The first question that I asked the members of the panel forms the basis of this article: I asked them to talk about how their country defines a micro-credential. In addition to the four countries that were discussed as part of the panel I have also chosen to explore Malaysia’s use of micro-credentials in this article, to cover more of Asia in addition to the Pacific region. I’m going to go through the definition and process for each country and then explore and analyse the impact.
Sunday, November 6, 2022
Saturday, November 5, 2022
Serving Adult Learners with Flexibility, Stackable Credentials, and Data - Rhea Kelly, Campus Technology
As a predominately online institution geared toward serving adult students, University of Massachusetts Global is rethinking traditional models of education to embrace the flexibility and career relevance that working learners need. That means getting granular: unbundling courses or curricula into smaller modules that can be more accessible to busy students but also stack into credentials that will be meaningful to employers. We spoke with Dr. David Andrews, chancellor of UMass Global, about developing a new credentialing ecosystem, listening to student and industry needs, and the data infrastructure that can really support student success,
Friday, November 4, 2022
The increasing importance of micro-credentials on your international college applications - Prateek Bhargava, Economic Times
Higher educational institutions are one of the primary providers of micro-credentials. Micro-credentials can be subdivided into credit-bearing micro-credentials and non-credit-bearing micro-credentials. It is important to understand that there is a wide spectrum of what the term micro-credentials mean. Today, the pressing talent shortage is affecting 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. ‘Skills gap’ is a plague that seems to be spreading far and wide. As the demand for upskilling and reskilling within the changing face of the world of work has gained importance, notably in the context of the recovery plans surrounding COVID-19, the focus on micro-credentials has amplified.
Thursday, November 3, 2022
Google Partners with 4 Universities to Offer First-Ever Specializations to Complement Its Career Certificates - Kate Lucariello, Campus Technology
Google announced it is partnering with Columbia University, the University of Michigan, Arizona State University, and the University of Illinois' Gies College of Business to offer new industry specializations in growing fields to complement its Google Career Certificates. These specializations are designed for those in continuing education programs and will give them additional skills in high-demand fields. Offered on the Coursera online learning platform, the specializations include construction management, public sector data analytics, financial analysis, and sustainability analysis.
Wednesday, November 2, 2022
College is one way to get ahead. It shouldn't be the only one - Maria Flynn, WBUR
The good news is that, despite the confusion and concerns, change is happening. The U.S. Department of Labor recently designated $113 million in funding toward expanding Registered Apprenticeship for adults and school-aged young people. The bipartisan ISA Student Protection Act of 2022, introduced in the U.S. Senate in July, is a step toward making outcome-based financing, which ties learners’ training costs to their post-program salaries. Even the idea that career-focused training and education must wait until after high school is shifting. In Massachusetts, more students are graduating from high school with associate’s degrees thanks to the increased popularity of dual-enrollment programs, which allow students to earn college credits in high school.
Tuesday, November 1, 2022
Durbin Visits Harper College, Meets With Apprentices - Journal & Topics
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D) recently visited Harper College in Palatine to discuss a variety of topics related to education, student support and Illinois’ workforce needs. The senior U.S. senator from Illinois met with Harper President Avis Proctor to talk about subjects ranging from open educational resources and student services to partnerships with school districts and universities. Durbin participated in a discussion with Harper faculty, staff and apprentices who are studying and working in health careers, supply chain management and CNC precision machining. “Harper and other community colleges are key to our ability to replenish and transform the workforce,” Durbin said. “Colleges can make sure our workforce matches our needs as a state.
Monday, October 31, 2022
Encouraging interoperability to help learners in the digital credential marketplace - Alex Engler, Brookings
The growing use of digital credentials is enabling graduates and job seekers to make their credentials more accessible and portable in a fast-changing labor market. Governments and educational institutions should be moving to support interoperable versions of these digital credentials to give learners more control, which will ultimately lead to platforms and services that are more valuable for users.
