New Coursera survey shows high demand for industry microcredentials from students and employers in tight labor market - Scott Shireman, Coursera

Among other compelling data points, we found that 88% of students and recent graduates said including industry microcredentials, or in this case, entry-level professional certificates, in an academic program would make them more likely to enroll in that program.

The key findings from the Higher Education to Employment Survey Report include: Students and recent graduates globally believe industry microcredentials make them more likely to land a job. 43% identified their ability to get a job among the top three factors motivating their decision to enroll in a degree program. Employability was ranked ahead of academic strength, reputation, and cost, and came second only to the institution’s location. 

https://blog.coursera.org/from-higher-education-to-employment

Brighter prospects with flexible, on-demand education - Globe and Mail

More than ever, staying successful in both the professional and personal spheres against the backdrop of fast-evolving conditions requires lifelong learning. “We have to continue to learn,” says Michelle DeCoste, dean, Centre for Online Learning & Microcredentials at Toronto’s Centennial College. “The good news is that we are increasing the number of ways by which we can gain the necessary skills, knowledge and experiences.”

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/adv/article-brighter-prospects-with-flexible-on-demand-education/

Ed tech leaders just predicted these 3 trends will unfold in higher education - Natalie Schwartz, Higher Ed Dive

Microcredentials are higher ed’s future: Chief executives at two large ed tech companies touted new microcredentials available on their platforms, stressing that these smaller offerings will be a key part of higher education’s future.  Jeff Maggioncalda, Coursera’s CEO, likened Career Academy to Shopify, an e-commerce platform that enables merchants to quickly set up online stores. Colleges can use Career Academy to launch a skills academy with their own branding. 2U is also doubling down on microcredentials. The company announced Thursday two new credentials it calls Microbachelors, which are programs composed of a few classes that can lead to college credit from edX’s partner institutions. 

https://www.highereddive.com/news/ed-tech-leaders-just-predicted-these-3-trends-will-unfold-in-higher-educati/632594/

Red Deer Polytechnic set to launch five new micro-credential programs - RED DEER ADVOCATE

RDP’s Extended Education will offer several micro-credential programs starting in 2022-23, including Complex Care and Patient Navigator and Classroom Support Aide. The three other programs that will be launched in 2023-24 are Statistical Consultant, Photovoltaic Systems: Design and Install, and Substance and Addictions Support Worker.  Last week, the province announced RDP will receive $340,950 for micro-credential programs.

https://www.reddeeradvocate.com/news/red-deer-polytechnic-set-to-launch-five-new-micro-credential-programs/

New Coursera Survey: Industry Certificates Hold Strong Appeal For College Students And Employers - Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes

A new survey commissioned by Coursera, the online learning platform and a pioneer of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCS), reveals that large majorities of employers and students view short-term, industry certificates as a worthwhile addition to a college degree and a valuable credential in the hiring and job-seeking process. This strong interest in so-called micro-credentials comes at a time when a number of major companies - including Accenture, IBM, Google, Bank of America and others - are no longer requiring college degrees for many entry-level jobs, removing a “paper ceiling” as they try to build a more diverse workforce and address the talent gaps that continue to plague a number of industries.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaeltnietzel/2022/09/27/new-coursera-survey-industry-certificates-hold-strong-appeal-for-college-students-and-employers/

How Useful Are Online Certificates in the Modern Job Market? - RAJI OLUWANIYI, Make Use of

Online certificates have recently become a popular choice for many seeking accessible and affordable education opportunities. Whether you are a fresh-faced college graduate looking to bolster your CV, a career person trying to upskill in their twilight years, or a newbie in the labor market trying to bolster your resume, there's something for everyone. Here are some reasons for the popularity of online certificates:

https://www.makeuseof.com/how-useful-are-online-certificates-in-the-modern-job-market/

Online classes - KULR

Many employers already offer a traditional tuition reimbursement, but some companies are expanding to cover online courses as well. Online courses soared in popularity during the pandemic, and they continue to be much easier for remote workers to access than in-person training. In March 2022, Fortune reported that approximately 14% of employees are offered some form of reimbursement for online courses. Companies like Chipotle Mexican Grill, The Walt Disney Company, Starbucks, and T-Mobile cover 100% of tuition for certain online certificate or degree programs at specified institutions.

https://www.kulr8.com/news/national/online-classes/image_3327c039-7968-5cd5-9398-f19e74b74995.html

