Microcredentials can assist graduates and working professionals to meet changing industry demands, but more needs to be done to fill the gap between curricula and in-demand skills. In a webinar held by Times Higher Education in partnership with Coursera, an expert panel centred its discussion on microcredentials, how they can be integrated into university curricula and what needs to improve to fill the skills gap in Asia. The integration of microcredentials into curricula is essential to assist graduates in meeting industry demands. “Especially in the case of microcredentials, which are highly related to industry, the university can collaborate with businesses to come up with some great courses where input from industry is used to help design the curriculum,” said Ewe Hong Tat, president of the Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman.
Tuesday, April 25, 2023
Monday, April 24, 2023
RSU students earn OSRHE-approved micro-credentials - Claremont Daily
Two dozen Rogers State University students are scheduled to graduate this spring as the first in the state to earn an Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education (OSRHE)-approved micro-credential as a drone pilot. As the first to earn this OSRHE-approved recognition, these students will graduate with an increased mastery in a particular area of STEM, giving them specialized skills and an increased viability as they enter the workforce. “As a state, in relation to workforce development, there has been a push from the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education for universities to provide short, focused credentials designed to provide in-demand skills. This has taken the form of micro-credentials,” said R. Curtis Sparling, RSU Technology and Justice Studies interim department head and assistant professor.
Sunday, April 23, 2023
The Race to Decarbonize America Needs More Workers - Matt Simon, Wired
The US already has all the technology needed to rapidly bring down carbon emissions. The trouble is finding enough people to install it all. So the jobs are there, but qualified workers to fill them are harder to find. “The green transition is going to generate upwards of 25 million new jobs [in the US] in the next 15 years—this is just going to be a tremendous transformation of the US workforce,” says Mark Paul, an environmental economist at Rutgers University. “You can’t outsource the installation of heat pumps or solar panels on somebody’s roof to China or Bangladesh.” But, Paul adds, “do we have enough electricians, enough solar installers, enough wind installers, enough home retrofitters to transition immediately? Absolutely not.”
https://www.wired.com/story/the-race-to-decarbonize-america-needs-more-workers/
Saturday, April 22, 2023
7 trends and innovations shaping the future of college, university education - India Today
The future of higher education is exciting, and students and young professionals must be aware of the trends and innovations shaping it. Online learning, personalised learning, micro-credentials, artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, and data analytics are just some of the trends and innovations that are transforming higher education.... 3. Micro-credentials are short, focused learning programs that offer students a quick way to acquire new skills and knowledge. Micro-credentials are often offered online and are designed to be completed in a short period, usually a few weeks or months. These programs are an excellent way for students to gain specific skills and knowledge that are in high demand in the job market, without having to commit to a long-term degree program.
Friday, April 21, 2023
What’s New with Microcredentials in Higher Education? - Andy Viano, EdTech
Solving the enrollment crisis is a complicated and daunting task with no quick fix, but the confluence of two significant economic developments offers a good place to start: High school graduates, many of whom watched their parents carry burdensome student loans deep into adulthood, are questioning the value of a costly four-year degree. Employers, faced with a shortage of qualified job candidates, are more willing to take on new workers who lack an advanced degree and instead have job-specific skills that can be honed through on-the-job training. That’s led to an explosion of interest in certificate programs — bite-sized educational pathways that give students proof of competency in the form of microcredentials.
Thursday, April 20, 2023
Portuguese Language and Cultures Online Undergraduate Certificate
The UMass Dartmouth certificate in Portuguese Language and Cultures helps develop and strengthen communication skills in Portuguese, as well as understanding of related cultures. A strong foundation in the Portuguese language and Lusophone cultures prepares students to pursue further coursework in Portuguese and related areas. It also prepares students to take advantage of opportunities in fields such as international relations, business, translation and interpretation, teaching, government, and many more. Eligible students have earned a high school diploma.
https://www.umassd.edu/programs/portuguese-language-culture-cert-online/
Wednesday, April 19, 2023
Manhattanville College and The Windward School Announce Online Certificate Program in Dyslexia Education
he Rose Institute at Manhattanville College and The Windward School, a leading independent day school for children with language-based learning disabilities, have announced their collaboration to offer a new 16-credit online certificate program for teachers. The Dyslexia and Science of Reading Advanced Certificate will give these educators an in-depth understanding of the research and evidence supporting the Science of Reading.