Sunday, October 30, 2022
Queen’s Micro-Credentials Address Knowledge Gaps In Burgeoning Neurotech Industry
A new program at Queen’s University will offer a unique training opportunity designed to address gaps in knowledge in the expanding neurotech sector, a field gaining increasing prominence with initiatives such as Elon Musk’s Neuralink and Meta (formerly Facebook) Reality Lab’s use of neural signals to enhance virtual reality applications. The NeuroTech Micro-Credential Program – the first of its kind in Canada – will provide individuals already working in the industry, and those transitioning or beginning a career in neurotech, the opportunity to upscale their skills and, in particular, improve their understanding of foundational neuroscience and ethics.
Saturday, October 29, 2022
‘A tipping point for higher ed’: Google launches new, low-cost online programs for high-demand jobs - SYDNEY LAKE, Fortune
Higher education has benefits ranging from career development to skill building to network development—but it certainly can come at a high cost. The average cost of college in the U.S. is more than $35,000 per year, according to the Education Data Initiative. And these students average about $37,000 in student loan debt. Google Career Certificates online educational programs are focused on helping learners land jobs that are in high demand, including in digital marketing, IT support, data analytics, project management, and UX design. More than 300,000 people have graduated from Google’s Career Certificates program, and 75% of these grads report they’ve found a new job, higher pay, or a promotion within six months of completing of the program.
Friday, October 28, 2022
Alamo Colleges District's Micro-Credentials Insights
AlamoONLINE represents the range of opportunities for students pursuing degrees, certificates, or other offerings delivered 100% online from the district’s five colleges: Northeast Lakeview College, Northwest Vista College, Palo Alto College, San Antonio College, and St. Philip’s College. In 2020, AlamoONLINE expanded its services to include micro-credentialing to enhance students' educational experiences and strengthen each college’s capacity to deliver premier, quality digital learning experiences. We proudly share our findings from the study and practice of delivering micro-credentials in this new insight series! The series documents everything we learned, shares how we pivoted, and serves as a how-to guide for others pursuing this work. We recognize and accept our role as a leading community college district to share our work. We hope our internal colleagues and external partners, observers, and stakeholders can benefit from the time and investment in these briefs.
Thursday, October 27, 2022
Google launches Career Certificate to upskill Australians - Denham Sadler, Information Age
Online course certifications to be recognised by major employers. The courses will be flexible and will take between three and six months to complete, depending on how much time is dedicated to them. With 10 hours completed per week, one course will take six months. Google has also gathered a consortium of some of Australia’s largest companies which have agreed to recognise the qualifications and signalled interest in considering graduates in open roles. These companies include Australia Post, Woolworths Group, Canva, Optus and IAG.over across five years, through thousands of new jobs and digital infrastructure.
Wednesday, October 26, 2022
Micro-credential, big payoff - University of Florida
Micro-credentials have emerged as an ideal way to become proficient in a specific knowledge area. In this episode, Regina Rodriguez, provost fellow for professional education, explains UF's approach to micro-credentials, particularly in the realm of AI. Produced by Nicci Brown, Brooke Adams, James Sullivan and Emma Richards. Original music by Daniel Townsend, a doctoral candidate in music composition in the College of the Arts.
Tuesday, October 25, 2022
Hyper-Individualized Learning for a Hyper-Individualized Future - Thomas Frey, Future of Education
There’s a new application of hyper-personalization, though, that’s still in its infancy. And thanks to blockchain technology and artificial intelligence (AI), it will deliver a far more substantive and meaningful difference in our lives than any ads for sneakers, cruises, or wineries. Hyper-individualized learning – in the form of educational content and subsequent credentialing – is just around the corner.
Monday, October 24, 2022
Robotics Education Lagging Behind Demand, Surveys Find - Kate Lucariello, Campus Technology
Swiss-based automation technology company ABB announced recently that robotics and automation training are lagging behind increased global demand, according to two surveys it conducted this year on supply chain and education. While 80% of education professionals say robotics and automation skill sets will become crucial to employment in the near future, only one in four institutions worldwide are teaching them, the surveys found. This is in stark contrast to results showing that on average 70% of U.S. and European businesses plan to invest in robotics and automation over the next three years, driven by supply chain issues.
