With higher education shifting towards flexible learning, the significance of microcredentials has never been greater. But achieving transformative impact requires tech leaders' involvement in operational decision-making. On this episode, Jack Suess, Vice President of IT and CIO at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, discusses how microcredentials can help change how people think about the value of higher education, and the need for tech leaders to think about what it will take to support microcredentials at scale.
Wednesday, February 14, 2024
Tuesday, February 13, 2024
Assessing Quality of Microcredentials Is Difficult - Kathryn Palmer, Inside Higher Ed
Most high school educators recognize the value of microcredentials, but a dearth of available data on outcomes can make them hesitant to recommend nondegree pathways to students. “There’s still this information void that’s happening,” said Susan Acevedo-Moyer, co-author of the report and director of JFF’s Multiple Pathways Initiative. “Learners want to know from their parents what these options are. And the parents are actually relying on the educators to tell the learners about their options. It was interesting to see this dynamic of an ecosystem where parents have trust in educators to help their learners make viable decisions, but we know that’s not happening.”
Monday, February 12, 2024
Micro-credentials, the next chapter in higher education - Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar, the Hindu
Higher education institutes (HEIs) in India must play a much more active role in ensuring that students become employable by connecting them with the careers and job opportunities of tomorrow. This is because there is a gap between the knowledge that students acquire in HEIs and the knowledge they must have in order to become employable. Micro-credentials are emerging as a disruptive way of bridging this gap to acquire ‘just-in-time’ modern skills and competencies. They are evolving as the new normal in higher education due to their flexibility, accessibility, and advantages. It must be noted that hiring practices are also changing, with a tendency to prioritise skills over degrees, and the endorsement of micro-credentials is on the rise.
Sunday, February 11, 2024
Brookings Internships
Want to kick off your professional career in a meaningful way? Brookings provides paid internships to nearly 150 degree-seeking students annually, with cohorts each spring, summer, and fall. Internships are available in our five research programs (Governance Studies, Economic Studies, Foreign Policy, Global Economy and Development, and Brookings Metro) and in our business units (e.g., communications, finance, human resources). Review Brookings Internship Program Details to learn more about the program, timelines, and expectations.
Saturday, February 10, 2024
Challenges of International Credential Evaluation - Credentials Unscripted, Parchment
Jasmin Saidi-Kuehnert, President & CEO of Academic Credentials Evaluation Institute (ACEI) joins us to discuss the challenges evaluating credentials from across the globe. We discuss the laborious process for understanding educational systems around the world, the role the credential evaluation community plays, and offer up some solutions to make the international exchange of credentials easier.
Thursday, February 8, 2024
YU Relaunches Online Certificate Program YU Global - Josh Makovsky, Yeshiva University Commentator
YU Vice President for Global Initiatives and Strategy Danielle Wozniak, who led the development of the new program, told The Commentator. “[W]e will constantly be watching the job market to see where demand is, that is, to see what professions are growing and how we can train people for them,” Wozniak told The Commentator. “We also work with business and industry to see what positions they are trying to fill and create trainings to prepare workers for those markets. And we work with recruiters to see what positions they are looking to fill and refer our learners to them for job placement.”
Wednesday, February 7, 2024
Why unpaid internships put some students at a disadvantage - Annika Hopkins, Biz Women
Getting accepted into college is a feat unto itself, so it’s easy for college freshmen to feel at ease going into their first year. They may forget to think about how they will spend their time outside of the classroom for the next four years because of their focus on their academic studies. But the funny thing is, that academic focus may just come back to haunt you: Professional recruiters and hiring companies are no longer just looking for candidates with impressive GPAs and degree titles. Today, it’s all about the experience and outside of the classroom skills that an applicant brings to the table.
Tuesday, February 6, 2024
Four in 10 College Students Have Had Internship Experience - STEPHANIE MARKEN AND DREW CURTIS, Gallup
Roughly four in 10 currently enrolled college students nationally, 41%, have had an internship while pursuing their bachelor’s degree, according to newly released data from Gallup. Reports of internship participation are lower among first-generation college students whose parents have not completed a degree (27%) and among students enrolled at public colleges and universities (36%) compared with their counterparts. At the same time, internship rates are similar among different demographic subgroups of the currently enrolled student population, with higher rates among Hispanic, White and male students.
