this fall. These pathways aim to equip students with fundamental skills in mental health and substance misuse treatment, catering to the pressing need for qualified workers in this critical sector. The micro-credential programs at LCC are designed to impart crucial skills and concepts within a single semester or less, providing a seamless progression toward additional certifications and professional development opportunities. Distinct from traditional models, LCC will concentrate on providing students with targeted skill sets that directly align with the needs of the job market. By earning a micro-credential in behavioral health, students will learn foundational skills to begin working in their community and earn college credit to continue their professional training.

https://theprowersjournal.com/2024/03/lamar-community-college-to-offer-five-micro-credential-pathways-in-behavioral-health-this-fall/

Jamaica'sEducation Ministry Endorses UCJ’s Micro Credentials Push - COURTENEY LEWIS, Jamaica Information Service

The Ministry of Education and Youth is in support of the plan by the University Council of Jamaica (UCJ) to expand opportunities for post-secondary education through the implementation of micro credentials. Micro credentials are a series or collection of specially designed courses that result in certification. They demonstrate the learner’s skills, knowledge, and/or experience in a specific subject area or capability. State Minister, Hon. Marsha Smith, said the “Ministry is very much interested in expanding access to tertiary education and post-secondary training especially within the context of our current efforts to transform the education sector for national development”. “The need for continuous learning and acquisition of new skills is more crucial than ever, and micro credentials offer a way for individuals to stay relevant in their fields and demonstrate their competencies in a tangible way. 

https://jis.gov.jm/education-ministry-endorses-ucjs-micro-credentials-push/

IIT Delhi invites applications for Project Management online certificate course - Indian Express

The Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (IITD) today launched applications for an online certificate programme of Project Management. Interested students can apply for this course at the official website of IIT Delhi — iitdelhi.emeritus.org. This course will be a six months long programme for which the technical orientation will be conducted on May 30 and academic orientation will be held on June 9. The programme fee is Rs 85,000 + GST. The primary mode of learning for this programme is via weekly live online sessions with IIT Delhi faculty members.

https://indianexpress.com/article/education/iit-delhi-application-link-project-management-online-certificate-course-9213625/lite/

Leading Education and Technology Communities Announce New Partnership to Advance the Edtech Ecosystem - Yahoo!

Global nonprofits 1EdTech® and Digital Promise announce a new partnership to power learner potential and create equitable learning ecosystems through collaboration and innovation. The two educational technology nonprofit organizations bring thought leaders from K-12, higher education, and edtech suppliers together to find solutions to educational challenges around the world. Through this new partnership, both communities are committed to supporting the other's work to create a greater impact on teaching and learning, particularly in digital credentials. 1EdTech leads the evolution and certifies the Open Badges, Comprehensive Learner Record Standard™ (CLR Standard™), and the Competencies and Academic Standards Exchange® (CASE®) open standards.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/leading-education-technology-communities-announce-120000562.html

Report: College Degrees Not Valued As Highly as Job Training and Certificates - Arrman Kyaw, Diverse Education

Though confidence about the value of pursuing a two- or four-year college degree is higher among high schoolers than graduates who either dropped out or chose not to attend in the first place, neither demographic view such pursuits as the most valuable, according to a recent report from Edge Research, HCM Strategists, and D2 Strategies. ot only did the non-enrolled have less confidence about degrees than juniors and seniors, they were also shown to be losing confidence across the board compared to last year. Notably, both demographics were shown to view on-the-job training and courses towards licenses and certificates as excellent or good value more than two- and four-year college, with high schoolers generally showing more positive sentiment than the non-enrolled.

https://www.diverseeducation.com/student-issues/article/15666195/report-college-degrees-not-valued-as-highly-as-job-training-and-certificates

Do adults without degrees see the value of college? - Laura Spitalniak, Higher Ed Dive

Among the 3,130 non-enrollees surveyed in 2023, 57% said a four-year degree is a good or excellent value, down from 60% in 2022. In comparison, 75% said earning a license is a good value, up from 70% the year before. Nearly the same share, 72% called professional certificates a good value, rising from 67% in the last survey. Convincing non-enrollees of the value of higher education will become increasingly important for colleges. Beginning next year, colleges are expecting a sharp drop in high school graduates as a result of declining birth rates during the Great Recession.

