'The perfect match': College students with physical disabilities earn internships with Fehribach Center - AUBREY WRIGHT, Indiana Public Media

It’s been years since Paige Moore started looking into college internships. As a freshman at Indiana University, there weren't many options. First, paid internships were hard to find. And then she had to find somewhere that helps people with disabilities. Moore is hard of hearing, and she uses a sign language interpreter. She felt like she was at a disadvantage.  Then she found the Gregory S. Fehribach Center at Eskenazi Health. An Indiana University senior in neuroscience, Paige Moore plans to work after graduation before going to graduate school. Moore is one of 195 college students with physical disabilities who have been matched with internships thanks to the Fehribach Center, Director Larry Markle said. Those students have participated in about 400 internships in and around Indianapolis.

https://indianapublicmedia.org/news/college-students-with-physical-disabilities-earn-life-changing-internships-with-fehribach-center.php

Some parts of rural America are changing fast. Can higher education keep up? - Nick Fouriezos, USA Today

Across rural America, both income inequality and a lack of affordable housing are on the rise. Remote communities like the Tetons are facing not just an economic challenge, but also an educational one, as changing workforce needs meet a critical skills and training gap. It’s created a strange dichotomy: Employers, particularly in the trades, say they need talent more than ever. Yet many workers report having trouble finding jobs that pay enough to cover their rapidly rising bills. And these trends have only become more pronounced since the pandemic, fueled in part by remote white-collar workers and others who brought with them an increase in housing demand without an increase in the local expertise to address it. 

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/education/2023/09/27/rural-america-needs-skilled-workers-is-higher-education-adapting/70912130007/

Higher Ed Should Pay Attention to the Corporate World’s Growing Use of Skills Data - Sean Gallagher, EdSurge

Employers these days are moving to skills-based hiring — looking for signs that candidates have specific abilities rather than just checking for a college degree as a default qualification. The embrace of competencies over credentials is driven by ongoing shortages of talent in many sectors, which was underlined just last week, when the U.S. Department of Labor reported a near-record 9.5 million job openings and a robust employment situation. And government leaders are also pushing the trend: many state governors, for instance, have adopted skills-based hiring for state positions, and the U.S. House of Representatives’ Education and Workforce Committee is giving the approach attention.

https://www.edsurge.com/news/2023-08-10-higher-ed-should-pay-attention-to-the-corporate-world-s-growing-use-of-skills-data

RSU offers AI training to boost workforce skills New short-term training programs target workforce readiness - Tom Fink, Rogers State University

The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education (OSHRE) approved three new micro-credentials for Rogers State University’s Department of Technology and Justice Studies: software developer, designing and 3D essentials and artificial intelligence. The new micro-credentials, beginning in January, were developed in response to an increased demand for critical STEM disciplines through alternative learning pathways, specifically, short-term, flexible and individualized training.  The newly approved curriculum aligns with Oklahoma’s “Complete College America” goals, ensuring RSU contributes to the state’s higher education success and workforce readiness.

https://www.claremoreprogress.com/news/rsu-offers-ai-training-to-boost-workforce-skills/article_6116af24-8f62-11ee-aabe-c3b841f542bd.html

Employers value a college degree but think students lack some skills, survey says - Jeremy Bauer-Wolf, Inside Higher Ed

More than 80% of employers in a new American Association of Colleges and Universities survey said they believe higher education prepares college graduates for workforce success — though some executives find students lack certain skills. Only 49% of employers reported thinking, for instance, that graduates are very prepared in oral communication, according to AAC&U’s report published Thursday. But about 80% said they agreed graduates overall are ready for the workplace.  The survey also found strong employer support for microcredentials and student and faculty freedom to discuss any topic on a campus. 

https://www.highereddive.com/news/employers-value-a-college-degree-but-think-students-lack-some-skills-surve/701051/

