Local and state governments are grappling with a severe shortage of skilled IT workers, particularly in critical areas such as cybersecurity, data analysis, and artificial intelligence. With their higher salaries and more attractive work environments, the private sector and the federal government are poaching talent from local and state governments. Compounding this workforce shortage is a retention crisis. The “Great Resignation” significantly impacted the public sector, with many employees leaving their jobs for retirement, better pay, benefits, or due to burnout. A 2022 survey revealed that more than half of state and local government workers were considering leaving their jobs. So, how can the public sector bridge this widening talent gap and improve retention? The answer may lie in upskilling current employees through stackable certificate programs.
Tuesday, July 16, 2024
Stackable certificates could be a lifeline for governments facing an IT talent crisis - Nelson Lim, Route Fifty.com
Monday, July 15, 2024
VCU Global Education Office offering two new microcredential digital badges - VCU News
Virginia Commonwealth University’s Global Education Office has debuted two microcredential digital badges – Global Zone Training and Peace Corps Prep – that offer educators and students specialized instruction to meet the evolving landscape of college and beyond. “The digital badging that is now being offered through the Global Education Office is yet another example of ‘at-home internationalization’ and is an innovative global initiative that benefits the entire VCU community,” said Jill Blondin, Ph.D., associate vice provost for global initiatives. “The knowledge that is gained through Global Zone training not only enhances professional development, but it also equips faculty and staff members to serve our international student community optimally.”
Sunday, July 14, 2024
Assoc Profs Guan Chong and May Lim on harmonising micro-credentials to help adult learners - CNA
The Singapore government has urged Institutes of Higher Learning to mutually recognise each other's certificates from bite-sized courses. These 'micro-credentials' are typically for job-specific skills, which can be stacked to a diploma or degree. Associate Prof Guan Chong from the Singapore University of Social Sciences Academy, and Assoc Prof May Lim, Assistant Provost in Applied Learning at the Singapore Institute of Technology, shared how standardising the naming of micro-credentials can help adult learners.
Saturday, July 13, 2024
Is Data Analyst a Good Career with AI? - S Akash, Analytics Insight
The role of data analysts has become very critical in today's digital age when most organizations want to leverage the power of data for informed decision-making. Artificial Intelligence integrated into Data Analytics makes changes on a large scale, opening up many challenges and opportunities. It therefore looks at whether a career in the field of data analysis is relevant vis-à-vis AI advancements, featuring the skills required, areas of opportunities, and future prospects.
Friday, July 12, 2024
Levelling the skilling playing field: Democratising skills for a green future - HR World SE Asia
Southeast Asia's green economy is booming, but a skills gap threatens to leave many behind. Democratising skilling through online platforms, micro-credentials, and targeted programs can unlock the region's green potential and ensure a skilled, inclusive workforce for a sustainable future. The World Bank paints a compelling picture, one billion jobs are expected by 2030.
Thursday, July 11, 2024
Unmasking the Truth: Mathrubhumi Media School’s Online Certificate Course in Fact-Checking - Mathrubhumi Media School
In today's digital age, the battle against misinformation, disinformation and malinformation is more crucial than ever. Recognising this pressing need, the Mathrubhumi Media School has launched a one-month online certificate course in Fact-Checking and Verification. The course delves into the critical distinctions between various forms of misleading information. Participants will explore the nuances of misinformation, disinformation and malinformation.
Wednesday, July 10, 2024
Level up career potential with SCC's fast track certificates - Scottsdale Community College
Micro-credentials offer a practical solution for those looking to switch careers or climb the professional ladder faster. In today's fast-paced job market, quickly gaining new skills can be the key to career advancement. More than ever, career-driven individuals seek micro-credentials to expand their expertise and stay competitive. Micro-credentials offer a practical solution for those looking to switch careers or climb the professional ladder without committing to years of full-time education. Scottsdale Community College (SCC) stands out in the educational landscape with its Fast Track Certificates. These 31 unique programs are designed to equip students with the skills they need for new job opportunities in just six months.
Tuesday, July 9, 2024
Internships, online courses define summer session - Anne Krapfl, Iowa State University
Iowa State enrolled 7,375 students in summer session opportunities this year, about 60% of them at the undergraduate level. Just under half (48%) of all summer students are enrolled in online classes only. According to enrollment data collected by the university registrar's office, the summer student body features 4,666 undergraduates, 2,555 graduate students and the 154 members of the fourth-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine class in their 12-month finaleStudents in many degree programs completing not-for-credit internships that are encouraged, though not required. While some students record these high-impact summer experiences through the university's 390 internship course series, hundreds did not.
