University of Northern Iowa launches new, flexible general education program - Andrew Wind, Courier

The University of Northern is launching a new, more flexible general education program that puts a greater focus on career needs. The result of a years-long process by faculty and administrators, UNI Foundational Inquiry – or UNIFI – will be offered starting in the fall. “We were hoping to provide students with more flexibility, and I think we achieved that through a longer list of courses and innovative courses,” said Brenda Bass, dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. The program helps students stay on track with their major because there are fewer credit requirements than the 45 needed to complete what is now called the liberal arts core. “It ends up being 37 credits,” said Professor Jeremy Schraffenberger, UNIFI curriculum coordinator. Those working on UNIFI had been charged with creating a 36-credit program. But they added one more for a science lab experience.

https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/education/university-of-northern-iowa-launches-new-flexible-general-education-program/article_12b3410b-6ee6-53be-92f1-2a056be8ccf5.html

UGA students will soon be able to enroll in the Certificate in News Literacy program - LaShawn Hudson, WABE

University of Georgia (UGA) students of any major will soon have the opportunity to enroll in classes that explain and explore the role and function of news, journalistic responsibility and journalism ethics. The Cox Institute for Journalism Innovation, Management and Leadership at UGA is launching the Certificate in News Literacy program this fall. Charlotte Norsworthy, a newsroom adviser for the Red & Black student newspaper and program coordinator for the News Literacy Certificate, and Keith Herndon, a professor of journalism at UGA and the executive director of the Cox Institute for Journalism, were guests on  Friday’s edition of “Closer Look.”

https://www.wabe.org/uga-students-will-soon-be-able-to-enroll-in-the-certificate-in-news-literacy-program/

Libraries employees pursuing Open Education Network librarianship certificate - Penn State University

Two Penn State University Libraries employees have been accepted into the 2022 cohort of professionals seeking an Open Education Network (OEN) certificate in Open Librarianship. The OEN is a community dedicated to working together to make higher education more affordable, equitable and accessible. Participants admitted to the certificate in Open Librarianship connect and collaborate with librarians from around the country to implement sustainable and effective open education programs for their local context, culture and goals. These objectives fit well with Penn State’s own open initiatives, which aim to enable affordable access to education and reduce barriers to the sharing and use of knowledge and information. 

https://www.psu.edu/news/faculty-and-staff/story/libraries-employees-pursuing-open-education-network-librarianship/

Focus EduSolutions is partnering with Cleveland State University to now offer industry-based Micro-Credentials in Smart Manufacturing - Longview News-Journal

Focus EduSolutions, in partnership with Cleveland State University, is excited to announce the launch of three industry-based micro-credentials in Smart Manufacturing. This will provide greater educational opportunities for a transitioning industry that drive local economies. These micro-credentials have been created by experts of the industry and in partnership with industry associations to ensure quality and alignment to the needs and operations of manufacturing today. Students taking these micro-credentials will understand the foundations of smart manufacturing, changing technologies, new operations processes, and leading the business with new technologies and data for better decision-making and stronger bottom-lines. These credentials are designed for multiple industry positions, such as those in production, engineering, and leadership.

https://www.news-journal.com/focus-edusolutions-is-partnering-with-cleveland-state-university-to-now-offer-industry-based-micro-credentials/article_b8bf273a-174b-512f-ae1b-8ec298130000.html

College Enrollment Is Down, But Experts Say There Could Be Silver Lining - Alanna Quillen, NBC DFW

Ryan Lufkin, VP of Marketing for Instructure, the creator of online learning platform Canvas, explained that a silver lining from the pandemic could be the acceleration in improved technology for online learning, opening up new doors and flexibility for college or job opportunities that people didn't have before. “There's so many different paths, one of the cool things I love is that it's brought new light to the skills programs,” said Lufkin. “Google, for instance, is offering their own certification programs that they offer online as a replacement for a bachelor's degree.” Lufkin said schools are also looking into specific programs for trade and industry jobs like welding, engineering, information technology, and other sectors that are in dire need of workers.

https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/college-enrollment-is-down-but-experts-say-there-could-be-silver-lining/2925922/

The promises and perils of new technologies to improve education and employment opportunities -Annelies Goger, Allyson Parco, and Emiliana Vegas, Brookings Institution

Digital technologies are rapidly developing and transforming the way individuals work, learn, and participate in civic life. As digital innovations become more available and present opportunities to make quality learning and career opportunities more accessible across the globe, educational institutions, administrative data systems, and regulatory frameworks have struggled to adapt. Through research on the landscape of digital micro-credentials, we hope to provide insights and policy recommendations to decisionmakers and stakeholders, such as education and labor policymakers, to expand access to skills and quality jobs to the most disadvantaged learners and workers across the world. [note: this includes a link to a longer "policy brief"]

https://www.brookings.edu/research/the-promises-and-perils-of-new-technologies-to-improve-education-and-employment-opportunities/

