The City College of New York and MIT join forces for AI + Entrepreneurship Certificate - MIT Sloan Office of Communications

The new certificate, targeted for undergraduate students, will help develop their skills in artificial intelligence and entrepreneurship, connect them with industry mentors, and set them up to be more competitive for internships and in the job market. The Zahn Innovation Center at The City College of New York is working with the MIT Sloan School of Management and the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship to deliver a new Artificial Intelligence and Entrepreneurship Certificate targeted at undergraduate students. Experts at CCNY and MIT are creating videos, in-person workshops, and course content designed to help CCNY students solve business problems using AI applications.

https://mitsloan.mit.edu/press/city-college-new-york-and-mit-join-forces-ai-entrepreneurship-certificate

Should I Get an HR Certificate Before a Degree in Human Resources? - Danielle Gagnon, SNHU

If you aspire to play a significant role in developing an organization’s workforce, then a human resources (HR) career could be right for you. But when you’re preparing for the HR field, should you get a human resource certificate before a degree in human resources? When it comes to your education, there’s no one right answer. For example, workers with a bachelor's degree in another field might earn a certificate in human resources to build industry-specific skills before committing to a full degree program. Others might jump right into a four-year HR degree. Deborah Gogliettino, associate dean of business programs at SNHU. The key is to find the educational path that supports your career goals and prepares you to enter a field that is evolving all the time, said Deb Gogliettino, a longtime HR professional and associate dean of business at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU).

https://www.snhu.edu/about-us/newsroom/business/what-is-a-human-resource-degree-and-certificate

Elmhurst Learning and Success Academy

The Elmhurst Learning and Success Academy (ELSA) is a four-year, post-secondary certificate program for young adults, ages 18-28, with differing abilities. Our goal is to see our students leave us with a better ability to live independently, seek out and hold meaningful employment, and have a four-year college experience. Students can live on campus or commute and participate in on-campus activities along with their degree-seeking peers. Students continue to grow as individuals and build their lifelong learning skills, to work productively and live as independently as possible.

https://www.elmhurst.edu/admission/elsa/

St. Norbert College launches non-credit online certificate programs in high-demand fields - Mallory Allen, FOX 11 News

St. Norbert College announced Monday the launch of its first non-credit online certificate offerings. Officials say the non-credit programs are intended to meet the needs of community members and support lifelong learning. They will offer current students, along with working professionals and others, the chance to develop new skills and change or advance their career pathways. Certification will be available in high-demand fields such as medical assistant, cybersecurity analyst, applied data science with python and project management. In the coming months, SNC says it will roll out additional programs within healthcare, information technology, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and management and leadership.

https://fox11online.com/news/education/st-norbert-college-launches-non-credit-online-certificate-programs-in-high-demand-fields-laurie-joyner-students-community-working-professionals-healthcare-it-cybersecurity-education

Open Badges – A digital approach to micro-credentials - Federico Camporesi, Tieke.fi

They are digital proofs of achievements, skills, or knowledge that individuals have gained. In particular, OB can be described as digital credentials that represent skills, achievements, or knowledge. The interests in tools like open badges comes from the need to give form to skills and credentials acquired via informal learning and validate individual’s knowledge and competences in a specific area or field. Indeed, micro-credentials are gaining popularity due to their flexibility, relevance to industry needs, and the ability to quickly upskill or reskill workers. They are part of the so-called informal learning, designed to cover specific skills or competencies, allowing learners to gain expertise in particular areas without needing to commit to a full degree program. What make OBs interesting is that they are visually recognisable as they are digital images that contain embedded metadata detailing the skills and achievements they represent.

https://tieke.fi/en/open-badges-a-digital-approach-to-micro-credentials/

The MEFA Institute: The Growing Demand for Micro-Credentials and Other Short-Term Programs - Webinar Wednesday, November 20, 2024 9:00 a.m.

