HR departments more willing to recognize alternative credentials; most bots don’t - Jeff Clabaugh, WTOP jclabaugh@wtop.com

“Individuals who have been displaced or are opting to choose an alternate career path but don’t necessarily have the opportunity or perhaps the money to obtain a four-year degree or even a two-year degree, we found that more individuals are able to upscale at a rapid pace if they’re pursuing these industry certifications or professional certifications in the field in which they are interested and aligned,” said Wendi Safstrom, president of the Society for Human Resource Management. Alternative credentials are popular with workers. Nearly three-quarters agree they are an affordable way to gain the skills or experience they need to enter a new job. And three-quarters also believe they would increase their chances of being hired for a job.

https://wtop.com/business-finance/2022/05/hr-departments-more-willing-to-recognize-alternative-credentials-most-bots-dont/

'Alternative credentials' taking on more importance in the workplace - Joel Cranc, Benefits Pro

However, U.S. workers are turning to alternative credentials as a way to enhance and demonstrate skills and work readiness, according to a new report from the Society of HR Management (SHRM), The Rise of Alternative Credentials in Hiring. Nearly half (45%) of workers say they have some form of alternative credential and for those who don’t have one, 49% are considering earning one. Alternative credentials are defined as micro-credentials, industry or professional certification, acknowledgment of apprenticeship, or badging that indicates one’s competencies and skills within a particular field. They do not include traditional academic degrees or required occupational licensures.

https://www.benefitspro.com/2022/04/22/alternative-credentials-taking-on-more-importance-in-the-workplace/

Where can microcredentials take higher education? - Laura Ascione, eCampus News

Unlike academic degree programs, microcredentials are bite-sized educational courses with a more specific focus. They could take months or weeks to complete. Because of their convenience, microcredentials appeal to employees looking for a highly personalized, flexible, and cost-effective way to further their education. As automation and technological advances change the job market, policymakers and employers recognize the potential of microcredentialing and professional certifications to help meet demands for new skills.

https://www.ecampusnews.com/2022/04/25/where-can-microcredentials-take-higher-education/

Microcredentials training in pharmacy practice and education: an exploratory study of its viability and pharmacists’ professional needs Peggy Lok, et al; BMC Medical Education

Microcredentials (MCs) are short courses that certify/recognise an individual’s achievement of specific skills or knowledge. Schools of pharmacy could be well-placed to contribute to the continuing professional development (CPD) of pharmacists through the inclusion of MCs training in their programs. This study aimed to explore pharmacy professionals’ views on the need and viability of MC courses globally.

https://bmcmededuc.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12909-022-03341-7

Lee residents eligible for free career-readiness programs at FGCU - Drew Sterwald, FGCU 360

Lee County residents are now eligible for scholarships and tuition assistance to earn micro-credentials at Florida Gulf Coast University. This innovative offering helps enhance workplace-relevant skills and expand career opportunities. The university developed an array of “digital badges,” or series of badges, in collaboration with leading employers in a variety of fields to address skills gaps in today’s fast-changing workforce. These non-credit micro-credentials are designed for working professionals as well as students.

https://fgcu360.com/2022/04/29/lee-residents-eligible-for-free-career-readiness-programs-at-fgcu/

Where can microcredentials take higher education? - Laura Ascione, eCampus News

The COVID-19 pandemic ushered forth dramatic declines in college and university enrollments, widespread unemployment, and it cast a spotlight on the skills gap and the increased demand for upskilling and reskilling in today’s workforce. As more and more surveys reveal that employers are struggling to find workers who are highly-qualified and prepared for a global and always-evolving workforce, microcredentialing initiatives are becoming increasingly widespread.

https://www.ecampusnews.com/2022/04/25/where-can-microcredentials-take-higher-education/

SHRM backs ‘alternative credentials’ in report - Ryan Golden, HR Dive

Training certificates, course completion certificates, industry or professional certifications and other types of “alternative credentials” can help employers further their hiring diversity, equity and inclusion goals as well as bolster career development, the Society for Human Resource Management said in a report published Wednesday. SHRM’s report included research it said was sponsored by a grant from Walmart made to the SHRM Foundation, its charitable arm. A survey of 1,129 U.S. SHRM members found that 90% said they believed that workers who held alternative credentials brought value to the workplace, while 59% said alternative credentials could uncover untapped talent.

