10 top cybersecurity online courses and certifications in 2022 - Drew Robb, Venturebeat

The annual Top Paying IT Certifications list from Global Knowledge lays out the hottest certifications in terms of pay rate. These are: 

Google Certified Data Engineer 

Google Certified Professional Cloud Architect

Amazon Web Services (AWS) Certified Solutions Architect – Associate 

Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC) 

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)

https://venturebeat.com/security/10-top-cybersecurity-online-courses-and-certifications-in-2022/

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

Workers could potentially benefit from skills-building that is responsive, timely and relevant, particularly as the rise in gig and non-standard employment means that they may need to gain or demonstrate new skills much more frequently. Microcredentials, a certification of assessed learning associated with specific and relevant skills or competencies, are receiving attention and investment from governments, employers, learners and education and training institutions as a solution to the conundrum of meeting shifting labour and skills needs. 

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

Catching up with EPICA: Novel methodology helps recent graduates find work and companies the right talent - Cordis Europa

Based on a digital portfolio, the methodology assesses and awards micro-credentials to improve the quality, visibility and availability of new skills. “The methodology we have developed has two steps. The first step is for teaching staff to assess and certify the skills and the second is focused on putting together a digital portfolio for the labour market and potential employers,” explains Marcelo Maina, one of the two researchers who is a professor at The Open University of Catalonia’s Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences. “Students can work on their digital portfolio throughout their studies or create one as a final activity. It includes evidence of what they have learned – along with self-reflections – the milestones they reached, the recognitions earned and so on. The part of this digital portfolio made available for public viewing serves as a professional profile showing micro-credentials accrediting their knowledge, and evidence, which can be either academic in nature or related to their professional and social endeavours.”

https://cordis.europa.eu/article/id/441915-epica-novel-methodology-helps-recent-graduates-find-work-and-companies-the-right-talent

Sask Polytech Receives $3.5 Million for “Building the Future” Project - walterpallad, Eminetra Canada

The Autism Certification Certificate is open to communities, parents, and professionals to provide training for the growing population of service providers supporting children with autism spectrum disorders. The Leadership Skills Certificate of Achievement provides early childhood educators with the skills they need to keep this industry moving forward and meeting the expanding needs of the economy. Early Childhood Education Surge Micro-credentials are also provided. Sask Polytech funded early childhood programs and microcredentials are free. Tuition and resources are covered. Students can enroll in these courses and build a career without financial strain.

https://eminetracanada.com/sask-polytech-receives-3-5-million-for-building-the-future-project/627020/

Alternative Credentials: Considerations, Guidance, and Best Practices - AACRAO

The AACRAO  Alternative Credentials Work Group released a report on campus guidelines and best practices for alternative credentials, primarily micro-credentials and certificates, and specifically to:

create broader awareness among institutions of higher education of micro-credentials and certificates.

create future consistency and meaning of these credentials by providing definitions and parameters.

establish best practices in the offering and issuance of alternative credentials so that their portability and acceptance is maximized for the learner.

https://www.aacrao.org/resources/newsletters-blogs/aacrao-connect/article/alternative-credentials-considerations-guidance-and-best-practices

Embedding Microcredentials Within Existing Degree Programs at The University of North Texas - Adam Fein and Eric Olsen, Enrollment Growth University

Dr. Adam Fein, Chief Information Officer at University of North Texas joins the podcast to talk about embedding microcredentials within our degree programs, and whether or not microcredentials are an existential threat to higher education or its wonderful partner.

https://enrollmentgrowthuniversity.sounder.fm/episode/embedding-microcredentials-within-existing-degree?start=481.92

European Commission Proposal for a COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION on a European approach to micro-credentials for lifelong learning and employability {SWD(2021) 367 final}

The proposal for a Council Recommendation on micro-credentials will be adopted simultaneously with the Commission proposal for a Council Recommendation on Individual Learning Accounts. The objective of both actions is to empower individuals to develop skills and receive recognition of them throughout their lives.

