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