Industry 4.0 is transforming the future of engineering practice and education - Create Digital

The pathway into an engineering career will look very different 10 years from now, according to a model co-developed by industry, government, education and union leaders. A high-achieving student graduates from school and enters an advanced apprenticeship program with an engineering firm. As they complete the advanced apprenticeship program, on their way to becoming an engineer, formal education is delivered via a series of customisable “stackable” modules based on skills and capabilities that are co-designed and co-delivered with industry and business.  Pathways to graduate engineering careers will be very different, allowing for greater diversity of incoming students with a broader range of backgrounds and talents, supported by bespoke learning pathways enabled through new generation digital education platforms.

https://createdigital.org.au/industry-4-0-is-transforming-the-future-of-engineering-practice-and-education/

How an overhaul of talent assessment can bridge the giant skills gap and solve our labour crisis - Japman Bajaj, World Economic Forum

There's a massive skills gap among workforces where traditional assessments have been poor to match talent to jobs. An abundance of credentializing and discriminatory recruitment practices create further barriers to good talent acquisition. Modern assessment methods like competency-based assessments match recruitment to skills rather than credentials. There are 6.5 million unemployed people in the United States, yet nearly 11 million job openings point to the massive skills gap among current workforces. Meanwhile, the Great Resignation is in full swing, fuelled by toxic work environments and unaddressed grief from two years of pandemic life.

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/02/theres-a-skills-gap-and-labour-crisis-yet-were-assessing-our-talent-all-wrong/

Connecticut Committee Explores CHESLA Loan Eligibility Expansion - CBIA

A General Assembly committee is considering legislation enhancing the Connecticut Higher Education Supplemental Loan Authority lending capabilities. The Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee heard testimony Feb. 18 on SB 103, which expands the type of post-secondary education programs eligible for CHESLA loans.

https://www.cbia.com/news/issues-policies/chesla-loan-eligibility-expansion/

Education is yours for life - Joe Graves, Mitchell Republic

In a process that some call micro-credentialing and others call competency-based recognition or even just demonstrations of mastery, industries in the West are turning away from an emphasis on degrees and toward one of specific skills attainment. According to industry experts, corporations including Apple, Costco, and Amazon, are going right to the heart of the matter by identifying precisely what employees need to know in order to enhance their performance or earn a promotion and then offering it. Rather than recommending a degree in the computer sciences, industrial engineering, or business management, these companies target specific skills and ask that their employees take the necessary training to master them.

https://www.mitchellrepublic.com/opinion/graves-education-is-yours-for-life

Small But Mighty: Why Micro-Credentials Are Huge For The Future Of Work - Mark C. Perna, Forbes

Here are three big reasons why micro-credentials can be your secret to recruiting, retaining and upskilling workers for the future of work. Today, the pressing talent shortage is hitting just about every business and organization in a big way. It’s more than just a matter of sourcing people willing to work; they also have to possess the skills that match up with the role. Research by Robert Half indicates that 95% of executives say it’s somewhat or very challenging to find employees with the appropriate skills and talents—a longstanding impasse that’s come to be known as the “skills gap.”

https://www.forbes.com/sites/markcperna/2021/10/05/small-but-mighty-why-micro-credentials-are-huge-for-the-future-of-work/?sh=616b2051302b

Learn, stack, build, master: Making post-grad study fit your schedule avatar - Alice Webb-Liddall, the Spin-Off

Further education can be a daunting prospect when you have to work around full-time employment and other life commitments. That’s why the stackable micro-credential courses from The Mind Lab and Tech Futures Lab’s are designed to create a master’s programme that doesn’t compromise your career.

https://thespinoff.co.nz/partner/23-03-2022/learn-stack-build-master-making-post-grad-study-fit-your-schedule

Canada's top digital marketing bootcamp - Jessica Kirby, BC Business

Jelly Academy is making sure Canadian youth have what they need to shine as the next generation of marketers. Canada’s top digital marketing bootcamp arms students with the tools, skills and confidence to support small businesses across BC. Students learn from gurus in the industry—online, in person and by Zoom—who understand the Canadian market and are in the trenches finding out what works and what does not. After six weeks, students receive micro-credentials from industry-recognized platforms, such as Hootsuite, Google and Meta (Facebook).

https://www.bcbusiness.ca/Canadas-top-digital-marketing-bootcamp

Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM) Outpatient - Online Certificate Course - IDEAL Public Health and Development Consultancy

Healthcare workers and community health assistants should be able to understand and apply these concepts to help improve the nutrition outcomes of the target population which includes facility and community cases affected by under-nutrition. To equip healthcare workers including community health assistants/volunteers, humanitarian field assistants with technical skills to handle uncomplicated cases of acute malnutrition.Who should attend this training? UN, Government and NGO staff including but not limited to healthcare workers, community health assistants and volunteers, program assistants and nutrition technical staff.