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52021DC0770

Human capital drives long-term economic growth - Navdeep Bains, Eminetra Canada

How do you address this gap? With a relentless focus on skills, we are committed to giving everyone a chance in this new economy. Some of the changes in the labor market can be permanent, and we need to harness and enable our workforce at all levels to foster growth as a whole. This is a challenge that both the public and private sectors must work together. Training programs that help underutilized workers develop new skills in areas such as technology can help them access rapidly growing new sectors. You can also expand your talent pool by providing employees with upskilling opportunities and micro-credentials. Microcredentials are rapid training programs that help people learn new skills quickly and adapt them to companies that require specific skill sets. This gives people the momentum they need to shift careers quickly.

https://eminetracanada.com/baines-human-capital-drives-long-term-economic-growth/621230/

Alternative Credentials: Considerations, Guidance, and Best Practices - AACRAO

A comprehensive update of the state of alternative credentials and best practices.  In .pdf format.

https://www.aacrao.org/docs/default-source/work-groups/alternative-credentials/alternative-credentials-considerations-guidance-and-best-practices.pdf

Helping you to adapt and succeed in a post-pandemic world - University of Manitoba Extended Education

In 2023, we will launch our first micro-certificate. The Artificial Intelligence (AI) micro-certificate is for professionals to learn to leverage AI in order to devise and implement technological solutions for their business or organization. In the future, in addition to our variety of programs and courses, there will also be micro-credentials complete with what makes them unique — the digital documenting of skills and competencies learned.

https://news.umanitoba.ca/helping-you-to-adapt-and-succeed-in-post-pandemic-world/

Higher Ed Considers Adopting Digital Credentials - Annie Galvin Teich, Fierce Education

The primary benefits for learners are the portability and shareability of digital credentials. With 80% of the world already using smartphones, learners always have proof of their education, certifications, and eligibility for work. Digital credentials can be easily shared with recruiters or potential employers and posted on LinkedIn profiles.  There are benefits to these badges that make them difficult to replicate and use fraudulently and can also be granted for more singular or stand-alone achievements in addition to the traditional degree programs.

https://www.fierceeducation.com/student-engagement/higher-ed-considers-adopting-digital-credentials

Nondegree pathways interest employers and Gen Z — but they still view them as too risky - Laura Spitalniak, Highered Dive

Employers and high school students both believe in the value of nondegree career pathways, but both groups still view those options as too risky to fully rely on them, according to a new report from Jobs for the Future, a nonprofit focused on workforce and education systems. The report, released in partnership with the student success nonprofit American Student Assistance, found that four out of five employers think companies should hire candidates based on skills, not degrees. Even so, 52% said they still hire from degree programs because they believe it’s the less risky option. Among high schoolers, three in four want to focus on skills that prepare them for in-demand jobs. But 65% said they worry about choosing the wrong postsecondary pathway and 37% said they believe employers favor degrees.

https://www.highereddive.com/news/nondegree-pathways-interest-employers-and-gen-z-but-they-still-view-them/629108/

75% of New Jobs Require a Degree While Only 40% of Potential Applicants Have One - David Trend, Truthout

The numbers are deceptively simple: 75 percent of new jobs insist on a bachelor’s degree, while only 40 percent of potential applicants have one. According to the advocacy group Opportunity@Work, employers mistakenly equate college completion with work aptitude, while disregarding self-acquired knowledge or nonacademic experience. The group asserts that the nation’s undervalued workforce “has developed valuable skills through community college, certificate programs, military service, or on-the-job learning, rather than through a bachelor’s degree. Workers with experience, skills, and diverse perspectives are held back by a silent barrier.” As a consequence, more than 50 percent of the U.S.’s skilled workforce has been underemployed and underpaid.

https://truthout.org/articles/75-of-new-jobs-require-a-degree-while-only-40-of-potential-applicants-have-one/

A ‘Degree’ of Difference - Larry Field, New Jersey Business

Schools are also supplementing graduate degree programs with certificate-earning classes. Certificate programs provide graduate-level specialization aimed at broadening a student’s skillsets. TCNJ’s Tomkiel explains, “These are targeted courses, like our educational leadership program, which is a perfect add-on for someone who knows they want to lead a school; or specialization courses, like data analytics. Certificate programs are an alternative to a full degree; where they acquire specific knowledge instead – or on top of – a Master’s program.” Businesses increasingly use certificate programs (such as data analytics) to provide employees with specific skill sets in emerging areas important to their employers.

