These 10 schools found their footing creating quality alternative credentials - Alcino Donadel, University Business

Senior leadership is beginning to view alternative credentials as a fundamental of their enrollment strategy—and accreditors are listening. But costs, opaque data and unfruitful corporate outreach efforts have prevented colleges and universities from implementing the programs at scale, to name a few barriers. Institutions looking to solidify their non-degree micro-credential and digital badge strategy can model solutions from these 10 schools where thousands of students are upskilling in fast-paced, dynamic environments. UPCEA, the professional development nonprofit, brought together institutions across various sizes, sectors and regions to highlight alternative credential models that complement each school’s mission.

https://universitybusiness.com/these-10-schools-found-their-footing-creating-quality-alternative-credentials/

Laurentian University to offer micro-credentials for working professionals - Sault Star

In her role with the CTLC, Sckopke identifies gaps that could benefit from supplemental education and works with partners to develop courses to close those gaps. “The courses are for adults of all ages. We have some that start at 16-plus,” she added. “It depends on the course. We limit the courses to 30 hours and ask that learners plan to commit two to five hours a week to study time. These are competency-based and accessible because we recognize that learners often have a busy schedule.”

https://www.saultstar.com/news/local-news/laurentian-university-to-offer-micro-credentials-for-working-professionals

Australia’s urgent lack of hydrogen skills addressed by new Swinburne micro-credentials - Swinburne University

Swinburne University of Technology is addressing the immediate skills gaps across the burgeoning hydrogen industry. The university worked with industry to develop a suite of 11 micro-learning modules. The program is funded by the Victorian Government and announced as part of their commitment to upskilling this National Skills Week.

https://www.swinburne.edu.au/news/2024/08/Australias-urgent-lack-of-hydrogen-skills-addressed-by-new-Swinburne-micro-credentials/

Micro-Credentials: The Ideal Pathway for Professional and Personal Growth - Education News Canada

Micro-credentials offer learners the opportunity to build on their skills and abilities in a specific area. Laurentian University offers 17 micro-credential courses, in English and French. From health care to homegrown greens, the possibilities are as diverse as the people interested in them. Christina Sckopke is the manager of Micro-Credentials and Non-Credit Programming with the Centre for Teaching and Continuing Learning (CTLC) at Laurentian University. She has a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing and a Master's of Science in Nursing from Laurentian.  After 15 years in nursing, Christina sought out professional development to improve her chances of securing a managerial role. Having taken them herself, she has since worked to develop Laurentian's list of professional development options and is an advocate for the potential that micro-credentials offer to professionals. 

https://educationnewscanada.com/article/education/level/university/1/1097307/micro-credentials-the-ideal-pathway-for-professional-and-personal-growth.html

Microcredential courses for re-skilling and up-skilling - Parakram Pyakurel, HEPI, UK

In this short post, I am proposing microcredential as an approach to make early exit degrees more viable, especially for workforces that are looking for re- and/ or up-skilling opportunities as a part of continuous professional development. Lack of growth opportunities is a major reason (Why Upskilling And Reskilling Are Essential In 2023 (forbes.com)) why employees leave workplaces and one way for employers to retain their valuable employees is by providing them opportunities to participate in upskilling and reskilling programmes for professional development. Universities can support such programmes by offering microcredential courses. Microcredentials (A European approach to micro-credentials – European Education Area (europa.eu)) are basically certifications of learning outcomes of short training and courses. Microcredentials can be modularised in such a way that a combination of microcredentials, accumulated over an extended period of time, can lead to early exit degrees.

https://www.hepi.ac.uk/2024/08/22/microcredential-courses-for-re-skilling-and-up-skilling/

New Research Finds 65% of Generation Z is Eager for Professional Development and Career Growth - Business Wire

