How many unique education credentials exist? More than 1M, according to a new count. - Rick Seltzer, Higher Ed Dive

Almost 1.1 million unique educational credentials exist in the U.S., according to a new tally mapping a sprawling web of certificates, badges, licenses, diplomas and the like — as well as who offers them. The count comes in a report released by the nonprofit Credential Engine, which is trying to improve the available information about learning and career pathways. The report sorted its estimated count of credentials into four buckets: 

350,412 from postsecondary institutions awarding degrees and certificates, down 9,301 from its 2021 tally.

13,014 from MOOC providers awarding course completion certificates, microcredentials and online degrees from foreign universities, up by 3,624.

656,753 from nonacademic providers and 56,179 from secondary schools.

https://www.highereddive.com/news/unique-credentials-certificates-over-1-million/638130/

Open the Title IV Door The federal financial aid system is locking students out of more affordable learning options - Burck Smith, Inside Higher Ed

Ironically, by restricting applicability to accredited colleges, Title IV requires the poorest students to enroll in riskier, higher-priced postsecondary options and not the increasing number of low-cost alternatives, many of which are offered by learning providers other than traditional, accredited postsecondary institutions. Today, there are more than 550,000 postsecondary credentials that are outside the Title IV system, including certificates, badges, licenses and certifications. These range in length, price, value and meaning, but many have gone through evaluations such as American Council on Education Learning Evaluations to determine how many college credits they equate to. Many also cost a fraction of the amount of the equivalent college programs and can be completed much more quickly than a traditional degree program or at a flexible pace.

https://www.insidehighered.com/views/2022/12/06/rethinking-federal-aid-alternative-credentials-opinion

UMaine receives award from Governor’s Energy Office to launch new programs and courses on offshore wind - University of Maine

University of Maine faculty will help meet the workforce demand of the offshore wind industry by offering students more training for future careers with new courses, micro-credentials and an undergraduate concentration in offshore wind energy, made possible with a $266,669 award from the Governor’s Energy Office’s Clean Energy Partnership program. The initiative, OffshoreWind4Maine, led by Amrit Verma, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, will offer hands-on curricula that will give high school and UMaine students and working professionals knowledge and skills in this growing industry. 

https://umaine.edu/news/blog/2022/12/05/umaine-receives-award-from-governors-energy-office-to-launch-new-programs-and-courses-on-offshore-wind/

Micro-credentials: Certifying the future of higher education in the UK - Sidharth Oberoi, FE News

According to the House of Lords Youth Unemployment Committee report, one of those crucial challenges is the skills gaps and shortages in existing and emerging sectors which is damaging productivity. A solution to this challenge for students, educators and employers alike is micro-credentials, as they become more accessible with the generalisation of virtual learning environments. Micro-credentials are mini-digital certifications that can be used to validate skills in a specific area. The crucial difference between a traditional degree and micro-credentials is that credentials allow students to take courses that are modular, flexible and narrower in focus than a degree while still demonstrating students have up-to-date knowledge.

https://www.fenews.co.uk/skills/micro-credentials-certifying-the-future-of-higher-education-in-the-uk/

Modularization: The Mighty Credential Makes Its Appearance! - Linda Dale Bloomberg, TC Press

The increasing need for reskilling and upskilling caused by automation, the knowledge explosion, and the pandemic will tilt the balance toward more educational programs that are closely aligned with the labor market and provide certificates, micro-credentials, and badges — not just degrees (Levine & Pelt, 2021). This points to the viability of shorter, more specifically targeted learning pathways toward achieving economic productivity. As I write in my book Designing and Delivering Effective Online Instruction: How to Engage Adult Learners, “With the ongoing pandemic and widespread closures and reorganization, there has been a significant and continuing need for reskilling and upskilling as a result of disruptive changes in the job market (McKinsey, 2020; World Economic Forum 2020, 2021).” 

https://www.tcpress.com/blog/modularization/

The PED is asking for feedback on its new teacher advancement system - ESTEBAN CANDELARIA, abq Journal

Educators have been abuzz with talk about their new advancement system. So the state Public Education Department’s putting it to the test early next year with a public hearing that will propose several rule changes to actually implement the system, known as micro-credentials, into the department’s rulebook. The Jan. 3 meeting on the rules, interim Director of Educator Quality and Ethics Layla Dehaiman said, will be used to gather public feedback about the new system.

https://www.abqjournal.com/2555110/the-ped-is-asking-for-public-feedback.html

Lessons Learned From Launching a Micro-Credential Program - Anissa Lokey-Vega & Raven Malliett, Evolllution

Developing an entirely new form of programming, like micro-credentials, requires collaboration between departments, faculty, senior leadership and even the surrounding community. The work that goes into making these programs accessible and differentiating them from the rest of the university through badges or certificates can help more students return to work with new skills quickly.  