Amazon has launched a new program called “AI Ready” - the GWW

Amazon has launched a new program called “AI Ready” with the goal of providing free AI skills training to two million people worldwide by 2025. The company recognizes the growing demand for AI talent and aims to make AI education accessible to anyone with a desire to learn. As part of this initiative, Amazon Web Services will also offer AI scholarships to over 50,000 underrepresented students through its partnership with Udacity. Amazon has introduced the “AI Ready” program to address the need for AI talent in today’s workforce. With 75% of employers struggling to meet AI hiring demands, Amazon believes that providing free AI skills training is crucial to unlock the full potential of AI. The company aims to democratize AI learning and make it accessible to a broader audience. Upon course completion, students earn a certificate from Udacity to showcase their knowledge to future employers.

https://thegww.com/amazon-launches-ai-ready-free-training-for-2-million-people-by-2025/

Views from Leaders: Top Questions in Incremental Credentialing Holly Zanville, the Evolllution-

At Credential As You Go’s 2023 Fall Conference, four of the initiative’s leaders shared what they see as the two top questions in the incremental credentialing movement. Their responses are abridged from the transcript of the conference panel (video here) and cover a range of issues including credit/noncredit learning, financial aid, data system relevance, collaboration and innovation within the learn-and-work ecosystem, and an incremental credentialing system’s viability, perceived value and popular acceptance.

https://evolllution.com/views-from-leaders-top-questions-in-incremental-credentialing

Strategies for Success Through Microcredential Standards - Anissa Vega, Modern Campus

To establish microcredentials effectively institution-wide, strong alignment among departments is crucial. This will enable higher ed to offer clear and consistent alternative pathways for learners beyond the conventional academic framework. On this episode, Anissa Vega, Associate Vice Provost of Curriculum and Academic Innovation at Kennesaw State University, discusses aligning continuing education and academic affairs with microcredentialing and the model Kennesaw State has implemented to help learners' career development.

https://moderncampus.com/podcast/episode-onehundredtwentyseven.html

State of Michigan announces $838,000 grant to help Michigan Technological University become national leader in semiconductor education, training programs - Michigan Economic Development Corporation

Using its $838,000 grant from the state, MTU plans to introduce Flexible Semiconductor Technician and Maintenance Micro-Credentials programming through a two-tiered approach.The first model will be the creation of stackable micro-credentials short training courses to educate and strengthen the semiconductor advanced test, assembly and packaging technician workforce in the domestic ecosystem. The topics of these courses will include professional-level skills such as clean room operations, standard operating procedure development and understanding safety data sheets and troubleshooting as well as performing advanced work on wafer and panel-based approaches, tooling and automation, substrate technology and heterogeneous integration.

https://www.michiganbusiness.org/press-releases/2023/11/mtu-semiconductor-grant/

Five best practices for graduate student professional development - LOLEEN BERDAHL, University Affairs Canada

Establish completion records that lead to a credential:

Universities vary in how they record participation and completion of professional skills training. Completion records include letters of completion, co-curricular records and formal micro-credentials such as badges or certificates. Formal microcredentials are seen as having the most external value, particularly if the credential identifies a specific career competency or skill of value to a future employer.

Establish a mix of elective program formats and provide open-access online resources:

Should graduate professional training be in-person, online, intensive, and/or spread over a semester? The universities I spoke with reported numerous program formats to be effective, including annual intensive professional development events, ongoing programming and half-day workshops. What can be particularly helpful is to ensure students have choices through a menu of options. Some students lack the flexibility in their schedules to attend programs or for other reasons are not able to participate. For these students, an online repository of resources, including recorded talks and trainings, is invaluable.

https://www.universityaffairs.ca/career-advice/the-skills-agenda/five-best-practices-for-graduate-student-professional-development/

Evolving the Learning and Employment Ecosystem - Richard Goldgar and Mark McConahay, Inside Higher Ed

There appears to be a disconnect. The workforce is demanding more post-secondary attainment and skills more directly related to employer needs, yet many learners who have earned the expensive credential cannot find employment or a position commensurate with their degree. This has placed public scrutiny on the value and return on post-secondary investment. It seems there may be alignment issues between providers of learning and fulfillment in the employment economy that go beyond the last few years of COVID.