https://www.highereddive.com/news/do-adults-without-degrees-see-the-value-of-college/710088/

Irish Minister Harris announces funding of €9.7 million to subsidise micro-cred courses for almost 14,000 learners - Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris TD has today announced funding of €9.7 million to subsidise fees for 13,879 learners across 654 micro-credential courses. The Micro-Credential Course Learner Subsidy, under the HCI Pillar 3, offers a subsidy rate of 80 per cent for courses addressing skills in key priority areas, including renewable energy, sustainability, construction and planning, artificial intelligence, cyber security, ICT, and electronic engineering. Other courses will provide a 50 per cent learner subsidy rate. Speaking today, Minister Harris said: “As part of the Year of Skills, we have been encouraging everyone to learn a new skill so they can evolve in line with how the world of work is changing.

https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/f2e3a-minister-harris-announces-funding-of-97-million-to-subsidise-micro-cred-courses-for-almost-14000-learners/

The Transformative Impact of Applied Learning - Doug Harrison, Modern Campus

As there’s more emphasis on aligning student learning outcomes to skills required in the job market, curriculum needs to be refined and focused. By leveraging applied learning models, higher ed can better prepare their learners for successful careers. On this episode, Doug Harrison, Associate Dean of the Division of Applied Undergraduate Studies in the School of Professional Studies at New York University, discusses the importance of applied learning models and creating a transformative experience for learners.

https://moderncampus.com/podcast/episode-onehundredfortytwo.html

Fact Check: Online Certificate Does NOT Qualify Veterans For Permit To Carry Concealed Firearm In All States - Sarah Thompson, Lead Stories

The certificate offered in this promotion is not a concealed carry permit. It is a certificate for completing an online firearms safety course from Countrywide Concealed, which lists its address in Las Vegas. A long series of clicks from the promotion on Facebook leads the user to the website of Countrywide Concealed. That website features a disclaimer in which Countrywide Concealed explicitly states that the certificate is not a concealed carry permit. Countrywide Concealed describes itself in the disclaimer as "a training resource for consumers who want to educate themselves in firearm safety." The text, with highlights added by Lead Stories, can be seen below. (The disclaimer text, which appears after a survey, reflects the user's state of residence.):

https://leadstories.com/hoax-alert/2024/03/fact-check-online-certificate-does-not-qualify-veterans-for-permit-to-carry-concealed-firearm-in-all-states.html

Stackable certificates kickstart career opportunities - Seattle Times

Across Washington’s 34 community and technical colleges, stackable certificate programs are growing to align with the needs of both students and employers. Through these programs, students learn specific, job-related skills and knowledge in a relatively short period of time, often ranging from a few months to a year. Students can immediately improve their economic status with certificates, and later return to college and apply those certificates to associate and bachelor’s degrees. Stackable certificates benefit students of all ages and stages in their careers. People use them to kick-start their careers, to change jobs, or to move up in their current professions.

https://www.seattletimes.com/sponsored/stackable-certificates-kickstart-career-opportunities/

Innovation: How To Build A Stackability Strategy At Your Business School - John A. Byrne, Poets and Quants

“You can think of stackability as individual Lego pieces,” explains Brooke Elliott, Gies executive associate dean of academic programs. “Then you can put these blocks together in all kinds of ways and build out the type of education you need.” For years, business school deans have talked about decoupling courses from degrees to tap into the growing need for on-demand knowledge and skills. But few business schools have successfully adopted a decoupling blueprint and linked it with an effective stackability strategy.

https://poetsandquants.com/2023/09/27/innovation-how-to-build-a-stackability-strategy-at-your-business-school/

How big a role will stackable degrees play in higher ed’s future? - Omer Riaz, University Business

If money talks, college degrees still matter, don’t they? This may not be true for much longer. In fact, many companies are dropping bachelor’s degree requirements from their job-postings and are looking, instead, for workers with skills-based educations—associate’s degrees, certificates, or even stacked credentials. The U.S. Department of Labor defines a stackable credential as a “part of a sequence of credentials that can be accumulated over time to build up an individual’s qualifications and help them to move along a career pathway or up a career ladder.” And as the need for skilled workers grows, legislators in states such as Colorado and Massachusetts are beginning to advocate for the funding of stackable credential programs as a way to help learners and businesses alike.