https://evolllution.com/programming/credentials/lessons-learned-from-launching-a-micro-credential-program-2/

Alberta funding new micro-credential program at Burman University in Lacombe - Red Deer Advocate

The provincial government is funding five new micro-credential programs, including one at a post-secondary institution in central Alberta. Earlier this fall, Alberta’s government invested $8 million over two years to create 69 new micro-credentials programs through the Alberta at Work initiative. Additional funding of more than $270,000 will help create five new programs that support key sectors, including energy, technology, software development and finance.

https://www.reddeeradvocate.com/news/alberta-funding-new-micro-credential-program-at-burman-university-in-lacombe/

Micro-credentials: Certifying the future of higher education in the UK - Sidharth Oberoi, FE News

COVID-19’s effect on education has created a paradigm shift for higher education while shining a light on challenges the sector was already facing. The pandemic highlighted unequal opportunities and showcased the gap between education taught at universities and the skills needed to succeed in a digital workforce. Currently, solutions are needed that can rapidly scale and resolve the challenges facing students today brought forth by the pandemic. According to the House of Lords Youth Unemployment Committee report, one of those crucial challenges is the skills gaps and shortages in existing and emerging sectors which is damaging productivity. A solution to this challenge for students, educators and employers alike is micro-credentials, as they become more accessible with the generalisation of virtual learning environments.

https://www.fenews.co.uk/skills/micro-credentials-certifying-the-future-of-higher-education-in-the-uk/

Generation Z turn to online learning to sharpen their skills - Zydrune Budnike, AeroTime Hub

The transition from traditional to virtual and hybrid workplace environments has proven to be irreversible. Reports by Google data on Generation Z behavior indicate that a significant majority of this population has become accustomed to online-based learning through visually rich, technology-based, and socially interactive platforms. Many Generation Z learners have expressed a high preference for virtual and blended learning over traditional programmes that usually require them to enroll and attend physical classrooms to attain certain qualifications. 

https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/32808-generation-z-online-learning-skills

A European Approach to Micro-credentials for Lifelong Learning and Employability - Yann-Maël Bideau &Thomas Kearns, TandF Online

The phenomenon of micro-credentials is not a new one. Small, usually short in duration, courses leading to different types of awards or credentials are already dominant in many education and training sectors, professions and labour market systems such as in diving instruction, IT certification, and also very importantly in continuing professional development for health workers. Preliminary findings from the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training’s (Cedefop) ongoing study on micro-credentials role in facilitating learning for employment shows that employer organisations in the following sectors are most active in making use of micro-credentials: information and communication (31%), accommodation and food service activities (22%), human health and social work activities (22%) and manufacturing (22%).

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21614083.2022.2147288?src=

Credentialing Learning in the European OER Ecosystem: Possibilities and Challenges - ENCORE

The Encore+ project recently published a report on “Credentialing learning in the European OER Ecosystem”. This was based on interviews with experts from around Europe, and we are delighted that seven of the interviewees are able to join us for a panel to discuss the issues raised by the report. The discussion will be moderated by Dai Griffiths, the lead author of the report, and senior researcher at the Research Institute UNIR iTED. Universidad Internacional de La Rioja (UNIR) Together we will consider the degree to which emerging educational practices and technologies can enable new approaches to the credentialling of learning that is obtained through the use of OERs.

https://encoreproject.eu/event/credentialing-learning-in-the-european-oer-ecosystem-possibilities-and-challenges/

Comprehensive Learner Record Standard™ - IMS Global

The Comprehensive Learner Record Standard™  (CLR Standard™) is the new generation of secure and verifiable learning and employment records supporting all nature of academic and workplace recognition and achievements including courses, competencies and skills and employer-based achievements and milestones. Recommended by AACRAO, the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, the Comprehensive Learner Record Standard™ from 1EdTech is a technical specification designed to support traditional academic programs, co-curricular and competency-based education as well as employer-based learning and development—in any domain where it's important to capture and communicate a learner's and worker's achievements in verifiable, digital form. Designed to be used, curated, and controlled by the learner, the CLR Standard™ is a modern and web-friendly interoperable learner record structured for easy understanding yet flexible enough to support a wide range of use cases to meet the needs of learners and workers, registrars and employers.

https://www.imsglobal.org/activity/comprehensive-learner-record

UCSC’s popular GetVirtual internship program expands its impact and outreach with newly launched Coursera course - Dan White, UCSC

Two years ago, the online entrepreneurship course Crown 95: GetVirtual Business Assistance launched at UC Santa Cruz, sponsored by Crown College to pair students with local businesses struggling to pivot from foot traffic to online orders and sales.    In this successful and popular course, the students serve as mentors and consultants to participating businesses, helping to redesign their websites for e-commerce, listing product catalogs in virtual marketplaces, and offering other invaluable technical assistance. The Coursera course is open to everyone around the world with an internet connection, regardless of academic affiliation. For learners outside the UC system it's free, unless they want a certificate.