The new research based on responses from over 6,500 multi-generational learners challenges many stereotypical perceptions of Gen Z (defined in the report as people born between 1997 and 2012). Often depicted as “lazy” and “not interested in returning to the office,” Udemy’s data debunks these common tropes, revealing that Gen Z respondents are actually the most motivated by professional development (65%) compared to their Millennial and Gen X counterparts. Additionally, despite demand for generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) content continuing to surge across the Udemy platform and Gen Z's exceptionally high engagement rate with GenAI, they’re the most skeptical generation when it comes to perceptions of AI’s effectiveness in online learning.

https://www.morningstar.com/news/business-wire/20240820577329/new-research-finds-65-of-generation-z-is-eager-for-professional-development-and-career-growth-challenging-stereotypes-toward-newest-members-of-the-workforce

Funding Boost for Thames Freeport Workforce Skills - Mirage News

The University of Plymouth has been awarded funding by Thames Freeport to help drive its economic growth and prepare the local workforce to meet the demands of its rapid expansion. The project will see the Plymouth Business School grow its existing partnership with the Port of Tilbury, located on the Thames and the principal port for London. In particular, it will work with the Tilbury Logistics Academy to develop a comprehensive suite of short courses and micro-credentials. The courses will cover essential business subjects such as project management, leadership, and decision-making for sustainable procurement, as well as logistics-related courses including freight forwarding and letters of credit.

https://www.miragenews.com/funding-boost-for-thames-freeport-workforce-1300092/#google_vignette

Prestigious scholarship provides once in a lifetime opportunity for US student - Massey News

The Gilman Scholarship programme is funded by the United States Department of State and run in conjunction with Education New Zealand. It aims to support American undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds to study abroad where they would otherwise not be able to afford to. When Keira found out she had been successful in her application, she says she told just about anyone who would listen. “I was ecstatic, beyond happy. Being awarded this scholarship took away a huge sum of my financial burden and was a once in a lifetime kind of opportunity I couldn't let pass. I knew the animal biology in New Zealand would be like nothing in America and I would never again get the chance to see it if I didn't take my study abroad there.” Keira has taken a break from her classes at the Berea College in Kentucky to study marine biology and creative writing at Massey until the end of the year. She is enjoying the different teaching methods from America and discovering the rich biodiversity that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. 

https://www.massey.ac.nz/about/news/prestigious-scholarship-provides-once-in-a-lifetime-opportunity-for-us-student/

Digital Promise Releases New Report to Understand Micro-credential and LER Use in K-12 Settings - K12 Dive

Learning and employment record technologies are tools that allow individuals to document and share their skills, credentials, diplomas, and employment history, with the potential to strengthen or reinvent resumes by including verifiable information about achievements in real-time. Micro-credentials are digital certifications that verify an individual’s competence in a specific skill or set of skills. These technologies have the potential to foster lifelong learning and career advancement, particularly for systematically excluded (HSE) learners.

https://www.k12dive.com/press-release/20240821-digital-promise-releases-new-report-to-understand-micro-credential-and-ler-1/

Grant prepares TRU students for rewarding careers - Thompson Rivers University

Thompson Rivers University (TRU) students will be able to access a grant this fall and winter from the BC government for the skills and training opportunities they need for future career success. Available to British Columbians aged 19 and older, the StrongerBC future skills grant program provides financial support to TRU students pursuing any of 13 eligible online, in-person or hybrid programs that span from various trades to business. Introduced in fall 2023, the StrongerBC future skills grant is available for TRU programs starting between September 2024 and February 2025. It provides funding to new students, as well as students who have previously accessed funding, up to a lifetime maximum of $3,500.

https://www.castanet.net/news/Campus-Life-Kamloops/502171/Grant-prepares-TRU-students-for-rewarding-careers

Universities are integrating micro-credentials with traditional degrees for enhanced learning - Education Times