Monday, February 5, 2024
College Student Sends 456 Applications, Gets Accepted Into One Internship - Jack Beresford, Newsweek
Over the past four months though, Wu has been focused on another task on top of his studies and extracurricular activities: landing an internship. College students today are increasingly mindful of their future career prospects. A survey of students due to graduate in 2023 conducted by job website Handshake found around half were planning to apply to more jobs, while one third were looking at a more diverse range of roles, and one fifth were starting their search sooner. Wu has only just started out as a junior, but he's already thinking about the future. He told Newsweek he is seeking a "career in tech," though remains flexible about where that will take him.
Sunday, February 4, 2024
Co-op vs. Internship: Know the Differences - Sarah Wood, US News
The words "co-op" and "internship" are sometimes used interchangeably, as both are hands-on work experiences that students may complete in college. However, there are major differences between these two work-based learning opportunities. Some colleges require all students or just specific majors to complete an internship or co-op before graduation. And even if there's not a requirement, experts advise students to still seek out these opportunities with help from career services at their school.
Saturday, February 3, 2024
Global Digital Badges Market to Reach $700.8 Million by 2030, Driven by Online Education Demand and Gamification - Trends Research and Markets, Yahoo!
Showcasing a substantial growth rate of 15.2% CAGR, the digital badges industry is expected to achieve a remarkable $700.8 million by the end of 2030. Digital badges are becoming increasingly popular across various sectors including academic institutions, corporate organizations, government entities, and non-profit organizations. The in-depth study offers insights into how these digital tokens of achievement are revolutionizing the recognition and verification of skills and education. The surge in online educational platforms and innovative gamification techniques in learning are driving forces behind the augmented market growth.
Friday, February 2, 2024
How the union budget can Influence the growth of the Indian education industry across borders - Financial Express
Furthermore, the global shift towards micro-credentials and skill-based education is crucial in addressing the rapidly changing job market demands. Such focused learning modules offer the flexibility and relevance needed for continuous upskilling. For India, this trend aligns with the need to enhance employability by equipping our workforce with the relevant skills. Turning our attention to the 2024 budget, let’s consider how it could build upon these trends to elevate India’s educational sector further.
Thursday, February 1, 2024
THE podcast: microcredentials are knocking. Will higher education answer? - Melissa Highton , Michael D. Smith, Times Higher Ed
Tips from 10 years of Moocs at the University of Edinburgh and a call to arms to embrace technology for greater equity and financial sustainability. From employers to policymakers, universities and their students, everyone agrees that alternative credentials are a good thing for the economy and for expanding access to higher education. But it’s one thing to think it’s a good idea and another to make it happen. The truth is that demand for microcredentials remains low among students, the business plans are patchy, and higher education providers haven’t fully embraced the new models.
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Wednesday, January 31, 2024
How institutions are leaving money on the table with their alternative credential offerings - Alcino Donadel, University Business
Alternative non-degree credentials are slowly becoming higher education’s hottest learning modality. Enrollment is strong and employer buy-in is promising. However, two reports from UPCEA demonstrate that despite institutions’ increased infrastructure to provide these academic programs, challenges persist—and they’re leaving money on the table as a result. In a December 2023 report that studied nearly 100 UPCEA members representing institutions focused on online and continuing education, 94% said their institution offers alternative credentials, and 66% said senior leadership has become fundamental to their institutions’ strategic plans. These schools’ most common alternative credentials were non-credit certificates, professional certificates and digital badges.
Tuesday, January 30, 2024
Microcredentials on the Rise, but Not at Colleges -- Kathryn Palmer, Inside Higher Ed
A new survey found training partnerships between employers and four-year colleges fell between 2022 and 2023 while instruction provided by third-party providers rose. As the pool of traditional-age students shrinks, colleges are increasingly turning to nondegree credentials to expand the appeal of their academic offerings to working adults. At the same time, an increasing number of employers want their employees to be able to upskill and reskill through microcredential programs. But four-year institutions are lagging behind third-party providers, such as LinkedIn Learning and Coursera, in their efforts to create employer partnerships, according to a new report released Tuesday by Collegis Education, an online program support company, and UPCEA, the organization previously known as the University Professional and Continuing Education Association.
