A New App Just Launched To Help HBCU Students Prepare For The Workforce - Jasmine Browley, Essence

“PROPEL Learn is a pioneering app that empowers HBCU students with the latest technological innovations, shaping the future of our workforce. Our unique approach of co-developing micro- credentials with industry partners and HBCU faculty ensures an unparalleled learning experience for the entire ecosystem of learners,” said Dr. Camesha Whittaker, Senior Vice President of Innovation and Design at PROPEL in a statement. “With the ability to reach nearly 300,000 students, PROPEL Learn leaves no institution behind. It is the ultimate solution for advanced engagement, up-skilling, and an indispensable companion to all HBCU institutional offerings.”

https://www.essence.com/news/money-career/propel-app-hbcu-students/

How the Online Certificate Status Protocol and OCSP Stapling work & more - Sectigo Team, Security Boulevard

The Online Certificate Status Protocol (OCSP) allows clients (e.g., web browsers) to verify the validity of digital certificates in real time. Certificate Revocations Lists (CRLs), are lists of digital certificates that have been revoked by the issuing Certificate Authority (CA) before their scheduled expiration date, can also be used to check untrustworthy or revoked certificates. However, due to CRLs being updated at intervals and providing stale information and also OCSP responses being smaller than CRL files and suitable for devices with limited memory they are often preferred. Let’s look at how OCSP works, its pros and cons, the potential privacy concerns OCSP stapling helps solve, and how OCSP differs from certificate revocation lists (CRLs).

https://securityboulevard.com/2024/01/how-the-online-certificate-status-protocol-and-ocsp-stapling-work-more/

More than half of Americans no longer believe college is worth the cost. Paid internships could help - Stephen Moret and Jeff Selingo, Fast Company

Estimates from the New York Federal Reserve indicate that recent college grads have faced higher unemployment rates than other workers, a shift from typical historical patterns. What’s more, roughly 40% of recent college grads are considered “underemployed,” meaning they are not working in a college-level job. With those sobering statistics in mind, it’s not surprising that more than half of Americans no longer believe college is worth the cost. We believe internships are a crucial component of translating the college experience into a career. One year after graduation, students who completed a paid internship, for instance, earn $3,000 more than those who didn’t have one.

https://www.fastcompany.com/91006729/why-paid-internships-may-be-the-solution-to-higher-educations-pr-crisis

3 Questions for Illinois Tech About Its Innovative New Online Programs - Joshua Kim, Inside Higher Ed

Addressing the growing some college, no credential population is crucial. Our bachelor’s completion degree through Coursera caters to this segment, delivering quality education aligned with career success. We are committed to ensuring that our online students experience the same impressive outcomes, such as starting salaries, that our on-campus students do.

https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/blogs/learning-innovation/2024/01/10/three-questions-about-illinois-techs-new-online

Strategic Integration Challenges And Opportunities For Alternative Credentials In Higher Education - JOY LIWANAG, UNIVERSITYHERALD

A recent study by the University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA) sheds light on the adoption of alternative credentials in higher education. While many colleges prioritize online, professional, and continuing education, a significant number have yet to integrate alternative credentials strategically. The study delves into the challenges, opportunities, and varying business models associated with these credentials.

https://www.universityherald.com/articles/78352/20240110/strategic-integration-challenges-opportunities-alternative-credentials-higher-education.htm

College Launches New Micro-Credential Program - Mike Robertson, the College Today

The College of Charleston is partnering with global online learning platform Coursera to launch a new program providing industry-branded micro-credentials to students, faculty and staff at no cost. Students will be able to earn professional certificates for in-demand workplace skills that will complement any academic major or minor. Faculty and staff will also be able to earn professional certificates through flexible, online training.   “This partnership will provide members of the College of Charleston community the opportunity to build skills using resources from some of the world’s leading companies,” says College of Charleston President Andrew T. Hsu. “As one of the oldest colleges in the nation, the College of Charleston is setting the blueprint for other liberal arts institutions to follow.” 

https://today.cofc.edu/2023/11/08/college-launches-new-micro-credential-program/

https://www.msstate.edu/newsroom/article/2023/12/new-msu-programs-grow-opportunities-student-research-internships - Mississippi State University

New programs at Mississippi State University are enhancing opportunities for undergraduate research and internship experiences. In 2023, the second cohort of students participated in the BRIDGES (Building Relationships that Intentionally Develop Generations of Excellent Scholars) Undergrad Research Program and the first cohort participated in the Workforce Scholars Initiative. Administered jointly by MSU’s Office of Research and Economic Development and the Division of Access, Opportunity and Success, BRIDGES aims to increase the participation of undergraduate minority and underserved students in MSU research activities. The program engages students in meaningful paid work that helps prepare them for career and graduate school opportunities.

https://www.msstate.edu/newsroom/article/2023/12/new-msu-programs-grow-opportunities-student-research-internships