In a world where change is the only constant, the education sector is evolving to meet the demands of a rapidly shifting job market. Traditional degree programmes have long been the gold standard for academic achievement, but today, micro-credentials are emerging as a vital component of lifelong learning. Micro-credentials, also known as digital badges or nano degrees, are concise, focused educational programmes designed to provide learners with specific skills or knowledge in a particular area. Unlike traditional degree programmes that require several years to complete, micro-credentials can be earned in a much shorter time frame, often within weeks or months. This quick turnaround allows individuals to rapidly acquire new competencies that are directly relevant to their careers.

https://www.educationtimes.com/article/campus-beat-college-life/99736326/universities-are-integrating-micro-credentials-with-traditional-degrees-for-enhanced-learning

Internships in Generative AI: Best Ones to Explore in August 2024 - Analytics Insight

With AI, Generative AI has emerged as a major transformation in the tech world in recent years. While driving innovation across various sectors including content creation, software development, healthcare, and finance, generative AI has given hope to organizations to adapt its updated mechanisms without any second thought. As companies continue to explore their potential, the demand for skilled professionals is increasing day by day. For students who want to pursue a career in this field, and for beginners who are yet to get hands on experience, internships in Gen AI offer opportunities to gain practical experience. Through these internships, they can strengthen their understanding, and possibly secure a job in this dynamic field. This article discusses some of the top AI Generative internships that will be available in August 2024, outlining their benefits, how to apply, and what makes them unique.

https://www.analyticsinsight.net/generative-ai/internships-in-generative-ai-best-ones-to-explore-in-august-2024

Penn State Great Valley Now Offering Stackable Credentials through Online Learning - Helen Harris, Vista

Penn State is offering for the first time stackable credentials that can be used to earn master’s degrees in Engineering, Data Analytics, Information Science, Artificial Intelligence, Human Resources, and Psychology. The stackable credentials at Penn State are being offered through 27 graduate-level certificates that can be completed online, through Penn State World Campus. To earn a stackable credential, a student will take courses in sequence to complete a graduate-level certificate of either nine or 12 credits. Some certificates can be completed in a year or less.

https://vista.today/2024/08/penn-state-stackable-credentials-online/

Bridging the skills gaps: The micro-credentials solution - Pravin Periasamy, Aliran

Educational reforms must bridge the skills gap by upskilling Malaysian talent quickly to keep pace with industrial development. While improving education quality through curriculum changes is important, it is a long-term solution. The government should focus on current university students. These future graduates will feel the full impact of the skills gap without support to upskill. One policy option is to subsidise micro credentials for local students during their studies, especially for in-demand digital skills.

https://aliran.com/thinking-allowed-online/bridging-the-skills-gaps-the-micro-credential-solution

WT to Offer Embedded Associate Degrees for Students Pursuing Bachelor’s - Chip Chandler, West Texas A & M

West Texas A&M University students soon can earn an associate degree en route to completing their bachelor’s degree, thanks to a new plan approved by The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents that will help combat student indebtedness. Pending final agreement from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, TAMUS Regents on Feb. 9 approved a plan that establishes eight new degree programs: associate of arts degrees in liberal arts and humanities and multidisciplinary studies, and associate of science degrees in business, education, health sciences, mathematics, natural sciences and social sciences. The new degree program shows that WT continues to pioneer new ways to assist students in keeping their indebtedness as low as possible. Tarleton State University, also in The Texas A&M University System, is the only other four-year state institution providing associate degrees, though WT’s plan focuses more on giving students a recognized milestone or stop-out point.

https://www.wtamu.edu/news/2024/02/wt-to-offer-embedded-associate-degrees-for-students-pursuing-bachelors.html

Pitching free micro-credentials for all - Herman M. Lagon, Mindanao Times

Enter the concept of the Free University Microcredential International (UMI) Hybrid Program—a groundbreaking proposal designed to democratize education on an unprecedented scale and to champion social justice by making it accessible and free for all who wish to enhance their employability. This innovative idea was formulated by a group of forward-thinking individuals, including the author of this column, during the Asian International Mobility for Students (AIMS) Summer Intensive Program held from August 1-8, 2024, at Hiroshima University, Japan. The heart of this proposal lies in the concept of micro-credentials. Micro-credentials are bite-sized, specialized certifications, or badges, pivoting on very specific skills or competencies. Unlike a traditional degree, which can take years to complete, micro-credentials are earned over a much shorter period of time, often just a few weeks or months. 