https://reliefweb.int/training/3830843/integrated-management-acute-malnutrition-imam-outpatient-online-certificate-course

USD 1.40 Bn Growth in Alternative Credentials Market for Higher Education from 2020 to 2025 - Technavio

The alternative credentials market potential growth difference for higher education sector will be USD 1.40 billion from 2020 to 2025, as per the latest market outlook report by Technavio. The report identifies the market to register an accelerating growth momentum at a CAGR of 17% during the forecast period. The report forecasts the highest market growth of 57% to be contributed by North America. This growth can be attributed to the focus of educational institutions toward personalizing the learning process for students in higher education by analyzing their individual learning patterns and career goals is gaining momentum in North America.

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/usd-1-40-bn-growth-in-alternative-credentials-market-for-higher-education--industry-analysis-market-trends-market-growth-opportunities-and-forecast-2025--301505700.html

Microcredentials are surging in popularity, but how should they be shaped? - Misheck Mwaba, Noel Baldwin, Steve Richter, Policy Options

Governments need to be mindful of how microcredentials are developed and the role they play in education and training across Canada. Microcredentials are a new way to mobilize workers to acquire and validate skills that meet a labour market need through flexible, short and timely training. In recent years, a number of provinces have made significant investments in the growth of microcredentials (at least $75 million since 2020), and recommendations to further expand microcredentials have come from business groups like the Business Council of Alberta and the Future Skills Council.

https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/micro-credentials-training-education/

NIT-Tiruchy to launch new online PG course in steel technology - Sowmya Mani, New India Express

In a bid to offer courses that would be beneficial to the working populace, NIT-Tiruchy is all set to launch an online certificate course on steel technology. Tiruchy being a major hub for industries with a lot of companies involved in steel fabrication, this course would be beneficial to young professionals. Director of NIT-Tiruchy Dr G Aghila said the approval for the course has been received. "We are designing a special online certificate course in steel technology. This is a postgraduate course for people working in the steel industry. This will enable them to reach the next level, both technically and in terms of their skillset. 

https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2022/mar/17/nit-tiruchy-to-launch-new-online-pg-course-in-steel-technology-2431128.html

St. Lawrence College launches new full-time programs and micro-credentials By Jessica Foley, Kingstonist

The new offerings reflect the College’s commitment to offering relevant, accessible skills training and educational opportunities that align with industry and employer needs.  SLC also offers many micro-credentials, which are short, competency-based training opportunities that focus on in-demand workplace skills. According to the release, they can be taken individually or stacked to build larger certificates, and multiple micro-credentials may serve as pathways to further education and other SLC programs. Each micro-credential earned comes with a digital badge that can be shared with employers and added to a digital profile or portfolio.

https://www.kingstonist.com/news/slc-launches-new-full-time-programs-and-micro-credentials/

Drones, Land Surveying, And Micro-Credentials: How NMC Is Looking Beyond Traditional Community College Programs To Broaden Its Reach - Craig Manning, the Ticker

In 2018, local businessman, investor, and philanthropist Casey Cowell mused to The Ticker about the potential for Traverse City to become “the greatest destination for experiential learning.” “If you wanted to learn to conduct an orchestra, learn how to draw or paint, learn how a microprocessor works, cook Asian food, weld aluminum, fly an airplane, fly drones…[you] could go to Traverse City for three days or a week or a month and learn this stuff,” Cowell said at the time.

https://www.traverseticker.com/news/drones-land-surveying-and-micro-credentials-how-nmc-is-looking-beyond-traditional-community-college-programs-to-broaden-its-reach/

MicroCredX, a new project for innovative micro- credentials - EDEN

EDEN Europe participates among other european institutions, like UOC, in the project MicroCredX. This innovative project is based on the potential of micro-credentials as a key asset in the Higher Education field, in the present time and in the Future of Education. The project has a series of objectives including: 

Create micro-credentialing strategies that marry with their institutional objectives

Analyze how micro-credentials can contribute to their institutional objectives

Map out the specific activities they need to perform to put together a micro- credentialing strategy

Identify elements of innovation

https://eden-europe.eu/microcredx-a-new-project-for-innovative-micro-credentials/

Australia plans a marketplace to assess the value of courses - Christopher Niesche, Financial Review

The federal government is planning to set up a micro-credentials marketplace to help prospective students navigate which course would be best for their needs. Announced in 2020, it will provide a nationally consistent platform to compare course outcomes, duration, mode of delivery and credit point value. Commenting at the launch, then Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business Michaelia Cash said: “The marketplace will provide consistency that gives students and businesses the assurance they need to invest in this new mode of education.” The Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) has announced that it has won an Australian government grant to build the nation’s first marketplace for micro-credentials.

https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/education/needed-a-marketplace-to-assess-the-value-of-courses-20220305-p5a1zt