https://news.ucsc.edu/2022/11/get-virtual-coursera-feature-dw.html

New Report on Re-Enrolling Adult Learners - Sara Weissman, Inside Higher Ed

A new report offers guidance to community college leaders seeking to re-enroll adult learners who earned academic credits but left college without a degree or credential. The report, produced by InsideTrack, a nonprofit organization that helps institutions enroll students and improve academic outcomes through coaching. The report notes that community colleges lost almost 830,000 students nationally since spring 2020, according to National Student Clearinghouse Research Center data. Meanwhile, there are currently 39 million Americans who attended some college but never graduated.

https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2022/11/15/new-report-re-enrolling-adult-learners

Employers Rethink Need for College Degrees in Tight Labor Market - Austen Huffard, Wall Street Journal

The tight labor market is prompting more employers to eliminate one of the biggest requirements for many higher-paying jobs: the need for a college degree. Companies such as Alphabet Inc.’s Google, Delta Air Lines Inc. and International Business Machines Corp. have reduced educational requirements for certain positions and shifted hiring to focus more on skills and experience. Maryland this year cut college-degree requirements for many state jobs—leading to a surge in hiring—and incoming Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro campaigned on a similar initiative.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/employers-rethink-need-for-college-degrees-in-tight-labor-market-11669432133

Rethinking professional learning and development - Alison Bell, eCampus News

There’s a common denominator for our workforce, and it’s that nearly every worker craves learning and development opportunities – something not all employers offer to employees. Since the pandemic, 3 in 4 Americans agree acquiring new skills leads to more job opportunities. We can think of learning and development as everything an organization does to encourage professional development to enhance workplace performance, including online learning, training programs, or any opportunity to help its employees continue their higher education while also being able to work full time.

https://www.ecampusnews.com/2022/11/23/rethinking-professional-learning-and-development/

U Minnesota College of Liberal Arts Partners with Helios Consulting to Offer Rise Apprenticeship Program - Kate Lucariello, Campus Technology

The University of Minnesota (UMN)'s College of Liberal Arts (CLA) has announced a partnership with Helios Consulting to offer graduates a chance to gain human resource technology skills through paid employment and training in its Rise Program, an apprenticeship designed to prepare students for a career in the Workday ecosystem. Helios Consulting is a certified Workday human resources tech software services partner. UMN graduates accepted as apprentices into the Rise program are hired and paid full time from their first day as they go through a 12-week remote training program.

https://campustechnology.com/articles/2022/11/23/u-minnesota-college-of-liberal-arts-partners-with-helios-consulting.aspx

Career Enhancement program provides students with skills and hope for the future - Saskatchewan Polytechnic

Career Enhancement is an 18-week program that includes 10 weeks on campus in class, followed by an eight-week practicum. The in-class sessions cover both digital skills and softs skills, with students refreshing and/or learning how to do work on a computer. Programs such as Word, Excel, Outlook and keyboarding accuracy and speed are covered. Instruction is also provided to enhance student skills for success such as developing a stand-out resume and working on interview skills, to name a few. Wright said he felt very well prepared for the interview and for the work he is doing in his new position.

https://saskpolytech.ca/news/posts/2022/career-enhancement-provides-students-with-skills-and-hope.aspx

Let’s educate tomorrow’s voters: Democracy depends on it - Elias Blinkoff, Molly Scott, and Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, Brookings

The final results of the 2022 midterm election in the United States are in. Journalists tell us that a key issue for voters was preservation of democracy. A recent NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll showed that while inflation was the top issue on voters’ minds, “preserving democracy” captured second place. The issue that claimed little attention was education. Yet, as Thomas Jefferson once said, “An educated citizenry is a vital requisite for our survival as a free people.” That is, if we care about democracy, we must also care about education.

https://www.brookings.edu/blog/education-plus-development/2022/11/21/lets-educate-tomorrows-voters-democracy-depends-on-it/

Apprenticeships for office jobs can prepare downtowns for the future of work - Annelies Goger and Tracy Hadden Loh, Brookings

And the wave of federal funding earmarked for workforce development, infrastructure, innovation, and climate adaptation will create additional opportunities to strategically engage local talent in the reinvention of downtown neighborhoods.  Finance and insurance, professional and business services, and many government administration jobs could benefit greatly from offering apprenticeship pathways from high schools and community colleges into roles that are currently hard to fill, such as project managers, account managers, cybersecurity technicians, and graphic designers.  

https://www.brookings.edu/blog/the-avenue/2022/11/21/apprenticeships-for-office-jobs-can-prepare-downtowns-for-the-future-of-work/