https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/blogs/beyond-transfer/2023/11/27/5-ways-college-and-universities-support-skills-based

Utilising microcredentials to enhance student success - Anthology, Times Higher Education

“One of the challenges surrounding microcredentials concerns monetisation,” said Lisa Cary, dean of learning and teaching innovation at Charles Sturt University in Australia. “It’s not simply a case of slicing existing courses into smaller chunks.” Microcredentials created through industry partnerships could ensure that university courses are fit to bridge the skills gap plaguing economies across the globe. “For some time, industry has been lacking in terms of engagement with academia,” explained Steven Worrall, regional managing director at Microsoft Australia and New Zealand. “Today, with the size of many skills gaps, industry is realising that it must act as a joint partner with universities in the creation of microcredentials.” “I sometimes wonder if we ask the question from an outdated point of view,” said Alwyn Louw, vice-chancellor of Torrens University in Australia. “In 20 years’ time, universities are likely to be substantially different from how they are today. There is likely to be a new culture and a new perspective in the higher education space – and microcredentials will establish new partnerships with industry.”

https://www.timeshighereducation.com/campus/utilising-microcredentials-enhance-student-success

Ontario investing $5M into micro-credentials - Today's Trucking

Ontario is investing another $5 million through its Micro-credentials Challenge Fund that supports quick skills upgrades for in-demand sectors. Micro-credentials offer training on specific skills or knowledge areas and take less time to complete than degrees or diplomas, the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities says. Eligible postsecondary institutes can receive up to $50,000 to develop or expand rapid training programs.

https://www.trucknews.com/transportation/ontario-investing-5m-into-micro-credentials/1003180060/

‘Micro-credentials’ in pipeline for irrigation industry - Farmers Weekly

The Workforce Development Council for the food and fibre sector, Muka Tangata, is working with the irrigation industry to develop new credentials to better support learners and the industry. Muka Tangata chief executive Jeremy Baker said engagement with the industry has identified the opportunity to create standalone “micro-credentials” that would give learners a quick pathway to demonstrating specific skills in water measurement and reporting. “We’re now working together with the industry to develop and refine these micro-credentials, based on learner outcomes, that will allow companies to gain accreditation to work in the water measurement space.” The work was initiated mid-2023 when Irrigation New Zealand sought Muka Tangata’s support to turn two of its existing NZQA unit standards into “micro-credentials” – small, focused achievement credentials that mean learners can show skills without having to complete larger qualifications.

https://www.farmersweekly.co.nz/news/micro-credentials-in-pipeline-for-irrigation-industry/

Work experience, not college, prepared employees for jobs, study finds - Ginger Crist, Higher Ed Dive

Nearly half of workers (46%) don’t think higher education prepared them for their current jobs, according to a survey released Nov. 8 by online learning platform Go1. Sixty-one percent of the 3,000 full-time office workers surveyed in Australia, the U.S. and the U.K. said work experience was the best preparation for their positions, followed by formal on-the-job training and life experience. Half of the respondents said they wish they had known how to handle career progression prior to entering the workforce. Employees also said they wish they had better understood the fundamentals of the role and how to collaborate across departments. Sixty-six percent of those surveyed said learning and development opportunities make or break their decision to take a job or stay at a company, and 73% said their current employer provides L&D options that meet their needs, the survey found.

https://www.highereddive.com/news/experience-prepared-workers-for-jobs/699746/

AICTE plans to upskill in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science, focuses on ‘ethics’ - Education Times

 The All India Council For Technical Education (AICTE) has directed colleges and technical institutions to widely disseminate the report ‘National Program on Artificial Intelligence’ to promote upskilling in the technical sectors, with a renewed focus on ethics in AI.  The report was prepared by the committee constituted by the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MieTY) and was issued in June 2023 as a part of MieTY’s ‘National Program on Artificial Intelligence’ (NPAI). The committee listed several programmes on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Sciences and other measures to promote upskilling. Recommendations of the committee included skilling of youths in AI and data science should start from the early school levels. Further, the report has suggested a basic curriculum for different levels aligned with the National Higher Education Qualifications Framework (NHEQF) and the National Credit Framework (NCrF).  