Monday, January 29, 2024
Udacity launches GenAI nanodegree program - Venture Beat
The online learning platform Udacity has launched a generative AI Nanodegree Program so professionals can keep up with the fast-growing field. Mountain View, California-based Udacity said it aims to equip professionals with essential skills to navigate the dynamic and rapidly growing field of generative AI, anticipating its significant impact on various industries.
https://venturebeat.com/ai/udacity-launches-genai-nanodegree-program/
Sunday, January 28, 2024
How Is the Learn-and-Work Ecosystem Like an Ecological Ecosystem—And Why Does This Matter? Holly Zanville, the Evolllution
The term ecosystem is increasingly used in discussions about learning and work. For instance, two national initiatives—Credential As You Go and the Learn & Work Ecosystem Library—are framing their work as an effort to improve the learn-and-work ecosystem. Also, Noah Geisel at the University of Colorado Boulder recently chose a relevant theme for his university’s badging conference in summer 2024: not “it takes a village,” rather “it takes an ecosystem.” Despite the growing understanding that our systems of education and employment do indeed comprise of an ecosystem, that term is still more commonly associated with natural, biological systems than with social ones. Are they the same thing? And does the answer to that question really matter? I have come to believe that they are very similar—and yes, it does matter.
Saturday, January 27, 2024
Twelve Google and IBM Professional Certificates on Coursera Receive ECTS Credit Recommendations - Business Wire
Coursera is announcing today the Foundation for International Business Administration Accreditation (FIBAA) has certified 12 Professional Certificates from Google and IBM, with European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) credit recommendations available exclusively on Coursera. Now, ministries, higher education institutions, and students can accept and transfer university credit for eligible industry micro-credentials on Coursera at institutions across 49 member nations in the ECC/Bologna process. This cross-sector initiative represents a major step toward establishing a global ecosystem for credit recognition of online learning and industry micro-credentials.
Friday, January 26, 2024
University of Jamestown launches online MBA program - Jamestown Sun
The MBA, led by program director Michael Brizek, is one of the only all-online MBA programs in the country to include specialized micro-credentials. According to UJ Executive Vice President and Provost Paul Olson, these micro-credentials offer flexibility, focus and market alignment. “I like the curriculum that Dr. Brizek and the faculty have developed because it has all the essential elements of an excellent MBA program and has the added bonus of micro-credentials that allow students to specialize in the areas that best meet their professional goals and needs,” Olson said.
Thursday, January 25, 2024
What are micro-qualifications? - Blathnaid O’Dea, Silicon Republic (Ireland)
Semantics aside, the 24 new micro-qualifications are skills programmes to be delivered by Ireland’s network of local education and training boards (ETBs). There are 16 of those across the country, so courses will be available in a lot of different locales. The courses have been developed by industry and are aimed at employees with little or no cost to employers. Organisations involved in their development include Solas, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, Irish Water, IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and the Regional Skills Fora. Like micro-credentials, which are provided by third-level institutions, micro-qualifications are intended to address current skills gaps in areas such as sustainability, digital, advanced manufacturing, robotics, aquaculture, business innovation and market development.
Wednesday, January 24, 2024
Alternative Credentials: 5 Things Universities & Colleges Need to Know Articles - Digital Marketing Institute
In a hyper-connected digital age, professionals across industries are looking for new ways to acquire relevant skills and showcase their value to employers. As a result, alternative credentials including badges, certificates, and micro-credentials have seen an enormous rise in popularity due to their accessibility, flexibility and demonstrable practical value. With digital transformation changing how people learn, work, and communicate, non-traditional credentials offer people a way to master skills in niche areas of expertise. In this article, we explore five key ways that alternative credentials can drive success in universities and colleges.
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