If money talks, college degrees still matter, don’t they? This may not be true for much longer. In fact, many companies are dropping bachelor’s degree requirements from their job-postings and are looking, instead, for workers with skills-based educations—associate’s degrees, certificates, or even stacked credentials. The U.S. Department of Labor defines a stackable credential as a “part of a sequence of credentials that can be accumulated over time to build up an individual’s qualifications and help them to move along a career pathway or up a career ladder.” And as the need for skilled workers grows, legislators in states such as Colorado and Massachusetts are beginning to advocate for the funding of stackable credential programs as a way to help learners and businesses alike.
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Monday, March 18, 2024
More Students Are ‘Stacking’ Credentials en Route to a Degree - Jon Marcus, Wired
First they get a credential in a skill they need, then another, and another. Each can quickly pay off on its own by helping to get a job, raise, or promotion. Over time, they can add up to a bachelor’s degree. “Even if I chose not to finish, I would still have these pieces and I’d say, ‘Look what I’ve done,’ as opposed to, ‘I have two years of college’” but nothing to show for it, said Nelson, who works as an information technology consultant and hopes to move into an administrative role. The concept, known variously as “stackable credentials” or “microcredentials,” she said, “almost seemed too good to be true.”
Sunday, March 17, 2024
Biden order expands federal apprenticeships, reestablishes labor-management forums - ERICH WAGNER, Government Executive
President Biden on Wednesday signed an executive order aimed at expanding federal agencies’ use of apprenticeship programs to attract and develop young federal workers, as well as reinstating agency labor-management forums that have largely sat dormant since 2017. White House officials said the measure, entitled Scaling and Expanding the Use of Registered Apprenticeships in Industries and the Federal Government and Promoting Labor-Management Forums, dovetails with the recent push by presidents of both parties to shift how federal agencies evaluate job candidates from a largely based on educational attainment to one that emphasizes applicants’ relevant skills and work experience.
Saturday, March 16, 2024
Micro-credentials move one step closer to gaining widespread trust thanks to this framework - Alcino Donadel, University Business
Micro-credentials are one step closer to gaining a trustworthy and dependable reputation. The 1EdTech TrustEd Microcredential Coalition, formed last year to standardize rapidly growing interest from educators and organizations to issue digital badges, has unveiled a new framework that identifies the core components every micro-credential should possess to sow trust and recognition across the school-to-career pipeline. “The framework identifies the information needed for the receiver to fully understand what knowledge and skills the credential represents,” Kelly Hoyland, director of higher education programs for 1EdTech, said in a statement. “Credentials that follow the framework will be more meaningful to receivers, and therefore, more valuable for the learners who earn them.”
Friday, March 15, 2024
ASU introduces trailblazing 'stackable microcredentials' pilot - Braveman Mpafa, ASU
Arizona State University's Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering is at the forefront of transforming engineering and technology education through "stackable microcredentials." These microcredentials address the urgent demand for adaptable upskilling and reskilling across engineering and technology fields, reflecting the dynamic nature of today's workforce requirements. According to the World Economic Forum, in an era where job skills expire in less than five years, and technical expertise deteriorates even faster, stackable microcredentials offer a timely remedy. The World Economic Forum’s 2020 Future of Jobs Report highlights that, by 2025, half of the global workforce will require reskilling, emphasizing the urgent necessity for ongoing learning and skill augmentation.
Thursday, March 14, 2024
I Didn’t Know My Union Did This! - NEA Today
During most of her 20 years as an instructional assistant in Oregon, Stacey Zoon received very little professional development. “We get basic trainings at school three or four times a year, like a video on mandatory reporting or a session about dealing with behavior, and that’s it,” she says. But then she was introduced to NEA’s micro-credentials for education support professionals (ESPs). “NEA micro credentials are so much more in depth and cover things you’re actually going to use as an educator,” Zoon, who now works as a library media assistant, says.
Wednesday, March 13, 2024
New learning website launched for workers in Wales - UNTRO
A new website has been launched by The Open University in Wales and Wales TUC to support more people into lifelong learning. The online platform, Union Learning Wales, gives information on OU degrees and free courses, as well as funding available for all workers in Wales. The site contains descriptions of OU courses which are popular with people looking to upskill or change their career. These include undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, as well as Access courses which can help people take a step into higher education for the first time.