https://universitybusiness.com/how-big-a-role-will-stackable-degrees-play-in-higher-eds-future/

More Students Are ‘Stacking’ Credentials en Route to a Degree - Jon Marcus, Wired

First they get a credential in a skill they need, then another, and another. Each can quickly pay off on its own by helping to get a job, raise, or promotion. Over time, they can add up to a bachelor’s degree. “Even if I chose not to finish, I would still have these pieces and I’d say, ‘Look what I’ve done,’ as opposed to, ‘I have two years of college’” but nothing to show for it, said Nelson, who works as an information technology consultant and hopes to move into an administrative role. The concept, known variously as “stackable credentials” or “microcredentials,” she said, “almost seemed too good to be true.”

https://www.wired.com/story/students-stacking-credentials-route-degree/

Biden order expands federal apprenticeships, reestablishes labor-management forums - ERICH WAGNER, Government Executive

President Biden on Wednesday signed an executive order aimed at expanding federal agencies’ use of apprenticeship programs to attract and develop young federal workers, as well as reinstating agency labor-management forums that have largely sat dormant since 2017. White House officials said the measure, entitled Scaling and Expanding the Use of Registered Apprenticeships in Industries and the Federal Government and Promoting Labor-Management Forums, dovetails with the recent push by presidents of both parties to shift how federal agencies evaluate job candidates from a largely based on educational attainment to one that emphasizes applicants’ relevant skills and work experience.

https://www.govexec.com/workforce/2024/03/biden-signs-order-expanding-apprenticeships-government-reestablishing-labor-management-forums/394739/

Micro-credentials move one step closer to gaining widespread trust thanks to this framework - Alcino Donadel, University Business

Micro-credentials are one step closer to gaining a trustworthy and dependable reputation. The 1EdTech TrustEd Microcredential Coalition, formed last year to standardize rapidly growing interest from educators and organizations to issue digital badges, has unveiled a new framework that identifies the core components every micro-credential should possess to sow trust and recognition across the school-to-career pipeline. “The framework identifies the information needed for the receiver to fully understand what knowledge and skills the credential represents,” Kelly Hoyland, director of higher education programs for 1EdTech, said in a statement. “Credentials that follow the framework will be more meaningful to receivers, and therefore, more valuable for the learners who earn them.”

https://universitybusiness.com/micro-credentials-move-one-step-closer-to-gaining-widespread-trust-thanks-to-this-framework/

ASU introduces trailblazing 'stackable microcredentials' pilot - Braveman Mpafa, ASU

Arizona State University's Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering is at the forefront of transforming engineering and technology education through "stackable microcredentials." These microcredentials address the urgent demand for adaptable upskilling and reskilling across engineering and technology fields, reflecting the dynamic nature of today's workforce requirements. According to the World Economic Forum, in an era where job skills expire in less than five years, and technical expertise deteriorates even faster, stackable microcredentials offer a timely remedy. The World Economic Forum’s 2020 Future of Jobs Report highlights that, by 2025, half of the global workforce will require reskilling, emphasizing the urgent necessity for ongoing learning and skill augmentation. 

https://news.asu.edu/20240229-science-and-technology-asu-introduces-trailblazing-stackable-microcredentials-pilot

I Didn’t Know My Union Did This! - NEA Today

During most of her 20 years as an instructional assistant in Oregon, Stacey Zoon received very little professional development. “We get basic trainings at school three or four times a year, like a video on mandatory reporting or a session about dealing with behavior, and that’s it,” she says. But then she was introduced to NEA’s micro-credentials for education support professionals (ESPs). “NEA micro credentials are so much more in depth and cover things you’re actually going to use as an educator,” Zoon, who now works as a library media assistant, says.  

https://www.nea.org/nea-today/all-news-articles/i-didnt-know-my-union-did

New learning website launched for workers in Wales - UNTRO

A new website has been launched by The Open University in Wales and Wales TUC to support more people into lifelong learning. The online platform, Union Learning Wales, gives information on OU degrees and free courses, as well as funding available for all workers in Wales. The site contains descriptions of OU courses which are popular with people looking to upskill or change their career. These include undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, as well as Access courses which can help people take a step into higher education for the first time.