Sunday, October 23, 2022
EXPLORING ASSESSMENT WORKLOAD IN MICRO-CREDENTIALS - Quality Assurance Agency UK
Although micro-credentials have been around in varying forms for a long time, they have risen to greater prominence globally over the last two or three years owing to the opportunities they present for swift, focused upskilling and more accessible engagement in higher education. Various studies, including work published by QAA in this area outline opportunities for micro-credential approaches to be used to enhance the student learning experience by providing more flexible and granular approaches to learning and achievement. This project will address concerns raised regarding increasing assessment workload when making existing degree courses more granular.
Saturday, October 22, 2022
IAB and Deakin University partner on digital advertising micro-credentials - Ad News
IAB Australia has partnered with Deakin University on a series of co-designed micro-credentials for people with a digital advertising career looking to upskill or those looking to change roles. The first course, Programmatic Advertising and Trading, will be open for enrolments from 10th October and the course will starts October 31. The second, Ad Operations, will launch in February. The accredited postgraduate stackable short courses have been designed to address the greatest market needs as identified in the recent IAB Talent Industry Review and will offer 75 hours of self-paced learning that can be completed in as little as six weeks or as long as six months.
Friday, October 21, 2022
Skillnet And UL Launch Climate Action 'Micro Credentials' - Business Plus
Skillnet Ireland, the state business support agency for competitiveness, productivity and innovation, and the University of Limerick (UL) have launched Ireland's first enterprise-led micro credential programmes dedicated to climate action. The courses designed to meet the demands of learners, enterprise, and organisations have been developed by Skillnet's Climate Ready Academy.
Thursday, October 20, 2022
COLUMN: What’s a micro-credential and where can I get one? - John McArthur, Lawton Constitution
“Micro” refers to shorter time to completion and, in many cases, lesser cost. Topics are tightly focused to address a few key skills in high demand. Employers are increasingly using micro-credentials and other skills assessments to find qualified employees, and it might be something that can boost your career. It’s definitely something that Cameron University can help you earn.
Wednesday, October 19, 2022
Higher Ed Curricula—the Short Game - Ray Schroeder, Inside Higher Ed
Colleges and universities must respond to the needs, desires and demands of our clientele—the students, families and employers who pay for and consume our learning products. The truth is that the desired workforce characteristics are changing. The last century’s model of employees working many years, even decades, at one job for one employer is long gone. As such, one degree will not sustain a lifetime of work credentials. A continuing flow of upskilling and reskilling will be required for lifelong success. The need is not to abandon the baccalaureate or graduate degrees. Rather, it is to provide affordable, effective ways for more students to build a scaffolding of knowledge and skills to successfully launch rewarding careers in a constantly shifting economy. Further, it is to build paths for continuous improvement and advancement for those already in the workforce.
Tuesday, October 18, 2022
Getting the Most Out of Short-Term Career and Technical Education (CTE) Credentials: What Explains Differences in Debt and Earnings? - Molly M. Scott, Nathan Sick, Jincy Wilson; Urban Institute
We use data from the College Scorecard to examine CTE programs overall and within six fields of study: health sciences, business and marketing, computer and information sciences, repair services, protective services, and personal and culinary services. We explore the program outcomes of debt, earnings, and “debt burden” (debt as a share of earnings). We examine how each outcome is shaped by program, institution, and labor market characteristics. We provide actionable knowledge for institutions, students, and employers on the returns to short-term CTE programs and the factors that explain improved outcomes for students.
Monday, October 17, 2022
Surge Micro-credentials and Microsoft fill needs gap for working professionals - Saskatchewan Polytechnic
Surge Micro-credentials, powered by Saskatchewan Polytechnic, provide flexible and innovative learning in a growing number of high-demand industries such as business, technology and more. Surge Micro-credentials are short, focused courses that accelerate learners’ skills in specific areas. Sask Polytech and Microsoft Canada partnered to help learners jump-start their career while earning globally recognized and industry-endorsed Microsoft certifications.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)