Alberta post-secondaries to create new “micro-credential” programs - Lethbridge News Now

The Government of Alberta has announced funding for the creation of new micro-credential programs at post-secondary schools across the province. A total of $8 million will support the development of 69 new micro-credential programs at 21 schools. Minister of Advanced Education Demetrios Nicolaides says these will allow unemployed and under-employed Albertans to quickly re-skill or upskill and meet the ever-evolving needs of industries.

https://lethbridgenewsnow.com/2022/09/22/alberta-post-secondaries-to-create-new-micro-credential-programs/

Webinar: Alternative Credentials and CBE Programs: Answering the Call for Skills-Based Learning

Date of broadcast: Tue, 10/04/22 Registration Required - sponsored by Jenzabar

During the webinar, our panel of higher education professionals from Chatfield College and Bay de Noc Community College will share institutional strategies and best practices for implementing successful alternative credentials and CBE programs. These will be methods that any higher ed institution can repeat.

https://universitybusiness.com/alternative-credentials-and-cbe-programs-answering-the-call-for-skills-based-learning/

Walmart To Pay 100% of College Tuition and Books for Associates - Walmart

Walmart announced it will pay 100% of college tuition and books for associates through its Live Better U (LBU) education program. Starting Aug. 16, the $1 a day fee will be removed for associates, making all education programs paid for by Walmart. This means approximately 1.5 million part-time and full-time Walmart and Sam’s Club associates in the U.S. can earn college degrees or learn trade skills without the burden of education debt. As the largest U.S. private employer, Walmart is committing to invest nearly $1 billion over the next five years in career-driven training and development.

https://corporate.walmart.com/newsroom/2021/07/27/walmart-to-pay-100-of-college-tuition-and-books-for-associates

Short-term training provides skills that lead to jobs - Salt Lake Community College, KSL

As we have navigated these extraordinary and challenging times, Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) rallied its resources to help both employees and employers meet their respective needs. Short-term training, certificates and other resources offered by SLCC have been vital in giving those most impacted a leg-up and a step forward toward meaningful employment in high-demand industries throughout the Salt Lake Valley. Are you a Utah resident who is unemployed, underemployed or working in a vulnerable position? Funding is now available to cover tuition and fees for many short-term training and certificate programs at SLCC.

https://www.ksl.com/article/50477608/short-term-training-provides-skills-that-lead-to-jobs

California to give $2,500 training grant to workers who lost jobs during COVID pandemic - MIKHAIL ZINSHTEYN, Mercury News

Now the state is opening the grant to a wide range of adults with low incomes who lost their jobs or saw their hours severely cut during the pandemic. Half of the grant funds are reserved for displaced workers with children under 18. Officials expect to reach 190,000 people with this money, called the Golden State Education and Training Grant Program. Among the few stipulations to receive the grant, applicants must fill out a short application that takes about 10 minutes to complete and attest that they lost a job or hours after March 4 2020, when Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency. Applicants also must affirm that they weren’t enrolled in an educational or job-training program when they lost their jobs. There’s an income threshold as well.

https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/09/13/california-to-give-2500-training-grant-to-workers-who-lost-jobs-during-pandemic/

Local higher ed leaders talk nontraditional students - Rochester Magazine

"The opportunities have never been greater for adults who are interested in a new career. Many times that change requires additional education, and we offer many convenient options for continued education. Some ways Saint Mary’s is doing this is through single course options, certificates for specific areas (faster to achieve than a full degree), and by making it possible to combine—or stack—related certificates into a degree program to allow our adult learners to move forward with their career and their education in tandem." —Tim Albers, Vice Provost for Enrollment Management, Saint Mary's University

https://www.postbulletin.com/rochester-magazine/local-higher-ed-leaders-talk-nontraditional-students

ACD To Offer Students Free Career-Entry Professional Certificates from Google - Alamo Community Colleges

To help students prepare for the workforce through industry-created training, the Alamo Colleges District will be offering all Fall 2022 enrolled students free access to one of six Grow with Google professional certificates through a partnership with Coursera. This opportunity is made possible through a partnership between Google and Coursera, a global online learning platform that offers access to online courses. The six professional certificates in the Grow with Google suite available for enrolled students are; Data Analytics, Digital Marketing & E-commerce, IT Automation with Python, IT Support, Project Management and UX Design. 