Monday, July 8, 2024
Advice: Having a summer or an internship or both? -Mari Santos, the Eagle
One of American University’s most attractive qualities is the variety of internship and fellowship opportunities in D.C. Naturally, this means AU is full of eager students seeking such opportunities to adequately prepare them for their career aspirations. In my college application process, I found that more than 86% of AU undergraduates complete internships prior to graduation, well above the 60% national average. These opportunities and statistics inspired me to choose American, for I wanted access to unmatched opportunities. Internships these days, especially during the summer, are extremely competitive with mountains of applications, making the desire to finally score one amidst the chaos even more cut throat and stressful.
Universities Investing in Microcredential Leadership - Lauren Coffey, Inside Higher Ed
As microcredential programs slowly gain traction, more universities are looking for leaders to coordinate the efforts. More universities are seeking dedicated leaders for microcredential programs. Amy Heitzman noticed a new trend when UPCEA, an online and professional education association, put out calls last year to institutions looking to bulk up microcredential programs. “Five of the 40 [applicants] said, ‘We’re going to hire someone to head this up,’” said Heitzman, UPCEA’s deputy CEO and chief learning officer. “And it was like, ‘Oh?’ But it was not surprising, because it’s essential.” Microcredentials—also known as digital badges, credentials, certificate, or alternative credentials—grew in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now they are attracting renewed interest as institutions look to widen their nets for nontraditional students as an enrollment cliff looms.
Sunday, July 7, 2024
6 Free Courses With Certificates To Learn High-Income Skills In 2024 - Rachel Wells, Forbes
In a booming labor market where the job vacancies and demand outpace the supply of skilled professionals, your well-rounded skill set is what matters the most—even more than your degree. But out of all the skills needed in the workplace right now, AI skills seem to be the prevailing theme amongst employers. In fact, "73% of employers consider hiring talent with AI skills and experience a priority," says recent findings from an AWS survey that sought to understand the workplace sentiment towards AI skills. "But, nearly three in four (75%) of them say that they can’t find the talent they need," evidencing a significant AI skills gap.
Saturday, July 6, 2024
The New Innovator's Dilemma: Fostering Young Talent in the Age of AI - Julia Freeland Fisher, Harvard Advanced Leadership Review
Disruptive innovation theory is a theory of competition between firms. But when it comes to mentoring early talent within firms, the same dynamics shape managers’ tradeoffs. Mentoring is a high-cost endeavor with poor incentives. It’s hard to justify investing in early talent whose added value starts off low and yields unpredictable returns. “This problem is analogous to The Innovator’s Dilemma, in which [companies] fail in spite of seemingly doing everything right,” said Martin Permin, founder of the mentoring platform Pelion. “The return on mentorship typically follows an S-curve, which means gratification is delayed. This means mentoring is often deprioritized by well-meaning, busy people.”
Friday, July 5, 2024
New online short course offers free evidence-based classroom management assistance - Education HQ (AU)
A free micro-credential course on classroom management has been released this week for any teacher keen to upskill in ‘preventive and proactive’ strategies to improve student behaviour and engagement. Taking an estimated 48 hours to complete, the short course will see participants “investigate strategies for creating safe, predictable, productive and orderly learning environments...”. Offered by the University of Adelaide, and designed for both primary and secondary educators, the self-paced course is aligned to the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers at the highly accomplished level. Funded by the Federal Government, the targeted course is part of the broader National Teacher Workforce Action Plan and builds on the Engaged Classrooms initiative, which is developing free classroom management resources for teachers.
Cornell transforms generative AI education and clones a faculty member - Molly Israel, Cornell Chronicle
Cornell University, a top-ranked leader in the growing field of AI research and development, launched a groundbreaking online certificate program, Designing and Building AI Solutions, with one-of-a-kind features designed to enhance the learning experience in our AI world. Lutz Finger, program faculty author and senior visiting lecturer at the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, generated an AI clone of himself who continuously updates the courses with new content, keeping the curriculum relevant as real-world developments happen. “We are democratizing AI,” says Finger. “No coding experience is necessary. What sets this program apart is its design for non-technical professionals. By the last class, participants will have identified a potential business application and built their own AI product to meet that business need.”