MEFA Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority - After completing this lesson, participants will be able to: 

Define the details of micro-credentials

Understand the opportunities available at various colleges, high schools, and other settings

Earn 1 PDP for this lesson by clicking the button below to complete our PDP Form

https://www.mefa.org/lesson/the-mefa-institute-the-growing-demand-for-micro-credentials-and-other-short-term-programs/

USask announces new micro-credentials in sustainable irrigation - University of Saskatchewan

Two new micro-credentials at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) provide professionals the opportunity to gain knowledge in water management and irrigation agronomy. The new non-credit, community-level Sustainable Irrigation program is offered by the College of Agriculture and Bioresources (AgBio) at USask. Learners have the option to use their completed courses in this program towards two different micro-credentials; Sustainable Irrigation - Irrigation Agronomy, and Sustainable Irrigation - Water Management. The program is designed for agronomists, agrologists, producers, engineers, and anyone who is interested in sound decision-making in irrigated agriculture.

https://educationnewscanada.com/article/education/level/university/1/1108548/usask-announces-new-micro-credentials-in-sustainable-irrigation.html

Why micro-credentials, creativity, and practical experience are so important - Times of India

Over the past few weeks, TOI conducted the first phase of our Technovate for India programme – in association with startup ecosystem builder Talrop – in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Telangana. The objective of the campaign, which we will do across 35 states & Union territories over an 18-month period, is to encourage students to digitally skill themselves and to use that knowledge to build startups that solve big problems. Talrop, as the company’s COO Jones Joseph said at these events, has been doing some unique projects in Kerala in association with schools and colleges, and believes the models can be extended across the country. He said their school projects are designed to ignite curiosity in students. In colleges, they are building tech hubs where companies can come and interact with students to help them understand what industry needs. They are creating a pool of mentors, setting up funds for startups. “We are building an ecosystem that will reduce the failure rate of a startup,” Joseph said.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/times-techies/why-micro-credentials-creativity-and-practical-experience-are-so-important/articleshow/114754347.cms

Are traditional degrees enough: The rise of micro-credentials - People Matters

In today's rapidly evolving job market, traditional university degrees are no longer enough to meet employer demands and the changing work environment. As technology advances and industries grow more complex, there is a growing need for specialised skills and targeted knowledge. For centuries, university education has been viewed as a gateway to a successful career, yet general academic qualifications alone may no longer suffice for securing jobs in many sectors. For example, a software engineer requires more than just an engineering degree to work in blockchain technology. This gap between general education and specific job skills has led to a significant mismatch in the workforce.

https://www.peoplematters.in/article/skilling/are-traditional-degrees-enough-the-rise-of-micro-credentials-43223

Skilled trades gain traction with Gen Z, report finds - Benton Graham, Higher Ed Dive

About 9 in 10 Gen Z graduates said learning a skilled trade can be a better route to economic security than college, home services app Thumbtack found. Social media is increasingly driving an interest in skilled trades careers among members of Generation Z, generally defined as people born from 1997 to 2012, according to a report from home services app Thumbtack. Social media is the second-largest driver of Gen Z career paths, with 55% of Gen Z respondents now saying they are considering a career in the skilled trades, up 12% from last year, Thumbtack says in its Future of the Skilled Trades report. The Thumbtack report also found that 93% of the Gen Z graduates and 80% of the parents surveyed said learning a skilled trade can be a better route to economic security than college.

https://www.highereddive.com/news/skilled-trades-shortage-gen-z-training-hvac-electrical-plumbing-contractors-thumbtack/729998/

1 in 6 Companies Are Hesitant To Hire Recent College Graduates - Intelligent

In August, Intelligent.com surveyed 966 business leaders involved in hiring decisions at their company to explore attitudes toward hiring recent Gen Z college graduates. What we found:

75% of companies report that some or all of the recent college graduates they hired this year were unsatisfactory

6 in 10 companies fired a recent college graduate they hired this year

1 in 6 hiring managers say they are hesitant to hire from this cohort

Hiring managers say recent college grads are unprepared for the workforce, can’t handle the workload, and are unprofessional

1 in 7 companies may refrain from hiring recent college graduates next year

9 in 10 hiring managers say recent college graduates should undergo etiquette training

https://www.intelligent.com/1-in-6-companies-are-hesitant-to-hire-recent-college-graduates/

Positive Partnership: Creating Internships for Community College Students - Ashley Mowreader, Inside Higher Ed

A September policy brief from the left-leaning think tank New America finds, while 70 percent of community college students work, they’re less likely to land paid internships or work in jobs related to their fields of study. A winter 2023 Student Voice survey found one-quarter of two-year students had never had an experiential learning opportunity or internship. “Given the high share of community college students working to meet financial obligations, work-based learning should provide high enough wages, work hours, and schedule flexibility to be accessible to the many students who want to participate,” according to the policy brief.