https://www.alamo.edu/news--events/news/2022/08-august/acd-to-offer-students-free-career-entryprofessional-certificates-from-google/

Newly funded micro-credential programs will provide Albertans with job-ready skills - Mirage News

Albertans aiming to upgrade their skills, gain new skills or rejoin the workforce now have a new avenue at the University of Alberta, thanks to $1.14 million in new provincial funding over the next two years. The investment in 10 U of A programs is part of an $8-million announcement from Advanced Education to fund short-term micro-credential programs to help Albertans quickly re-skill or upskill to meet the demands of a changing economy. “We invite Albertans looking to accelerate the next stage of their careers to come to the University of Alberta to seek a bold new future,” said Bill Flanagan, U of A president.

https://www.miragenews.com/newly-funded-micro-credential-programs-will-862250/

EVs, the new future: IIT Madras launches certificate course on e-Mobility for working professionals. - Indian Express

Working professionals who intend to get familiar with electric vehicles can now enroll for IITM's 120-hour online certificate course. Last date to register for the October 2022 batch is September 30Mrittika Banerjee Offered through IITM’s Centre for Outreach and Digital Education (CODE), it is a 120-hour course with 40 hours of online interactive sessions with faculty. The course is extended for a period of six months and four out of the nine modules in the programme will be delivered by industry professionals. “Content will be delivered by industry professionals of the automotive industry with electric vehicle and vehicle engineering background,” says Course Coordinator Prof Karthick Athmanathan, Professor of Practice, IITM to EdexLive. 

https://www.edexlive.com/news/2022/sep/16/evs-the-new-future-iit-madras-launches-certificate-course-on-e-mobility-for-working-professionals-31080.html

TOMPKINS CORTLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE AWARDED FUNDING FOR MICRO-CREDENTIALS, JOB TRAINING - Eric Reinhard, CNYBJ

Tompkins Cortland Community College (TC3) in Dryden will use a funding award of $150,000 to develop micro-credentials and for training to fill local “in-demand jobs and provide pathways for career growth.” The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) with assistance from Southern Tier 8 Regional Development Board awarded the funding, Southern Tier 8 said.

https://www.cnybj.com/tcthree-awarded-funding-for-micro-credentials-job-training/

Bridging the Gap: Micro-credentials for Development - Rory McGreal, Wayne Mackintosh, Glenda Cox, and Don Olcott, Jr., IRRODL

This paper describes current trends and issues in implementing micro-credentials. The Covid-19 epidemic, combined with the increasing cost of higher education; employer concerns about graduate skills and competencies; increasing inequities in access; and student frustrations about lack of job opportunities have all been a catalyst for universities, colleges, independent credentialing agencies, and leaders of national qualification frameworks to rethink the broader credentials continuum in terms of open education and micro-credentials. Students desire more options at lower costs to combine their education and training for jobs. Employers want entry-level employees with better skills and capacity to learn.

https://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/view/6696/5731

Citing inflation, Iowa's universities ask for $32 million more from Board of Regents - Phillip Sitter, Des Moines Register

Iowa State's $12 million request includes $4 million for expanding degree and certificate programs in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, computer science and engineering, and other high-tech fields. 

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/education/2022/09/11/iowa-public-universities-iowa-state-uni-ask-more-money-board-regents-upcoming-budgets/8004736001/

Here are 5 free online cybersecurity courses hosted by top universities - SYDNEY LAKE, Fortune

Since 2013, the number of unfilled cybersecurity jobs has grown 350% from 1 million to 3.5 million, according to a 2022 report from Cybersecurity Ventures. There’s many ways to enter the burgeoning cybersecurity industry, whether it be pursuing a master’s degree, taking upskilling courses through an employer, or earning certifications - such as are offered by several of those linked below. 

https://fortune.com/education/business/articles/2022/09/01/here-are-5-free-online-cybersecurity-courses-hosted-by-top-universities/

Certificate vs. Certification: What’s The Difference? - Ian Callahan, Forbes Advisor

Though many people use the terms interchangeably, certificates and certifications are not the same. Understanding the differences between certificates and certifications is helpful for all students. Comparing the two can be useful when browsing prospective programs and job requirements. Pursuing a certificate or certification can be advantageous in the workplace, especially when it comes to increasing your salary and building your expertise. It’s important to know where your current employment status and your future goals lie when comparing certificate and certification programs.

https://www.forbes.com/advisor/education/certificates-vs-certification/