PennWest offers an array of certificates and graduate programs, geared toward working professionals striving to reinforce their careers in myriad fields of study at its three western Pennsylvania locations and at its online global campus. “We want to meet people at any stage of their life’s journey wherever they might need education,” James Fisher, interim provost and vice president for academic affairs at PennWest University says. About one-third of its graduate students are seeking a degree or certificate to enhance their qualifications in education, including anything from becoming a principal to being eligible to teach deaf students.
Sunday, August 31, 2025
Saturday, August 30, 2025
Cleary University's New Program Offers 50% Tuition Grant to Businesses - Amanda Forrester, WHMI
Cleary University is now offering a new program through a partnership with multiple corporations and businesses. The new Company Education Opportunity program will offer a 50% tuition grant toward a “career-focused degree or certificate program at the university” for employees and their families of certain businesses.
Among the programs included are:
- Business Management
- Accounting and Finance
- Digital Marketing
- Healthcare Management
and more.
Friday, August 29, 2025
BU Makes LinkedIn’s First “Top Colleges” List for Preparing Students for Career Success - Boston University Today
For its rankings, LinkedIn looked at almost 1,000 regionally accredited four-year undergrad programs “with the goal of identifying the undergraduate programs that best set their alumni up for long-term career success,” according to the platform. Among the top fields with BU alumni, the rankings identified technology and internet companies, higher education, and advertising. The recognition comes as BU is putting more resources into its University-wide, career-focused programs and tools available to students, including through its Center for Career Development.
Thursday, August 28, 2025
New Benefit: Get reimbursed for certificate and other professional development programs - Vanderbilt University
Beginning July 23, eligible full-time staff and faculty who have completed three consecutive months of service can take advantage of two new education benefit programs designed to help you grow professionally and personally. “We’re excited to launch these new education benefit programs as part of our commitment to expanding access and opportunity for all employees,” said Sydney Savion, vice chancellor for people, culture, and belonging. “By investing in growth—both personal and professional—we’re not just supporting individual futures, we’re unlocking the collective potential of our entire university community.”
Wednesday, August 27, 2025
Apprenticeships for high schoolers are touted as the next big thing. One state leads the way - Kavitha Cardoza, Hechinger Report
Elkhart County is at the forefront of a movement slowly spreading across Indiana and the nation to make apprenticeships a common offering in high school. In 2019, as part of a plan to boost the region’s economic prospects, county leaders launched an effort to place high schoolers in apprenticeships that combine work-based training with classroom instruction. About 80 students from the county’s seven school districts participated this academic year, in fields such as health care, law, manufacturing, education and engineering. In April, as part of a broader push to revamp high school education and add more work-based learning, the state set a goal of 50,000 high school apprentices by 2034.
Tuesday, August 26, 2025
ATU offering a wide range of micro-credentials from short, accredited courses - Pau Deering, Independent (Ireland)
Atlantic Technological University (ATU) is now offering a wide range of micro-credentials – short, accredited courses designed for flexible learning – to help those wishing to upskill, reskill or return to education. More than 30 of these courses are eligible for up to 80% funding through the Human Capital Initiative (HCI) Pillar 3 Micro-Credentials Learner Fee Subsidy. Courses are available across ATU’s campuses in Galway, Mayo, Sligo, and Donegal, with many hosted online. Micro-credentials – also known as Special Purpose Awards, Minor Awards, or Supplementary Awards – allow learners to upskill or reskill quickly and efficiently. These bite-sized qualifications are tailored to individual professional needs and are aligned with current industry and societal demands.