https://www.hrdive.com/news/shrm-backs-alternative-credentials-in-report/622560/

Micro-credential programs surge at UB - Charles Anzalone, Niagara Business

In 2018, the University at Buffalo unveiled 10 micro-credential programs. Since then, interest in these nimble and innovative educational programs, which provide in-demand workforce skills and a more personalized higher education experience, has exploded. There are now 78 micro-credential programs, including everything from data science and clinical pharmacy research to quality engineering and social justice. More than 3,330 students enrolled in UB micro-credentials last fall semester, which accounted for roughly 75% of micro-credential enrollment in the State University of New York system.

https://www.niagara-gazette.com/news/web_extra/micro-credential-programs-surge-at-ub/article_5a75ba80-2501-5c29-92ab-1a47dffedf18.html

Struggling to hire? Don’t overlook alternative credentials - Paola Peralta, Employee Benefit News

Long gone are the days of traditional resumes and cover letters. In this new, post-pandemic workforce, employers will need to be open to new and innovative means of understanding employees’ skill sets and qualifications. More workers are turning to alternative forms of credentials to showcase their job skills, according to new research by the Society for Human Resource and Management and Walmart. Nearly half of U.S. workers say they have some form of an alternative credential, and among those who don’t, 49% have considered earning one.

https://www.benefitnews.com/news/alternative-credentials-critical-part-of-recruiting

Google Launches New Digital Marketing Certificate - Google

Google is launching a Digital Marketing and Ecommerce Certificate endorsed by the American Association of Advertising Agencies (the 4A’s) and the American Advertising Federation (AAF).  Google’s new certificate program will train jobseekers in how to find customers online, sell products or services, and do marketing analytics and measurement.  addition, Google promises to give every US business up to 500 Google Career Certificate scholarships to help upskill their employees.  

https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-launches-new-digital-marketing-certificate/448233/

In Search for Qualified Workers, Maryland Drops Requirement for 4-Year Degree - SHRM

Maryland's recent elimination of a four-year college degree as a job requirement for thousands of the state's jobs is shining a spotlight on the value of alternative credentials and experience. The aim of the state initiative—which the governor's office says is the first of its kind in the U.S.—is to ensure that "qualified, non-degree candidates are regularly being considered for these career-changing opportunities," Gov. Larry Hogan said in a news release. More than 38,000 people work for the state, according to Hogan's office, and the state's Department of Budget and Management (DBM) estimated more than half of those jobs can be performed by people whose experience, training and/or community college education can substitute for a four-year college degree.

https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/hr-topics/organizational-and-employee-development/pages/in-search-for-qualified-workers-maryland-drops-requirement-for-4year-degree.aspx

SHRM Report: Survey Finds a Rise of Alternative Credentials in Hiring

Increasingly, U.S. workers are turning to alternative credentials to enhance and demonstrate skills and work-readiness, according to new research from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), made possible by a grant from Walmart to the SHRM Foundation. SHRM's new reports, The Rise of Alternative Credentials in Hiring, released today along with Making Alternative Credentials Work: A New Strategy for HR Professionals, found that nearly half of U.S. workers (45%) say they have some form of an alternative credential. Among those who don't, about half (49%) have considered earning one.

https://www.shrm.org/about-shrm/press-room/press-releases/pages/shrm-report-survey-finds-a-rise-of-alternative-credentials-in-hiring-.aspx

Employers Claim to Value Alternative Credentials. Do Their Practices Match Their Promises? - Rebecca Koenig, EdSurge

There’s plenty of interest among workforce experts about the potential of alternative credentials—like certificates, badges and apprenticeships—to help more people find better jobs without necessarily having to go to college. But in order for that to actually work, employers have to value those credentials. Many company leaders say that they do, as part of their efforts to reward skills, not just degrees. And some employers even issue their own credentials, like IBM and Google. Yet all that rhetoric hinges on the moment when a resume lands on the desk of a hiring manager. 

https://www.edsurge.com/news/2022-04-20-employers-claim-to-value-alternative-credentials-do-their-practices-match-their-promises