Tuesday, March 12, 2024
First Aviation Maintenance Students Graduate - KSAL
The pre-apprenticeship course hosted by partners at the Salina Regional Airport graduated its first ever class of aviation maintenance students Thursday evening. The Aviation Innovation & Maintenance (AIM) Center of Excellence at SLN held an industry day and graduation ceremony for its first cohort of students and faculty. The evening included a networking reception as well as a student showcase. Students also received their graduation certificates and micro-credentials from the faculty along with Ray Seif, who is the Director of Aviation of the Kansas Department of Transportation. “It’s important to get students into aviation maintenance careers.” said Seif. “They are very well paying and high in demand, and I’m happy to support such an amazing program”
Monday, March 11, 2024
Micro-Credentials Are Poised to Become a Mainstream Rapid Education and Training Solution in Canada - ICTC/CTIC
Micro-credential programs could become more relevant, timely, and effective in meeting current and future Canadian digital economy workforce needs, provided they align with best practices of standardized definitions, proof of competencies, and flexible program delivery. While employers still value formal education, the shift toward “skills first” hiring practices and increasing emphasis on relevant experience and demonstrable aptitude in competencies or skills is gaining momentum. Micro-credentials are still relatively new in Canada, and there is a degree of confusion evident among employers, learners, and micro-credential providers as to what they entail and how best to design them for the benefit of all stakeholders.
Sunday, March 10, 2024
Aurora Institute Releases New Case Study on ExcEL Leadership Academy Micro-credential Pathway Adoption - Yahoo! Finance
Today, the Aurora Institute, a national nonprofit organization focused on education innovation, released a new case study examining a micro-credential program developed by UCLA's ExcEL Leadership Academy, which has been approved for ESOL teacher certification in Rhode Island. The program offers a progression of twelve micro-credentials focused on the skills and competencies educators need to serve multilingual learners (MLLs) effectively. Additionally, the case study offers recommendations for other states that hope to offer their educators high-quality competency-based pathways to certification and/or professional growth.
Saturday, March 9, 2024
ASU introduces trailblazing 'stackable microcredentials' pilot - Braveman Mpafa, ASU
Arizona State University's Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering is at the forefront of transforming engineering and technology education through "stackable microcredentials." These microcredentials address the urgent demand for adaptable upskilling and reskilling across engineering and technology fields, reflecting the dynamic nature of today's workforce requirements. According to the World Economic Forum, in an era where job skills expire in less than five years, and technical expertise deteriorates even faster, stackable microcredentials offer a timely remedy. The World Economic Forum’s 2020 Future of Jobs Report highlights that, by 2025, half of the global workforce will require reskilling, emphasizing the urgent necessity for ongoing learning and skill augmentation.
Friday, March 8, 2024
Searca, international universities address food security, climate change - Leander C. Domingo, Manila Times
The Philippine government-hosted Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) collaborated with international universities for the European Commission Erasmus+ Capacity Building on Postgraduate Micro-Credentials for Food Security and Climate Change. Searca Director Glenn Gregorio called the project a concrete example of education's evolving landscape as the world enters an era of globalization, giving educators and learners inclusivity and flexibility.
Thursday, March 7, 2024
Law Micro-credentials - UCD Sutherland School of Law, Dublin
The UCD Sutherland School of Law, the leading centre for legal education and research in Ireland, combines engaging undergraduate and graduate level courses, internationally recognised research, and word-class educational facilities. Since its establishment in 1911, the school has offered high-quality law programs promoting critical understanding and interdisciplinary knowledge. It collaborates with law firms, government departments, and NGOs to align programs with sectoral needs.
Wednesday, March 6, 2024
eCampusOntario launches AI-enabled Micro-Credential Portal tool to Help Learners Address Skills Gaps - CNW Group
Today at the 2024 Micro-Credential Forum eCampusOntario launched the proof of principle for a new AI-enabled tool designed to help learners address skills gaps with personalized educational pathway recommendations. SkillsFinder.ai uses a custom GPT powered by OpenAI to help learners to better understand their skills gaps and find a micro-credential to fill these gaps. Attendees of the Forum were able to interact with the new skillsfinder tool as part of testing the capabilities of generative AI and supporting upskilling and reskilling.