Monday, August 25, 2025
Internships and Beyond: Strengthening Career Value Across Diverse Models of Work-Based Learning -Nichole Torpey-Saboe, Kevin Grubb, Akua Amankwah-Ayeh; Strada
Colleges and universities recognize that students are looking to them as a launching pad for their future. Eighty percent of freshmen say that “getting a better job” is a very important reason for attending, and 74 percent say “gaining training for a specific career” is very important in their decision to go to college. To better meet the needs and goals of their students, colleges and universities increasingly are focused on strategies that help their students connect their education to career opportunities. One of the most promising strategies for making this connection is giving students the opportunity to participate in off-campus learning experiences that are aligned with their field of study. Unfortunately, these kinds of work-based learning experiences remain too scarce, so only a limited number of students reap the benefits.
Sunday, August 24, 2025
NWACC launches pilot micro-credential program for fast-track training - Kyle Kellams, Ozarks at Large
Let's start the show on the campus of Northwest Arkansas Community College in Bentonville. The last week before on-campus classes is relatively quiet, but this summer, NWACC is preparing for a pilot micro-credential program launch. As the name implies, micro-credentials are smaller than the usual two-year degrees offered at the school. Mary Nithya Xavier is micro-credential coordinator at NWACC. “It places the learner toward a path toward employment, so it's credentials that lead toward employment.” Micro-credentials are designed to require less than a year to acquire, cost less than a degree, and offer a virtual or on-campus learning experience. The pilot year will offer micro-credentials in three distinct categories: project management, biotechnology, and social and behavioral sciences.
Saturday, August 23, 2025
Level up your career with new OSAP-eligible micro-credentials - Humber Polytechnic
Those looking to upskill and grow their careers can tap into Humber Polytechnic's micro-credential offerings, with more than a dozen that became eligible for Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) funding earlier this year. Humber offers many micro-credentials, and an additional 15 have been added as eligible for OSAP funding. This change in OSAP eligibility makes these career paths more accessible, as OSAP funding can help cover the costs of tuition, equipment, living expenses, and even childcare if needed. "With OSAP now available for these micro-credentials, we're breaking down barriers to professional growth," said Frank Cappadocia, dean, Continuous Professional Learning. "Whether you're looking to pivot careers, deepen your expertise in emerging fields such as AI, or simply sharpen your skills, Humber's short, flexible, and industry-informed micro-credentials make it possible to upskill without putting your life on hold. This is about giving people real tools for real progress quickly and affordably."
Friday, August 22, 2025
Small steps at NWACC with micro-credentials — Las Faygas returns - Roby Brock, Ozarks at Large
On today's show, we learn about time-sensitive ways to learn new skills at NorthWest Arkansas Community College. Also, we hear more information regarding a major acquisition for a Fayetteville-based startup. Plus, Ozarks at Large interns take a quiz.
Thursday, August 21, 2025
Allegheny College Microcredentials Program Launches for 2025-26 Academic Year - Malaysian Reserve
Allegheny College, one of the nation’s most historic and innovative four-year colleges, today announced its microcredential program featuring a multidisciplinary slate of categories following a successful pilot phase. With the College’s focus on preparing graduates for strong outcomes with in-demand skills for meaningful careers of the future, these 28 microcredentials integrate liberal arts learning, emerging technologies and professional strengths to meet growing needs in workforce development.
Wednesday, August 20, 2025
Indiana U to Launch GenAI 101 Course for Students, Staff - Ashley Mowreader, Inside Higher Ed
A new, self-paced course at Indiana University teaches students, faculty and staff generative AI skills and expertise. As generative artificial intelligence skills have become more in demand among employers, colleges and universities have expanded opportunities for students to engage with the tools. Indiana University is no exception. It’s developed a free, online course for campus community members to gain a basic understanding of generative AI and how the tools could fit into their daily lives and work. GenAI 101 is available to anyone with a campus login and comes with a certificate of in-demand skills for people who complete it.
Tuesday, August 19, 2025
Sustainability - University of Cincinnati
The micro-credential is an interdisciplinary sustainability credential open to any graduate student at UC. The micro-credential provides a pathway for students to take sustainability courses across the curriculum at the graduate level. This also will offer a credential for students in all disciplines or colleges interested in sustainability careers, which are growing in all industries. This also will help students be prepared to solve society’s complex “wicked problems” and sustainability challenges with interdisciplinary approaches. The micro-credential consists of 3-credit hour existing courses.