Rutgers Business School offers stackable certificate programs - Linda Linder, ROI-NJ

Rutgers Business School is offering a twist on traditional learning: stackable programs and microcourses designed to upskill working professionals who are intent on keeping pace with the rapidly changing work world. The Newark and New Brunswick institution said it is planning innovative new programs to draw on the transformative idea of stackable credentials, with an eye to the forces shaping the future of higher education. The programs are designed to instruct students in nontraditional course formats, even if they don’t attain a full master’s degree to do it.

https://www.roi-nj.com/2022/04/20/education/rutgers-business-school-offers-stackable-certificate-programs/

Digital Credentials Will See an Explosion of Demand, Experts Say - IBL News

The number of digital credentials issued in 2021 saw a 67% growth, according to Accrediblle. Experts expect that this year will be an explosion of demand. The consensus is that the market for digital credentials platforms and products is on fire. The Biden Administration’s view is contributing to this increase. During his first State of the Union Address, President Biden supported skills-based hiring, stressing that “millions of Americans without a college degree are needlessly disadvantaged in the pursuit of good jobs, even when they have the skills and knowledge employers need.”

https://iblnews.org/digital-credentials-will-see-an-explosion-of-demand-experts-say/

Micro-Credentials : Macro-Rewards - Digital Promise

Technology has transformed the workplace. How we learn and recognize learning must also transform. Individuals develop new skills while working and are seeking opportunities to be recognized for their professional growth. Research suggests that traditional frameworks and models for recognizing professional growth and providing professional advancement opportunities don’t meet the needs of today’s workers. Micro-credentials provide a pathway to personalizing and recognizing professional learning. They allow employers to verify the skills their employees demonstrate, regardless of where and how they learned them.

https://digitalpromise.org/initiative/educator-micro-credentials/

Ten Facts You Need to Know About Micro-Credentials -Contact North | Contact Nord

Micro-credentials are increasingly seen as key to the future of work and learning(link is external) and to ensuring entry to the workforce becomes more accessible to more people.(link is external). 

https://teachonline.ca/tools-trends/ten-facts-you-need-know-about-micro-credentials

Compare Micro Credential, Professional Certificate, and Advanced Certification - AOTA

American Occupational Therapy Association chart comparing Micro Credentials, Professional Certificates and Advanced Certifications.  See link below.

https://www.aota.org/career/continuing-education/micro-credentials-and-professional-certificates/comparison-of-micro-credential-professional-certificate-and-advanced-certification

Micro-credentials: What they are and how they can help you secure a job - the Standard

A digital credential is a piece of data that carries information about a learning achievement someone has earned. This might include the training provider, a description of the learning, when the credential was issued and who received it, explains the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. Learners can use these digital badges to easily share and verify their learning. For example, through social media, an e-portfolio or a CV.

https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/business/work-life/article/2001443348/micro-credentials-what-they-are-and-how-they-can-help-you-secure-a-job

The Tech Labor Shortage Is Only Set to Grow. These Companies Think Apprenticeships Are the Answer - REBECCA DECZYNSKI, Inc.

Apprenticeships have a different structure than internships, and they can reach a different audience, too. For an apprentice's term--typically a year--they receive paid on-the-job training, usually working with a mentor who helps them through the ins and outs of their position. At the end of their term, they're brought on into a full-time, entry level position. "The company gets to hire folks that they already know, and the investment is less than the cost of going out and finding new people," Carlson says.

https://www.inc.com/rebecca-deczynski/apprenticeships-multiverse-apprenti-onesignal-tech-labor-shortage.html

Canvas LMS Acquires the Micro-Credentials Issuer and Partner Badgr - IBL News

Instructure Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: INST), owner of Canvas LMS, announced yesterday the acquisition of partner Concentric Sky, the maker of Badgr, for an undisclosed amount. Currently, Badgr is the default micro-credentialing tool within Canvas LMS. Now, Badgr will be rebranded as “Canvas Badges.” “With Badgr, the Concentric Sky team has developed the gold standard for verifiable, skill-aligned micro-credentials, fast becoming the currency between learning outcomes and employment opportunities,” said Steve Daly, CEO of Instructure.

https://iblnews.org/canvas-lms-buys-the-micro-credentials-issuer-and-partner-badgr/