Minnesota DNR looking to fill 200 paid summer internships - Grand Forks Herald

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is looking for passionate and dedicated students interested in learning more about natural resource careers through paid summer internships, the agency said in a news release. DNR summer interns gain valuable training, build meaningful experience and help create a healthy, sustainable and inclusive Minnesota, the DNR said. The DNR has a wide variety of internship opportunities throughout the state – about 200, in all – including in fisheries, forestry, park operations, watercraft inspections, communications and more. Interns work 20 to 40 hours per week and receive a competitive wage of $19 per hour. To be considered for an internship, fulfilling an academic requirement or receiving academic credit is required.

https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/northland-outdoors/minnesota-dnr-looking-to-fill-200-paid-summer-internships

Internship scholarship supports teacher education students - University of Alaska, Local First Media

The Alaska College of Education Consortium (ACEC), encompassing the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA), University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), and University of Alaska Southeast (UAS), has announced the second year of its Teacher Internship Scholarship Program.  This initiative, supported by the collaborative efforts of the Alaska State Legislature, Governor, and UA President Pat Pitney, and coordinated with the assistance of ACEC Liaison Bridget Weiss, highlights the strength of unity in advancing educational opportunities across the state. UAA School of Education Dean Tonia Dousay remarked on the impact of this program: “This opportunity ensures our teacher candidates can focus on their professional growth rather than their personal finances. It’s a game-changer for aspiring educators in Alaska.”

https://localfirstmediagroup.com/internship-scholarship-supports-teacher-education-students/

New Research: UPCEA Reveals Key Findings on Alternative Credentials - UPCEA

UPCEA, the online and professional education association, is proud to share findings and takeaways from a new research study, Alternative Credentials: Business and Program Models. The research, supported by a grant from Walmart, is part of UPCEA’s “Building Capacity, Expanding Pathways: Accelerating the Growth of Credential Innovation in Higher Education” project. The project aims to accelerate the development and delivery by colleges and universities of noncredit, short-term credentials for and with local, regional, or statewide businesses. The study reveals a widespread embrace of alternative credentials among institutions, ranging from non-credit certificates to massive open online courses (MOOCs), particularly within UPCEA's membership, which is predominantly focused on online and professional continuing education. Despite the acceptance of alternative credentials, a notable finding is that a significant number of institutions do not yet view them as a strategic priority. 

https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/679320356/new-research-upcea-reveals-key-findings-on-alternative-credentials

10 Disruptive Trends for Higher Education 2024 - Sanjay Sharma, Times of India

Explore the transformative landscape of higher education in 2024 with these 10 disruptive trends. from the surge in micro-credentials to the rising prominence of apprenticeships, witness the evolution reshaping learning approaches, employment paradigms, and student well-being.  In response to the changing job landscape, more learners are opting for shorter, targeted education options known as micro-credentials. These focused and specialized programs provide practical skills, making them attractive to both students and employers. 

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/education/web-stories/10-disruptive-trends-for-higher-education-in-2024/photostory/106540102.cms

Time for Micro-Credentials - Bo Harald, FinExtra

The first step for education and qualification providers in all sectors is to deploy their own identity applications so that citizens can get their skill-credentials to their wallets in the same way from all sources. Providing the economy of repetition, economy of reuse and economy of trust. This will create a market for service providers specialising in helping citizens to deploy wallets, find existing credentials and with the help of AI locate opportunities for new skill credentials. With technology and markets leaping ahead with increasing speed it is obvious that a new approach is needed in education, research and on-the-job learning - the short courses leading to real-time issue of micro-credentials to the job applicants wallet for on-warding to the potential employer - without disclosing names, ages, sexes etc if not needed. 

https://www.finextra.com/blogposting/25466/time-for-micro-credentials

Digital badge and micro credentials cover many industries including biotechnology: Moore About Business - Karen Moore, WGCU

"At the ultimate end of the course, you have this actual digital badge that you can put on your LinkedIn page, your CV, your resume to showcase that you are competent in the competencies that we put forward to be achieved in this course. And then what's unique to Arthrex, is that we guarantee an interview at Arthrex. It doesn't guarantee you a job, but it guarantees you a foot in the door and what an incredible experience to have and to learn from! That is an opportunity in and of itself!"

https://news.wgcu.org/section/business/2024-01-02/digital-badge-and-micro-credentials-cover-many-industries-including-biotechnology-moore-about-business

Geoff Johnson: Changes in society and the workplace call for shift in education - Times-Colonist

The same survey revealed that the most common reasons people gave for changing career paths were discovering a new field they were passionate about (35 per cent), becoming bored/disillusioned with their original work (24 per cent), and setbacks such as lack of advancement and/or cutbacks, layoffs in a career path (19 per cent). Whatever the reason, a common concern among people in their late 20s, 30s, and 40s who are looking for a change is whether they should go back to school. For people in the 35 to 40 age bracket, family, mortgage and a variety of responsibilities stand in the way of that. Enter the relatively new range of micro-credential opportunities offered by universities like Camosun College, the University of Victoria and Royal Roads along with many other universities and colleges across Canada.

https://www.timescolonist.com/opinion/geoff-johnson-changes-in-society-and-the-workplace-call-for-shift-in-education-8033309