Monday, August 18, 2025
Educating for character at Wake Forest: Leadership and character certificate program - Wake Forest University
In this month’s Learning and Development blog, we are featuring one of our partners in professional development on campus, The Program for Leadership and Character, and details of their new certificate program. What does it mean to cultivate a culture of character at a university? At Wake Forest, where we are committed to developing leaders of character, the answer goes beyond what happens in the classroom. It reaches into the daily work of staff and faculty: the systems we design, the conversations we foster, the decisions we make, and the values we live out each day.
Sunday, August 17, 2025
IGNOU launches MBA programmes in Construction Management, Logistics and Supply Chain, and online certificate for nurse managers - Satyen Mohapatra, the Hindu
IGNOU has rolled out a set of specialised management programmes, including an MBA in Construction Management (MBACN), designed for students and working professionals to master project handling, financial planning, and sustainable practices in the construction sector. Alongside, the university has launched an online certificate course for Nurse Managers and an MBA in Logistics and Supply Chain to meet the growing demands of the retail and service industries.
Saturday, August 16, 2025
More than 25K Enroll in UMD Smith AI Course for Career Empowerment - Morningstar
A free online certificate course focused on artificial intelligence for career development from the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business has drawn more than 25,000 learners worldwide. Artificial Intelligence and Career Empowerment was launched in May 2025. Smith's Office of Executive Education, which provides business education for local companies and individual learners around the world, facilitates the offering. The course is specifically designed for those transitioning from the federal civil service—to help build AI literacy, explore job opportunities and navigate career transitions with expert guidance—but it is free and open to all.
Friday, August 15, 2025
A Meta manager explains how she thinks about hiring: curiosity and constant learning matter more than a degree - Kwan Wei Kevin Tan, Business Insider
A Meta manager explains how she thinks about hiring: curiosity and constant learning matter more than a degree - Kwan Wei Kevin Tan, Business Insider
A managing director at Meta says it's micro-credentials, not degrees, that define standout hires. Cindy Tan joined Meta in 2021 and oversees the tech giant's clients in the Asia-Pacific region. "The traditional setup of education, where you get a degree, is table stakes," Tan told BI.
Thursday, August 14, 2025
AI Micro-Credentials, How They Boost Employability and Institutional Reputation - Michael Wilson, Blockchain Council
AI micro-credentials are transforming the education and employment landscape. These short, focused programs offer practical skills in artificial intelligence that align with current job market needs. For learners, they open up faster paths to employment and better pay. For institutions, they help attract students, build industry trust, and improve academic relevance. This article breaks down exactly how AI micro-credentials boost both employability and institutional reputation—and how schools and colleges can implement them effectively.
Wednesday, August 13, 2025
ASU awarding students micro-credentials for gaming - Casey Torres, AZ Family
Arizona State University is embracing a new age of learning: video games. “There’s so much ambient learning happening by playing games,” said professor Mark Ollila. Ollila is a professor at ASU’s rebranded The GAME School and the founding director of Endless Games and Learning Lab, where play meets education. Now, he’s on a new quest. ASU has partnered up with the non-profit Games for Change to give gamers a real way to build up their professional resumes.
Tuesday, August 12, 2025
U.S. Continuing Education Market to Surpass USD 95.98 Billion by 2030, Growing at 6.2% CAGR as AI and Micro-Credentials Reshape Learning - Arizton, the Globe and Mail
According to Arizton’s latest report, the U.S. continuing education market is projected to grow from USD 66.91 billion in 2024 to USD 95.98 billion by 2030, expanding at a CAGR of 6.20% during the forecast period. The continuing education market is accelerating its digital transformation as AI becomes a core growth catalyst. Providers are adopting Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITS), adaptive learning platforms, and real-time analytics to deliver personalized, flexible, and scalable upskilling solutions. This shift aligns with surging global demand for future-ready skills in high-impact areas like data analytics, automation, and machine learning. By modernizing delivery models with AI, institutions can increase learner engagement, reduce delivery costs, and expand their addressable market across diverse workforce segments.