Thursday, July 4, 2024
Retraining your best people, upskilling new hires through free virtual education - Kyle Harrison, Smart Industry
Effective knowledge transfer requires systematic planning and execution. Mentorship programs, job shadowing, and cross-training are some methods used to facilitate this transfer. However, these approaches can be time-consuming and may not always be prioritized in fast-paced manufacturing environments. Moreover, the success of these programs depends heavily on the willingness and ability of the retiring experts to communicate their knowledge effectively as well as the capacity of the recipients to absorb and apply this information. Online tutorials often offer a range of modules that can be tailored to the industry's specific needs. This customization allows for more relevant and targeted learning experiences, enhancing the overall effectiveness of the training. This approach improves the efficiency and effectiveness of employee training programs.
Wednesday, July 3, 2024
Lakehead gets $190K to offer micro-credentials for in-demand jobs - Orillia Matters
Lakehead University has been awarded $190,580 as part of the Ontario government’s second round of the Ontario Micro-credentials Challenge Fund. This year, Ontario is providing funding for 88 micro-credential projects as part of its investment of $5 million for eligible post-secondary institutions to work with industry to co-create or expand rapid training programs that respond to Ontario’s evolving labour market. “The Micro-credentials Challenge Fund brings industry and institutions together to create programs that strengthen Ontario’s workforce and economy,” said Jill Dunlop, Minister of Colleges and Universities in the Ontario Government’s media release. “Micro-credentials reflect current and local labour market needs and immediately prepare students for industry-relevant opportunities in their region.”
Tuesday, July 2, 2024
The Rise of Micro-credentials: Unlocking New Opportunities - Begüm Avcı, Sertifier
In today’s increasingly digitized world, traditional forms of certification and credentialing are being complemented and, in some cases, surpassed by the rise of Micro-credentials. They have gained significant traction across various industries and educational institutions. These virtual representations of skills, accomplishments, and knowledge provide a portable and verifiable way to showcase one’s expertise and achievements. This article explores the emergence of micro-credentials, their benefits, and the vast array of opportunities they unlock for individuals, organizations, and educational systems.
Monday, July 1, 2024
Instructure, Internet2 form council to tackle data management in education - Back End News
Instructure, an edtech company, together with Internet2, a research and education community, established the Data Advisory Council. This new initiative aims to address the increasing data management and archiving needs faced by higher educational institutions worldwide. The council, composed of experts from Instructure, Internet2, and various academic institutions, will focus on developing and recommending consistent data hygiene and governance standards. It aims to tackle several pressing data-related issues including the management of vast quantities of data, safeguarding student privacy, and ensuring data security.
Sunday, June 30, 2024
Navigating the Evolution of Microcredentials and Open Badges - Brittany Gooding, atd
In recent years, there has been a notable transformation in how we prepare individuals for the workforce. Traditional methods are making way for new approaches driven by recognizing specific skills and experiences. The rise of technology and online learning platforms has brought microcredentials and open badges to the forefront, offering learners alternative paths to showcase their capabilities. While both concepts serve this purpose, they differ significantly in their structure, purpose, and application.
Saturday, June 29, 2024
Loyalist College receives $250,000 in funding for development of rapid training programs - Zach McGibbon, Quinte News
Loyalist College has announced they have been selected to develop five rapid training programs as part of $250,000 in funding from the Ontario government. The funding comes through Ontario’s Micro-credentials Challenge Fund. According to a press release from Loyalist College, micro-credentials offer targeted training for career-specific skills. The credentials take less time to complete than diplomas or degrees. The five programs that will be developed are as follows:
Friday, June 28, 2024
Effective Decision-Making: Essential leadership skills - London School of Economics
This highly interactive and collaborative online certificate course will equip you with decision-making skills essential to be effective and deliver impact in your career. Through exploring the science behind decision-making your problem-solving and critical thinking skills will be enhanced. Using Barbara Fasolo and Umar Taj's proprietary tool – the Decision Canvas™ – you’ll be guided through a step-by-step process for formulating clear, unbiased decisions. Learn how to compensate for blind spots in your decision-making process by exploring and interrogating cognitive bias and automatic judgements. By focusing on an informed awareness of debiasing and choice architecture, this course will improve your intuitive decision-making, and prepare you for an increasingly tech-reliant world that requires professionals to use their interpersonal skills to navigate change and uncertainty.
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