Argonne Lab Inspires Young Minds: From Big Data Camp to SULI Internships - HPC Wire

While at the symposium, the sisters met a student STEM ambassador from Argonne, Alice Gao. She presented the research she developed during her Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships (SULI) at Argonne, and encouraged the sisters to try the program, offering tips on how to apply. A year later, Gao encountered the sisters again while waiting for a bus at their university. They happily told her that her advice to them had paid off: they were now SULI summer interns at Argonne, continuing their STEM journey with the institution.

https://www.hpcwire.com/off-the-wire/argonne-national-laboratory-inspires-young-minds-from-big-data-camp-to-suli-internships/

The Rise of Micro-Credentials - Scott Merrill, Business NH Magazine

In its most basic form, a micro-credential is a digital representation of academic achievement or skill gain, says Michael Mengers, director of the Career Advancement and Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of NH (UNH). Unlike a traditional bachelors, master’s or PhD programs, micro-credentials can be tailored to meet the specific needs of employees and employers in a changing job market. More than a million micro-credentials are being offered in the United States and not only by colleges and universities but also other organizations for credit or non-credit. During the first half of 2022, more than 1,700 organizations issued 1.7 million digital credentials, according to Accredible, a certification platform, up from 1,200 organizations in the first half of 2021 when 1.2 million credentials were issued each month.

https://biz.manchesterinklink.com/the-rise-of-micro-credentials/

Taking Action on Planetary Health (online certificate program) - Temerty Medical School, U Toronto

The Taking Action on Planetary Health certificate program focuses on solutions that address the impacts of climate change on human health and ways we can improve the health of our communities. Working in teams, you will apply planetary health principles to a novel and practical planetary health intervention you can immediately implement into clinical practice. Join a community of health professionals committed to planetary health promotion and action. Visit our website to learn more and register. This program will appeal to physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals who are interested in leading change and implementing action to tackle the planetary health crisis.

https://temertymedicine.utoronto.ca/event/taking-action-planetary-health-online-certificate-program

The age of flexibility and inclusivity in higher education through alternative credentials and lifelong learning - UM Extended Education

As the higher education landscape undergoes significant transformation, universities, particularly the University of Manitoba, are increasingly adopting alternative credential frameworks. These frameworks cater to the growing demand for diverse and flexible higher education programs. The University of Manitoba, a pioneer in this field, with its Division of Extended Education, has been at the forefront. In an era marked by rapid technological advancements and shifting economic landscapes, learners require adaptable, accessible education aligned with their personal and professional goals. The University of Manitoba, a leader in Canadian education, was an early adopter of this trend. In 2001, it developed a non-degree taxonomy, updated in 2021 into the Certificate and Diploma framework, encompassing short-cycle learning programs, such as micro-credentials and other non-degree offers, known as Alternative Credentials.

https://news.umanitoba.ca/the-age-of-flexibility-and-inclusivity-in-higher-education-through-alternative-credentials-and-lifelong-learning/

The big rewards of microcredentials: How new education options help employees and job seekers quickly advance their careers - Supply Chain Dive

With 9.6 million job openings nationwide resulting in less than one unemployed person per position, America is experiencing a unique labor shortage that defies historical expectations. Retiring baby boomers, a low labor force participation rate and a lack of skilled workers add up to a deficit of employees that’s not likely to ease anytime soon. One potential solution is the rise in micro credentials, also known as micro degrees.  According to the State University of New York, “Microcredentials are short, focused credentials designed to provide in-demand skills, know-how and experience. Stackable micro-credentials can also provide a pathway to a certificate or full degree, now or when you are ready.” While these credentials have been around for many years, offerings have ballooned more recently as interest from employers and prospective employees has increased.

https://www.supplychaindive.com/spons/the-big-rewards-of-microcredentials-how-new-education-options-help --employe/701518/

Small steps to big knowledge: How to embrace microlearning in a contemporary learning environment - SONYA TRIVEDI, Moodle

In an age where information is abundant and attention spans are constantly shortening, microlearning has emerged as a critical tool in creating effective learning programs in both educational institutions and organisations. This innovative approach breaks down complex topics into small, manageable units, making learning more accessible and engaging. In this article, we will review the concept of microlearning, explore its benefits both in the workplace and classroom environment, and suggest best practices for designing effective microlearning online modules.

https://moodle.com/news/small-steps-to-big-knowledge-how-to-embrace-microlearning-in-a-contemporary-learning-environment/

SUNY Climate Corps Internship Program Announced - Our Time Press

Governor Hochul announced yesterday the launch of the SUNY Climate Corps Internship Program to offer paid applied-learning opportunities for State University of New York students at state agencies with environmental and sustainability missions. In the first year of the program, up to 40 students will be selected for immersive, real-life work experiences for compensation and college credit in research and policy at SUNY System Administration and state agencies including the Department of Environmental Conservation; Department of Public Services; New York State Energy Research and Development; Office of General Services; and Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Other state agencies with environmental and sustainability missions are expected to participate in the following years.

https://ourtimepress.com/suny-climate-corps-internship-program-announced/

'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/