Monday, August 11, 2025
Micro-credentials for Trent Community Members - Trent University
There are two reasons that you should be interested in Micro-credentials:
They provide an opportunity to develop skills and demonstrate them to employers and further educational institutions. They enable companies to develop their staff to meet the demands of their business. Micro-credentials provide an opportunity to demonstrate the learning and skills that student have, and that employers and further educational institutions are looking for. They are designed to be short and focused on specific topics to deliver the skills that the student needs in a timely manner.
Sunday, August 10, 2025
UA Little Rock Launches First Course in New Applied AI Certificate Program - Angelita Faller, UA Little Rock
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock is opening the door to the future of work with a new course designed to introduce students from all disciplines to the world of artificial intelligence. Students can enroll in the fall course, Foundations of AI (CPSI 23803), the first course in the upcoming Applied AI Certificate program offered through the Department of Computer Science in the Donaghey College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. The course requires no prerequisites and is open to students in all majors. “AI is transforming the modern workplace,” said Dr. Philip Huff, associate professor of cybersecurity and director of cybersecurity research. “This course gives students a broad, accessible way to explore how AI is used across industries and how they can apply it in their own future careers.”
Saturday, August 9, 2025
Online and Distance Education - UNC
At its core, and fundamental to its future, Carolina is “of the public, for the public.” Historically, distance and continuing education has been a foundational part of this mission, serving as the “Gateway to Carolina” for the community. Looking ahead, this service mindset drives UNC-Chapel Hill’s planning via its strategic plan, Carolina Next: Innovations for Public Good. Online and distance education look very different than they did even one year ago, but they are still ultimately about the students. We’re working to extend Carolina learning opportunities to those who might not otherwise have access, removing barriers to a great education. Along the way, we’re bringing the best of current standards and emerging trends to our online offerings.
Friday, August 8, 2025
Internships Pave Career Paths - Kelli Caplan, Chiristopher Newport U News
Captains have fanned out across the world, interning in a multitude of fields as they follow their passions, make connections, and build invaluable experience. Alyssia Jimenez ‘26 Criminology and Psychology, spent summer 2025 at crime scenes in Richmond, collecting evidence and learning forensics first hand. Aidan Wells, ‘27 History, worked on archaeological digs and paleontology projects in Yorktown and Williamsburg. And Hannah Dennis ‘ 26 Biochemistry, conducted research on global health in Costa Rica. While all of the students have different interests and career paths, they have in common the fact that their internships were powered by grants from CNU’s Center for Career Planning. The grants allowed them to immerse themselves in unpaid positions that have the ability to shape their career paths.
Thursday, August 7, 2025
Monarchs in the Field: New Series Showcases Students Embracing Internships, Work-Based Learning Opportunities - Joy Vann, Old Dominion University
Welcome to “Monarchs in the Field,” the first profile in a new series about outstanding Old Dominion University student-interns. In this feature, we’ll highlight students who are taking their education to the next level through work-based learning (WBL) that is shaping their future careers. They will tell us about how the internships are beneficial, the real-world challenges they face and tips on how to make the most of what the Monarch Internship and Co-Op Office has to offer. To kick off the series, ODU spoke with Eugenia Asigbee, a senior political science major with minors in philosophy and criminal justice, about her experiences at the University — and what she’s learned through her internships.
Wednesday, August 6, 2025
Interning with intention: Inside CWRU students’ summer internships - the Daily Case
This summer, Case Western Reserve University students are stepping far beyond the classroom—into hospitals and research labs, startups and advocacy organizations, engineering firms and art studios. What unites their experiences is not ambition, but intention. From designing solutions for healthcare access and sustainability to supporting children with developmental needs or shaping more inclusive public policy, these students are pursuing internships that reflect both their passions and their purpose. They are asking meaningful questions, embracing complexity, and learning to lead with both rigor and heart.