https://njbmagazine.com/monthly-articles/a-degree-of-difference/

Certificate vs. Degree vs. Bootcamp: What’s The Difference? - Christin Perry, Forbes

If you decide it’s time to level up your education, you’ve got plenty of options for doing so. Should you attend a bootcamp or a degree program? What’s the difference between a certificate vs. a degree? Which is right for you? With so many programs available, especially in the tech sector, it can be difficult to choose. In this article, we’ll break down the differences between a bootcamp vs. a degree vs. a certificate so you can decide which path is right for you. [ed note - useful for determining prospective learner perspective]

https://www.forbes.com/advisor/education/degree-certificate-bootcamp/

NCMC announces new engineering technology degree pathway - Petosky News

Students planning to pursue a bachelor’s degree in engineering technology can now begin their education closer to home –– and at a significant cost savings –– thanks to North Central Michigan College’s newest program of study.  Embedded within the program’s curriculum are standards set by the Smart Automation Certification Alliance (SACA), which is the world’s only credentialing entity that provides certifications and stackable micro-credentials related to Industry 4.0.  

https://www.petoskeynews.com/story/news/education/2022/08/06/ncmc-announces-new-engineering-technology-degree-pathway/10233748002/

Regulators must keep-up with the pace of education innovation - MAHSOOD SHAH, Campus Morning Mail (Australia)

Apart from the endless quest for cost efficiencies, some of the key innovative developments include: pedagogical design for fully online or blended course delivery; building digital capability; development of microcredentials; new forms of third-party partnerships; and revisiting learning and student support with a strong focus on personalised on-campus and online experience. As tertiary education institutions innovate their learning and teaching practices, it is critical that national regulators and professional accreditation bodies support their pursuit of innovation at a scale and speed that assures their international competitiveness.

https://campusmorningmail.com.au/news/regulators-must-keep-up-with-the-pace-of-education-innovation/

Higher education: Microcredentials, macro challenge - Andrew Silver, Research Professional News

Microcredentials are facing a macro challenge. Last month, the governments of EU member states backed a proposal to develop a unified approach to using the certificates of short-term learning. But not all EU countries are giving the idea their full support. Microcredentials are emerging as a major area of focus for Europe’s leading universities as they look to change their traditional ways of teaching for a future that requires new—and continuously updated—skills.

https://www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-europe-universities-2022-7-higher-education-microcredentials-macro-challenge/

Real-World Learning More than ever, undergraduates want to be prepped for career placement - Robin Brunet, Vancouver Magazine

University Canada West offers MBA and Bachelor degrees to prepare its students to be effective workplace leaders, and its president, Sheldon Levy, points out that students more than ever want their studies to provide good career placements via co-ops and internships. He says, “They also want professional designations or credentials that employers recognize, which is why micro-credentials validated by industry are growing in importance as part of university studies: they give students additional credentials within their degree.” UCW’s micro-credentials are focused on technology, business, and innovation, and courses include Blockchain Entrepreneurship, Data and Web Analytics, and Supply Chain Management and Logistics.

https://www.vanmag.com/Real-World-Learning

WHAT ARE, AREN’T AND MIGHT BE MICRO-CREDENTIALS? - eCampus Ontario

In comparison to traditional courses and ways of learning that focus on structure and specific due dates for assessments , micro-credentials value self-directed learning and recognize that learners will complete smaller units of learning experiences at a pace that meets their learning needs and styles. As a result, micro-credentials should be flexible and, where possible, learners should complete them at a pace that works best for them. In some offerings, there are no specific due dates except for the end date. Micro-credentials have the potential to fill skills gaps in both the current and future labour markets.

https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/microcredentialtoolkit/chapter/what-are-arent-and-might-be-micro-credentials/

5 Reasons Why Online Certificate Programmes Are Worth It - Finance Monthly

In this modern era, there is no need to educate people on the importance of education. Instead, we should help them get an education easily since many individuals quit their higher studies for several reasons. Lack of money and busy schedules are some of the most common issues that prevent them from getting professional degrees and making a bright career.  Online learning is becoming massively popular worldwide, not because of the pandemic but because of the advantages it offers. Below, we’ll shed some light on how online certificate programmes are better than on-campus programmes. 

https://www.finance-monthly.com/2022/08/5-reasons-why-online-certificate-programmes-are-worth-it/