Tuesday, March 5, 2024
Micro-credentials - University at Buffalo
Micro-credentials allow you to meet your personalized learning needs by gaining knowledge and skills in areas that are relevant to your academic or professional goals. They equip you with digital badges that showcase your achievements and all it took to get there. When you complete a micro-credential program you will earn a digital badge, or a series of digital badges. A digital badge is an icon, but it is not a static image in that is click-able, and houses information, including the issuing institution, the date earned, the criteria required to earn the badge, and the evidence that shows that you have met the required criteria. Digital badges are dynamic credentials that you own, so you can decide how you want to use them. Digital badges can be put on social media sites, added as a link on your digital résumé, embedded in your e-portfolio, and more.
Monday, March 4, 2024
IGI Global Halts Softcover Production, Embraces Digital Education Evolution - Nasiru Eneji Abdulrasheed, BNN
IGI Global's pivot towards digital education signifies a transformative shift in educational publishing. Discover the implications of their decision to focus on innovative learning methods through their latest publication on micro-learning and micro-credentials. In a remarkable pivot towards digital and innovative educational practices, IGI Global has announced the cessation of softcover book production. This strategic move underscores a broader industry trend towards embracing digital mediums and innovative learning methodologies. The decision is highlighted in their latest publication, 'Global Perspectives on Micro-Learning and Micro-Credentials in Higher Education,' which delves into the forefront of education technology, including chatbots, gamification, and hybrid learning models.
Sunday, March 3, 2024
Generative AI upskilling can help future-proof your company - Clint Boulton, CIO
More certain is that genAI’s transformative function—automating content creation—will alter how people work. The implications to changes for knowledge workflows are staggering. Enterprises will use personalized technology skills development to drive $1 trillion in productivity gains by 2026, according to IDC research.1 This productivity bump won’t come courtesy of magic pixie dust. Organizations must educate staff on how to incorporate genAI into their daily workflows. Education starts with prompt engineering, the art and science of framing prompts that steer Large Language Models (LLMs) towards desired outputs. Eighty-seven percent of IT leaders Dell surveyed2 said they would like prompt engineering training for themselves, their teams, or both.
Saturday, March 2, 2024
Employers don’t practice what they preach on skills-based hiring, report finds - Carolyn Crist, Higher Ed Dive
Skills-based hiring appears to be lagging behind well-meaning ambitions, with most companies not yet making changes to drop degree requirements or increase their share of workers without degrees, according to a Feb. 14 report from The Burning Glass Institute and Harvard Business School. Among companies that announced policy changes, about 45% appeared to make a change in name only and had no meaningful difference in hiring behavior, even after removing degree requirements from their postings.
Friday, March 1, 2024
JobReady by LearningMate Partners with Legacy Preparatory Charter Academy to Provide Industry Certification Coursework - IT News Online
"JobReady is providing our scholars an opportunity to become marketable upon graduation from high school. In addition, they earn industry certifications in high-need areas that provide them with a salary far above minimum wage. Many of our students are the first generation to attend college, and these marketable skills make it possible for them to have financial support while attending college," said Staci Weaver, Superintendent at Legacy Preparatory Charter Academy. About Legacy Prep Charter Academy. Legacy Preparatory Charter Academy seeks to facilitate educational experiences through teaching that engages, a culture that empowers, and technology that enables scholars to be college, career, and military-ready, who produce impactful outcomes. We develop and inspire innovative, critical-thinking scholars who influence our global society.
Thursday, February 29, 2024
Online Learning in Medical Student Clerkship: A Survey of Student Perceptions and Future Directions - Rina Patel, et al; Cureus
The authors administered an online survey to clerkship students at the Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary, Canada in spring 2022. The survey consisted of primarily Likert-style questions to explore the perceived effectiveness of various online learning strategies. Results are reported as the proportion selecting “quite effective” or “extremely effective.” The authors administered an online survey to clerkship students at the Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary, Canada in spring 2022. The survey consisted of primarily Likert-style questions to explore the perceived effectiveness of various online learning strategies. Results are reported as the proportion selecting “quite effective” or “extremely effective.”
Wednesday, February 28, 2024
A majority of workers are desperate to upskill, but Gen Z is more likely to head back to the classroom - BYEMMA BURLEIGH, Fortune
Reskilling has become a major obsession over the past few months, as AI upends traditional work models, and employees look for ways to prepare for the future. A majority of U.S. workers plan to upskill this year, but Gen Z is taking it one step further—they’re more likely than other generations to actually step back into the classroom to better themselves. About 41% of the Gen Z workforce plans to attend physical classes to learn new skills, a higher percentage than both Gen X and baby boomers, according to LinkedIn’s latest Workforce Confidence survey.
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