https://nation.cymru/news/new-learning-website-launched-for-workers-in-wales/

First Aviation Maintenance Students Graduate - KSAL

The pre-apprenticeship course hosted by partners at the Salina Regional Airport graduated its first ever class of aviation maintenance students Thursday evening. The Aviation Innovation & Maintenance (AIM) Center of Excellence at SLN held an industry day and graduation ceremony for its first cohort of students and faculty.  The evening included a networking reception as well as a student showcase. Students also received their graduation certificates and micro-credentials from the faculty along with Ray Seif, who is the Director of Aviation of the Kansas Department of Transportation. “It’s important to get students into aviation maintenance careers.” said Seif.  “They are very well paying and high in demand, and I’m happy to support such an amazing program”

https://www.ksal.com/aviation-maintenance-students-graduate-pre-apprenticeship-course/

Micro-Credentials Are Poised to Become a Mainstream Rapid Education and Training Solution in Canada - ICTC/CTIC

Micro-credential programs could become more relevant, timely, and effective in meeting current and future Canadian digital economy workforce needs, provided they align with best practices of standardized definitions, proof of competencies, and flexible program delivery. While employers still value formal education, the shift toward “skills first” hiring practices and increasing emphasis on relevant experience and demonstrable aptitude in competencies or skills is gaining momentum.   Micro-credentials are still relatively new in Canada, and there is a degree of confusion evident among employers, learners, and micro-credential providers as to what they entail and how best to design them for the benefit of all stakeholders.    

https://ictc-ctic.ca/news-and-events/news-articles/micro-credentials-are-poised-become-mainstream-rapid-education-and

Aurora Institute Releases New Case Study on ExcEL Leadership Academy Micro-credential Pathway Adoption - Yahoo! Finance

Today, the Aurora Institute, a national nonprofit organization focused on education innovation, released a new case study examining a micro-credential program developed by UCLA's ExcEL Leadership Academy, which has been approved for ESOL teacher certification in Rhode Island. The program offers a progression of twelve micro-credentials focused on the skills and competencies educators need to serve multilingual learners (MLLs) effectively. Additionally, the case study offers recommendations for other states that hope to offer their educators high-quality competency-based pathways to certification and/or professional growth.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/aurora-institute-releases-case-study-154500171.html

ASU introduces trailblazing 'stackable microcredentials' pilot - Braveman Mpafa, ASU

Arizona State University's Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering is at the forefront of transforming engineering and technology education through "stackable microcredentials." These microcredentials address the urgent demand for adaptable upskilling and reskilling across engineering and technology fields, reflecting the dynamic nature of today's workforce requirements. According to the World Economic Forum, in an era where job skills expire in less than five years, and technical expertise deteriorates even faster, stackable microcredentials offer a timely remedy. The World Economic Forum’s 2020 Future of Jobs Report highlights that, by 2025, half of the global workforce will require reskilling, emphasizing the urgent necessity for ongoing learning and skill augmentation.

https://news.asu.edu/20240229-science-and-technology-asu-introduces-trailblazing-stackable-microcredentials-pilot

Searca, international universities address food security, climate change - Leander C. Domingo, Manila Times

The Philippine government-hosted Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) collaborated with international universities for the European Commission Erasmus+ Capacity Building on Postgraduate Micro-Credentials for Food Security and Climate Change. Searca Director Glenn Gregorio called the project a concrete example of education's evolving landscape as the world enters an era of globalization, giving educators and learners inclusivity and flexibility.

https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/02/business/green-industries/searca-international-universities-address-food-security-climate-change/1934871

Law Micro-credentials - UCD Sutherland School of Law, Dublin

The UCD Sutherland School of Law, the leading centre for legal education and research in Ireland, combines engaging undergraduate and graduate level courses, internationally recognised research, and word-class educational facilities. Since its establishment in 1911, the school has offered high-quality law programs promoting critical understanding and interdisciplinary knowledge. It collaborates with law firms, government departments, and NGOs to align programs with sectoral needs.

https://www.ucd.ie/microcredentials/explorecourses/law/

eCampusOntario launches AI-enabled Micro-Credential Portal tool to Help Learners Address Skills Gaps - CNW Group