Tuesday, April 18, 2023
RSU students become first in state to earn drone pilot credentials - Alexandria Tafoya, KTUL
Rogers State University announced Friday that 24 students are scheduled to graduate this spring and earn Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education-approved micro-credentials as drone pilots. While graduating with the credential recognizes these students' increased mastery in their area of study, this accomplishment is especially significant considering they will be the first students in Oklahoma to do so.
Monday, April 17, 2023
Will ‘Microcredentials’ Revolutionize Higher Ed? - GEORGE LEEF, National Review
That something might be “microcredentials,” and in today’s Martin Center article, Rick Hess peers into his crystal ball to see if they might be the next big thing. Hess writes, “The idea is simple: Formal learning has to be somehow measured. Microcredentialing offers a way to more precisely assess and document that learning. Microcredentials signal completion of short courses in specific marketable skills. Some of the more popular and useful ones cover discrete expertise in high-demand fields like IT support, data analytics, and cybersecurity.”
https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/will-microcredentials-revolutionize-higher-ed/
Sunday, April 16, 2023
Job candidates struggle to add microcredentials to hiring platforms - Carolyn Crist, HR Drive
As employers demonstrate interest in skills-based training in addition to — or instead of — degree-only requirements on hiring applications, job candidates may face barriers to properly sharing their information for hiring teams to assess, according to a March report from Northeastern University. A company’s hiring platform, as well as third-party options, may not provide adequate fields to capture the relevant skills and nondegree credentials. In addition, some software may prioritize traditional degrees over microcredentials. When extracting data, information about alternative credentials may also be “lost in translation,” researchers found.
Saturday, April 15, 2023
Alternative credentials market size for higher education to grow by USD 2,275.05 million between 2022 and 2027; Growth driven by widening skill gap - Technavio
The alternative credentials market for higher education is set to grow by USD 2,275.05 million from 2022 to 2027, progressing at a CAGR of 17.8% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current global market scenario, the latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. The market is driven by the widening skill gap. There are a large number of graduate and post-graduate degree holders in the employment market. However, only a few are employable due to the disparity in skill sets. In addition, the growing competition has led to an increased demand for specific skills that provide employment readiness. Alternate credentials allow students to acquire non-traditional skills and help them stand out from the crowd. For recruiters, alternate credentials offer a way of easily verifying student achievements and checking for suitability for the job. All these factors are driving the growth of the market.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/alternative-credentials-market-size-higher-210500518.html
Friday, April 14, 2023
The Changing Role of Learning Development Through Microcredentials - Margot Baron, Illumination by Modern Campus
Bite-sized learning is gaining traction as modern learners are looking for quick ways to upskill and reskill in the workforce. What’s needed is a collaborative and creative approach to shifting how programming is developed, and how it’s translated to employers. On this episode, Margot Baron, Google Cloud Certifications and Credential Lead at Google, discusses the transition to a skills-focused industry, and how to take a collaborative approach to program development in order to meet workforce needs.
Thursday, April 13, 2023
Lighthouse Labs and Saskatchewan Polytechnic provide free training to grow silicon prairie - Saskatchewan Polytechnic
Saskatchewan Polytechnic is excited to partner with tech education leader Lighthouse Labs to offer web development and data science training to learners at no cost to help grow Saskatchewan’s expanding tech sector. The ICT Boost initiative is funded in part by the Government of Canada's Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program (SWSP). The focus of this partnership is to empower and provide skills training to learners from equity-deserving groups wanting to work in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector.
Wednesday, April 12, 2023
Critical training available for Zoning Board of Appeals members - MSU Extension
Acting properly, a community’s Zoning Board of Appeals protects the interests of all parties and upholds due process, but when poorly trained, the board can be a serious legal risk to the community. Fortunately, Michigan State University Extension offers the ZBA Online Certificate Course — a self-paced online training designed for members of the local government Zoning Board of Appeals, local government staff who work alongside the ZBA, and local government managers and attorneys. All too often, a ZBA that has not met for many months is suddenly scheduled to hear a request that is perhaps unlike anything they have considered for years. The ZBA might have little more than 15 days to get training and prepare for the meeting, based on minimum public hearing notice requirements (MCL 125.3103).