Credential Confusion A call for uniformity in practice and terminology. - Mike Simmons and Quintina Barnett Gallion, Inside Higher Ed

“As colleges and universities continue to confront digital transformation, they must ask themselves, ‘What does our core product—the educational credential—evolve to look like in a more data-rich, technology-centric world?’” —Sean Gallagher, Aug. 10, 2023  When the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers joined the “Beyond Transfer” conversation this year, we noted the need to broaden the conversation about transfer and credit mobility to better encompass learning mobility on a global scale. Over the year, our members have reflected on transfer business models, evaluated the transfer student experience, revealed transformation through automation, examined partnership agreements with alternative credential providers, questioned the trust between institutions and affirmed the need for institutions to focus on adult learners.

https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/blogs/beyond-transfer/2023/12/14/uniformity-practice-and-terms-could-avoid-credential

Microcredentials Confuse Employers, Colleges and Learners - Susan D. A'gustino, Inside Higher Ed

Three recent studies highlight confusion about alternative credentials. But all parties seek quality, verifiable, bite-size, low-priced online offerings targeting specific industries. Reskilling. Upskilling. Certificates. Certifications. Badges. Licenses. Microcredentials. Alternative credentials. Digital credentials. So many terms. So little agreement on what they mean, least of all in higher ed. “Employers say, ‘It’s great that this individual has these skills, but we’ll ask our own questions to verify the learner’s knowledge,’” Kyle Albert, assistant research professor at the George Washington University Institute of Public Policy, said. “It’s a trust-but-verify situation.”

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2023/03/03/microcredentials-confuse-employers-colleges-and-learners

Apprenticeships Offer ‘Learn and Earn’ Pathways to Opportunity Education - Bruno V. Manno, Walton Family Foundation

Apprenticeship programs, where individuals earn a living while learning with a mentor, are turning the workplace into the new learning campus. This learn-and-earn model is spawning new apprenticeship programs based on traditional registered apprenticeships, including pre-apprenticeships, mini-apprenticeships, youth apprenticeships, and apprenticeship degrees. And a new third-party organization — the apprenticeship intermediary — is being created to expand and run these programs.

https://www.waltonfamilyfoundation.org/stories/education/apprenticeships-offer-learn-and-earn-pathways-to-opportunity

$1,500 Missouri Tax Credits for Internships and Apprenticeships: What Is It? - Aman Jain, 247Wallet

Missouri Gov. Parson signed legislation, called the Intern and Apprentice Recruitment Act, which is included in House Bill 417. This legislation, which easily passed the legislature earlier this year, encourages businesses to boost the number of interns or apprentices. The new legislation “will help increase apprenticeship opportunities, strengthen our workforce, and give Missourians the skills and on-the-job training they need to be successful in their chosen careers,” Gov. Parson said. Under this new legislation, companies will get a $1,500 tax credit for each paid intern or apprentice up to $9,000 for six such positions. A point to note is that the Missouri tax credits for internships and apprenticeships apply only to newly created positions.

https://247wallst.com/economy/2023/08/11/1500-missouri-tax-credits-for-internships-and-apprenticeships-what-is-it/

Apprenticeships and Pre-Apprenticeships - Ohio Department of Education

Apprenticeship is a combination of on-the-job training and related technical instruction. A student must be at least 16 years of age except where a higher minimum age standard is required by law. An apprenticeship program must be registered with The Ohio Apprenticeship Council to teach a skilled occupation pursuant to a registered apprenticeship agreement. Apprenticeship is limited to skilled occupations and trades that meet basic criteria through On-the-Job (OJT) Training and Related Technical Instruction (RTI).

https://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Career-Tech/Apprenticeships-and-Pre-Apprenticeships

The French fintechs offering internships and apprenticeships - Alex McMurray, eFinancial Careers

Established firms aren't the only place to start your financial services career in France. A number of growing French fintechs offer early career jobs. Internships are popular but some French fintechs also offer 'formations en alternance', a sort of degree apprenticeship. French payroll technology startup PayFit is one of France's biggest student hirers. It has 13 internships across its Paris and Barcelona offices, covering everything from sales, to law and data science. It's also hiring four apprentices in Paris, in areas including cybersecurity and talent acquisition.

https://www.efinancialcareers.com/news/2023/09/french-fintech-internships

Internship Vs. Apprenticeship: Let’s Compare - Kayla Missman, Forbes

There’s no better way to learn a job than with hands-on experience. Internships and apprenticeships both offer valuable learning opportunities for new employees, but they serve different purposes. Most people complete one or the other, depending on their career goals. Internships are a common requirement in college degree programs, allowing students to test what they’ve learned in a natural environment. Due to their short-term nature, interns can experience different jobs and companies before committing. In comparison, apprenticeships prepare workers for one specific job. Apprentices work in skilled trades like construction or roles like cybersecurity specialists, electricians, and healthcare assistants.

https://www.forbes.com/advisor/education/student-resources/apprenticeship-vs-internship/