https://mindanaotimes.com.ph/impulses-pitching-free-micro-credentials-for-all/

Govt Should Subsidise Micro Cred Courses For Grads, Here’s Why - Business Today

Investments into smart city infrastructure, integration of artificial technology in digital services and new information technological services in finance require digital know-how necessary to effectively manage these developments. The issue however is the intense pace at which these developments are being facilitated, making it difficult for graduates in Malaysian universities to be sufficiently future-proof at the time of graduation, prepared with the necessary skillset. Graduates are typically syllabus bound during their time of study, subject to a curriculum that is often outdated and requiring years of auditing, reviewal and update before it can catch up with the latest trends. The implication that this has is that it leaves graduates with a skills match, affecting their overall employability.

https://www.businesstoday.com.my/2024/08/10/govt-should-subsidise-micro-cred-courses-for-grads-heres-why/

Self-Paced E-Learning Market size is set to grow by USD 6.17 billion from 2024-2028 - Technavio

The global self-paced e-learning market size is estimated to grow by USD 6.17 billion from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 2.31% during the forecast period. Availability of subject proficiency assessments and certifications is driving market growth, with a trend towards growing popularity of microlearning. However, increase in number of free online courses poses a challenge.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/self-paced-e-learning-market-210500465.html

UNO Partnering With EDUCAUSE to Deliver Popular Professional Development Program

The University of Nebraska at Omaha’s (UNO) Division of Innovative and Learning-Centric Initiatives (ILCI) is excited to partner with EDUCAUSE, a national leader in advancing higher education with information technology, to launch a co-branded Learning Lab on Developing and Teaching a Humanized Course. EDUCAUSE is a community of more than 100,000 individuals at member organizations from around the world. As education rapidly grows into new digital spaces, it’s important to ensure that online learning environments have a humanized approach fostering empathy, active engagement, and valuable connections.

https://www.unomaha.edu/news/2024/08/uno-partnering-with-educause-to-deliver-popular-professional-development-program.php

Sault College Secures Funding to Develop Five New Micro-Credential Courses

Expanding on its comprehensive suite of micro-credential courses, Sault College has received $250,000 from the provincial government through the Ontario Micro-credentials Challenge Fund. Micro-credential courses offer flexible, self-paced learning opportunities to assist individuals looking to upskill and support evolving labour market needs. This funding will allow for the development of five new micro-credential courses:

Business Analytics: Content Creation Using AI

Business Analytics: Business Analysis Fundamentals

Business Analytics: Microsoft Power BI Fundamentals

Business Analytics: Data Analysis Using Power BI

Business Analytics: Business Analysis Using Excel

Each course will be designed with input from industry experts and partners ensuring relevance and practical application and are expected to be available by January 2025. These new courses will bring Sault College's micro-credential offerings to 190.

https://educationnewscanada.com/article/education/category/economy/96/1094971/sault-collegeaugust-9-2024-sault-college-secures-funding-to-develop-five-new-micro-credential-courses.html

In New Hampshire, a Mandate to Collaborate - Liam Knox, Inside Higher Ed

This spring, after weathering years of plunging enrollments and tuition revenue, New Hampshire lawmakers gave the state’s public colleges and universities an order: work together, or sink together. A state law passed in May requires the two systems to collaborate on easing credit transfer pathways, aligning enrollment initiatives and sharing recruitment resources, among other reforms. The systems will be required to follow recommendations for alignment put forward by a state task force in March. It’s the Legislature’s latest effort to reverse steadily declining enrollment trends.

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/admissions/adult-post-traditional/2024/08/05/enrollment-woes-and-new-law-unite-new-hampshire