Today at the 2024 Micro-Credential Forum eCampusOntario launched the proof of principle for a new AI-enabled tool designed to help learners address skills gaps with personalized educational pathway recommendations. SkillsFinder.ai uses a custom GPT powered by OpenAI to help learners to better understand their skills gaps and find a micro-credential to fill these gaps. Attendees of the Forum were able to interact with the new skillsfinder tool as part of testing the capabilities of generative AI and supporting upskilling and reskilling.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ecampusontario-launches-ai-enabled-micro-110000183.html

Micro-credentials - University at Buffalo

Micro-credentials allow you to meet your personalized learning needs by gaining knowledge and skills in areas that are relevant to your academic or professional goals. They equip you with digital badges that showcase your achievements and all it took to get there. When you complete a micro-credential program you will earn a digital badge, or a series of digital badges. A digital badge is an icon, but it is not a static image in that is click-able, and houses information, including the issuing institution, the date earned, the criteria required to earn the badge, and the evidence that shows that you have met the required criteria. Digital badges are dynamic credentials that you own, so you can decide how you want to use them. Digital badges can be put on social media sites, added as a link on your digital résumé, embedded in your e-portfolio, and more.

https://engineering.buffalo.edu/home/academics/beyond/micro-creds.html

IGI Global Halts Softcover Production, Embraces Digital Education Evolution - Nasiru Eneji Abdulrasheed, BNN

IGI Global's pivot towards digital education signifies a transformative shift in educational publishing. Discover the implications of their decision to focus on innovative learning methods through their latest publication on micro-learning and micro-credentials. In a remarkable pivot towards digital and innovative educational practices, IGI Global has announced the cessation of softcover book production. This strategic move underscores a broader industry trend towards embracing digital mediums and innovative learning methodologies. The decision is highlighted in their latest publication, 'Global Perspectives on Micro-Learning and Micro-Credentials in Higher Education,' which delves into the forefront of education technology, including chatbots, gamification, and hybrid learning models.

https://bnnbreaking.com/breaking-news/education/igi-global-halts-softcover-production-embraces-digital-education-evolution

Generative AI upskilling can help future-proof your company - Clint Boulton, CIO

More certain is that genAI’s transformative function—automating content creation—will alter how people work.  The implications to changes for knowledge workflows are staggering. Enterprises will use personalized technology skills development to drive $1 trillion in productivity gains by 2026, according to IDC research.1 This productivity bump won’t come courtesy of magic pixie dust. Organizations must educate staff on how to incorporate genAI into their daily workflows. Education starts with prompt engineering, the art and science of framing prompts that steer Large Language Models (LLMs) towards desired outputs. Eighty-seven percent of IT leaders Dell surveyed2 said they would like prompt engineering training for themselves, their teams, or both. 

https://www.cio.com/article/1309753/generative-ai-upskilling-can-help-future-proof-your-company.html

Employers don’t practice what they preach on skills-based hiring, report finds - Carolyn Crist, Higher Ed Dive

Skills-based hiring appears to be lagging behind well-meaning ambitions, with most companies not yet making changes to drop degree requirements or increase their share of workers without degrees, according to a Feb. 14 report from The Burning Glass Institute and Harvard Business School. Among companies that announced policy changes, about 45% appeared to make a change in name only and had no meaningful difference in hiring behavior, even after removing degree requirements from their postings.

https://www.highereddive.com/news/employers-failing-at-skills-based-hiring/707967/

JobReady by LearningMate Partners with Legacy Preparatory Charter Academy to Provide Industry Certification Coursework - IT News Online

"JobReady is providing our scholars an opportunity to become marketable upon graduation from high school. In addition, they earn industry certifications in high-need areas that provide them with a salary far above minimum wage. Many of our students are the first generation to attend college, and these marketable skills make it possible for them to have financial support while attending college," said Staci Weaver, Superintendent at Legacy Preparatory Charter Academy. About Legacy Prep Charter Academy. Legacy Preparatory Charter Academy seeks to facilitate educational experiences through teaching that engages, a culture that empowers, and technology that enables scholars to be college, career, and military-ready, who produce impactful outcomes. We develop and inspire innovative, critical-thinking scholars who influence our global society.

https://www.itnewsonline.com/PRNewswire/JobReady-by-LearningMate-Partners-with-Legacy-Preparatory-Charter-Academy-to-Provide-Industry-Certification-Coursework/972466