https://www.educationtimes.com/article/newsroom/99734187/aicte-plans-to-upskill-in-artificial-intelligence-and-data-science-focuses-on-ethics

Ont. to expand rapid training programs in a variety of manufacturing industries - Canadian Manufacturing

The Ontario government is investing $5 million through the Micro-credentials Challenge Fund, to help more Ontarians quickly upgrade their skills for good-paying jobs in health care, auto, advanced manufacturing and other in-demand sectors. “Our government is bridging the gap between postsecondary education and the labour market to equip learners with the specific skills employers are looking for,” said Jill Dunlop, Minister of Colleges and Universities. “This investment will help institutions create more flexible, industry-relevant micro-credentials that provide learners with a competitive edge in the workforce.” Micro-credentials are complementary to traditional learning and offer learners training focused on specific skills or knowledge areas such as cybersecurity or digital skills. They take less time to complete than degrees and diplomas and provide a way for individuals to demonstrate their skills and abilities to prospective employers.

https://www.canadianmanufacturing.com/manufacturing/ont-to-expand-rapid-training-programs-in-a-variety-of-manufacturing-industries-296249/

Instructure: Filipino students opt for micro-credentials to acquire new skills - Backend News

According to the latest report from Instructure, a learning platform and maker of Canvas Learning Management System (LMS), Filipino students are increasingly opting for skills-based education, aiming to stay competitive and match job market needs.The findings are based on Instructure’s annual global State of Student Success and Engagement in Higher Education report for 2023, conducted in collaboration with Hanover Research. The report, covering 17 countries with 571 participants in the Philippines, highlights key motivations driving Filipino students: the desire for new skills (77%), career growth (68%), program flexibility (59%), and career readiness (56%).

https://backendnews.net/instructure-filipino-students-opt-for-micro-credentials-to-acquire-new-skills/

SKILLS Bridge Masterclass - Small Steps, Big Gains: Micro-credentials for Lifelong Learning - International Labour Organization

In the framework of the “SKILLS Bridge” Masterclass series, a joint initiative by the ILO, World Bank and UNESCO, the last episode discussed the topic “Small Steps, Big Gains: Micro-credentials for Lifelong Learning.” The episode explored the opportunities and challenges of implementing micro-credentials in national skills systems.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOMB8VJIhn8

Is there significant potential for apprenticeships in the US market? - Kathryn Moody, Higher Ed Dive

Nearly 128 million U.S. workers — about 70% of the entire US workforce — could stand to benefit from apprenticeships and on-the-job learning opportunities, opening up a key cohort of trained workers for employers, according to a Nov. 13 report by Multiverse and the Burning Glass Institute. Apprenticeships still remain outside the mainstream in the U.S., the report said, but a U.S. workforce that would follow the U.K.’s “mature apprenticeship” system could host over 830,000 new apprenticeship opportunities per year, leading to $28.5 billion in wage increases.

https://www.highereddive.com/news/potential-for-apprenticeship-automation/700497/

Using digital innovation to navigate challenges of student recruitment and retention - Times Higher Education

Microcredentials and other alternatives available to learners have increased the need for a student-centric approach, said Fadi Aloul, dean of engineering at the American University of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. Aloul said that his university focuses on “the three Rs” to improve the student journey. “We want to recruit the best students, we want to retain the students and we want to reward them with a degree,” he said. Aloul said that the digital evolution of the education sector during the Covid-19 pandemic showed that technology can assist teachers in improving the student experience. This has resulted in technology being embedded across all areas of student learning and life. He added that personalised communication is a key part of successful digital transformation.

https://www.timeshighereducation.com/campus/using-digital-innovation-navigate-challenges-student-recruitment-and-retention