Tuesday, August 5, 2025
More than a degree: How micro-stacked credentials give graduates the competitive edge - BizCommunity
These days, a qualification alone isn’t always enough. Employers are looking for graduates who are ready to contribute from day one with skills that match their workplace demands. This is especially true in South Africa, where youth unemployment remains critically high. As businesses race to digitise, they need talent that can hit the ground running. Micro-credentials have emerged as a solution that gives students the ability to build, stack, and showcase in-demand skills that stand out. Richfield has made this shift a core part of how the institution prepares its students for the future. “Richfield partners with some of the world’s most prestigious technology leaders. Our curriculum combines formal qualifications with embedded micro-credentials, coding bootcamps and hackathons. This approach equips students with both academic depth and practical, industry-relevant skills,” says Dr S, Executive Dean: Faculty of IT & Research at Richfield.
Monday, August 4, 2025
Pints of Business: A refreshing take on academic–industry exchange - Massey University News
Bringing together academic expertise and real-world insights over a pint or two, the inaugural Pints of Business event was held in Palmerston North last week. It was the first in a new series developed by Massey Business School in partnership with the Manawatū Business Chamber. Held at Brew Union on Wednesday 9 July, the evening event featured small-group discussions led by Massey academics in a round-table format. With participants drawn from a range of local industries, the goal was to spark candid, cross-sector conversations on some of the region’s most pressing economic challenges. Senior Lecturer Dr Wayne Macpherson, one of the academic contributors, said the informal setting helped break down barriers. “There was a real openness in the room — people felt comfortable sharing what was happening in their businesses and they were genuinely curious about what the research could offer.”
Sunday, August 3, 2025
States, nonprofits look to capture quality of non-degree credentials - Alcino Donadel, University Business
As states cash in on the potential of non-degree credentials to become a more significant engine for economic mobility, new frameworks are emerging to ensure these innovative programs pass muster. There are over one million credentials offered in the U.S., 60% of which come in the form of badges, licenses, certifications and apprenticeships, according to a 2024 report from Credential Engine. However, at least a third of today’s short-term credentials fail to offer earners any significant wage increase, per Lumina Foundation. “We now know that states are spending about five and a half billion dollars on short-term credentials and looking to spend more,” said Kermit Kaleba, strategy director for credentials of value at Lumina. “How do they know if the investments they’re making are leading to the kinds of labor market outcomes, job outcomes that they want? How do they know employers are finding the talent that they want?”
Saturday, August 2, 2025
Mapping the AI economy: Which regions are ready for the next technology leap - Mark Muro and Shriya Methkupally, Brookings
Artificial intelligence is transforming the U.S. economy, yet regional disparities in talent development, research capacity, and enterprise adoption are stark, and not yet fully understood. AI activity remains highly concentrated, with the Bay Area alone accounting for 13% of all AI-related job postings. However, the recent boom in generative AI and agentic systems is beginning to widen the geography of AI activity to a broader set of emerging metro areas. To fully harness the power of AI, the U.S. should combine supportive national strategy with “bottom–up” economic development by regions.
Friday, August 1, 2025
Micro-credentials grow more popular in the U.S. and beyond - Alcino Donadel, University Business
Appetite for industry-aligned micro-credentials—among learners entering the workforce and employers seeking skilled candidates—is nearly universal, according to a new report from Coursera. The online academic program provider surveyed over 1,000 employers and learners, capturing perspectives across six regions and 10 countries. Globally, more than 90% of employers say that their employees with micro-credentials demonstrate higher proficiency in industry-relevant skills than those without and that the credentials are immediately applicable to job roles. Nearly all (95%) employees across North America agreed that employees with micro-credentials demonstrate higher proficiency in essential, industry-relevant skills.
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