Tuesday, April 11, 2023
HR ideas right for 2023: Six progressive strategies to attract — and retain — the employees you need - Helen Lammers-Helps, Country Guide
Let employees know that you support further education such as by offering time off or financial support for tuition and books, suggests Chhinzer. Educational opportunities are often available on-demand online and could include micro-credentials which certify the learning outcomes of short-term learning experiences. (Courses through LinkedIn and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are some examples of micro-credentials.) With the fast-paced changes in technology, employees’ technical skills become out of date much faster, says Reeve. Up-skilling has become incredibly important to ensure employees, even recent graduates, have the skills and knowledge relevant to new and evolving technology.
Monday, April 10, 2023
Harte Research Institute at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and Focus EduSolutions partner to offer Aquaculture Micro-Credential Certificate Program
The Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies (HRI) at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and Focus EduSolutions have teamed up to offer a comprehensive Aquaculture Micro-Credential Certificate Program, aimed at preparing learners to be competent, ethical, and innovative professionals in related areas of aquaculture. The partnership's vision is to create a world where micro-credentials are widely recognized and a valued form of professional development, providing individuals and organizations with the agility and adaptability needed to thrive in the 21st-century economy.
Sunday, April 9, 2023
LSU Joins LDOE for STEM Micro-Credentialing Project - LSU Engineering
With STEM learning gaining speed, it’s more important than ever for Louisiana to provide its high school educators the opportunity to earn micro-credentials in order to teach STEM subjects to their students. The $4 million, five-year Education Innovation and Research grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Improving Pre-Engineering and Computer Science Education through Micro-Credentialing, is a collaboration among LSU, the Louisiana Department of Education, BloomBoard Inc., and RAND Corporation that involves the development, implementation, and testing of a set of micro-credentials designed to help teachers demonstrate proficiency in STEM competencies.
Saturday, April 8, 2023
Consider Alternative Credentials to Close Skills Gap: SHRM Foundation Report - Fed Manager
As the federal government and U.S. businesses face a shortage of skilled workers, a new report from The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Foundation suggests that employers should consider an applicant’s alternative credentials in the hiring process and that relying on alternative credentials may be a way to close the skills gap. The report states that alternative credentials may be the “key to uncovering untapped talent among people who may not have specific work experience or a degree but have been trained in the competencies needed for the job.”
Friday, April 7, 2023
Microcredentials - Dutchess Community College
If you’re ready to upskill, microcredentials can provide a pathway to new capabilities and skills. A flexible, affordable way to start or continue your educational journey, microcredentials are short, focused programs of study that can help you build specific skills in your chosen field. You'll earn a digital badge and at a later point, can take the next step by "stacking" your qualifications into future certificates or degrees.
Thursday, April 6, 2023
‘Microcredentials’ poised to disrupt higher ed as degrees lose relevance to employers - Shelby Kearns, Campus Reform
Recent surveys show that students are relying on “microcredentials” to confer job skills that are often overlooked in four-year degree programs. Respondents are demonstrating confidence in microcredentials–online training programs that take no more than six months to complete–even as the volume of colleges and companies offering these programs can them hard to vet. A Mar. 3 article from Inside Higher Ed shares survey results from the University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA) and EdResearcher, guaging how students and employers feel about microcredentials.
Wednesday, April 5, 2023
Micro-credentials and Digital Badges Influence the Workforce, Giving FGCU Students the Upperhand - Abigail Muth, Eagle News
Support through Innovative Education and Partnerships I’Riel Williams said. Most classes have just one exam at the end of the course, which students are able to take more than once. Once that exam is passed, the student is awarded the digital certificate or badge. There are three categories of digital badges students can earn. One is industry specific, which is linked to a credit earned course and is in partnership with a business in our community. Another is transferable skills, which is based on National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) competencies. The third category is continuing education and skills academy, which focuses on professional development. This category offers different competencies that you should know if you want to go into a specific field, but are not necessarily required in the industry.
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