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/student-success/life-after-college/2024/10/25/employers-four-year-colleges-provide-community

HEPC Launches Microcredential Initiative To Prepare Workforce For Changing Economy - Chris Schulz, WVPublic Broadcasting

State education leaders hope to prepare the state’s workforce for big economic changes with short courses called microcredentials. Microcredentials are short, focused courses that educate and certify learners in a particular subject. Schools like West Virginia University already offer such courses. But the Credential WV program from the Higher Education Policy Commission is working to expand and standardize microcredential offerings across the state to meet the growing demands of industry and economic development. Corley Dennison, vice chancellor for Academic Affairs for the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, said teams from all of the state’s institutions, as well as industry leaders, came together for a microcredential summit earlier in October.  

https://wvpublic.org/hepc-launches-microcredential-initiative-to-prepare-workforce-for-changing-economy/

Helping students unlock career opportunities with Adobe Creative Skills micro-credentials - Brian Johnsrud, Adobe

 At Adobe, we offer many different types of credentials, from micro-credentials to professional certifications in essential digital and creative skills to help students stand out to employers. Shorter stackable micro-credentials can be particularly helpful to teach and showcase a number of specific skills that often aren’t taught in schools today. Through our Adobe Creative Skills program for college students, we offer twelve self-paced courses that teach the most in-demand skills, from using generative AI, to presentation design and delivery, to editing short social media videos that pop. 

https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2024/10/21/helping-students-unlock-career-opportunities-with-adobe-creative-skills-micro-credentials

Report: Employers Still Don’t Understand Or Trust Education Badges - Derek Newton, Forbes

Because there were so many, because there was no regulation or oversight to assure quality or competency, because there was no standardization or segmentation of badges, people had no idea what they meant. One badge could represent watching a four-minute video, while another could represent a hundred hours of expert-led, one-on-one instruction and fieldwork. An observer could never tell – and that made digital learning badges confusing at best, useless at worst. Based on a new report from UpSkill America, a project of The Aspen Institute, digital badges are still highly confusing and of very limited value.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereknewton/2024/10/20/report-employers-still-dont-understand-trust-education-badges/

PCI Launches Online Certificate Course On Rational Use of Medicines and Life Sciences Sector - Skill Development Council

The PCI has partnered with the Biotechnology Research Innovation Council (BRIC)– Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to offer an online course on rational medicine use for pharmacists. The course was launched on April 30, 2024. This program aims to equip pharmacists with the knowledge to promote responsible use of medications within the community. Pharmacists can register and take the course through the THSTI Learning Management System (LMS) portal accessible online and via a mobile app. Upon completion, a certificate will be issued, valid for license renewal under CEP requirements of the Pharmacy Practice Regulations, 2015.

https://www.legalitysimplified.com/pci-launches-online-certificate-course-on-rational-use-of-medicines-and-life-sciences-sector-skill-development-council/

The Rise Of The Micro-Credentials Movement: Validating Skills Beyond Traditional Degrees - Aditya Malik, Forbes

Traditionally, the conventional approach to education involves a lot of time and money investment through a comprehensive curriculum. Institutional prestige steps in as a bias; there’s a lot of theory involved, much more than practical experiments, and the earned credential becomes a gatekeeper toward employment, irrespective of whether there’s a skills mismatch with the role in question. In contrast, micro-credentials are like supplements, whereas traditional degrees are full-course meals. Suppose you have an iron deficiency in your body—it wouldn’t make sense to load up on beans, nuts and red meat for every meal. That would be costly, boring and time-consuming. But you can easily supplement with ferrous sulfate or other approved variants and get your iron levels balanced while still enjoying your meals.

https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbestechcouncil/2024/10/18/the-rise-of-the-micro-credentials-movement-validating-skills-beyond-traditional-degrees/

Law Firms Are Turning to Online Training Platforms as Apprenticeship Model Falters - Rhys Dipshan, Law.com

While the pandemic showed the potential of training employees through online platforms, law firms are finding they can still embrace that method as new pressures continue to make more traditional training less viable. The pandemic upended how law firms train their employees—no longer could associates learn from partners at the office, but instead, had to rely on webinars or Zoom. Many, however, bemoaned that something valuable was lost through teaching staff remotely. Fast forward to today, and while the pandemic is in many attorneys' rearview mirror, training in law firms hasn't snapped back to how it was in the days before COVID-19. Increasingly, law firms are turning to legal education startups that marry digital, remote training with more hands-on instructions, to teach their staff and hone their skills.

https://www.law.com/2024/10/17/law-firms-are-turning-to-online-training-platforms-as-apprenticeship-model-falters/?slreturn=20241018162055

Microcredentials - University of Miami (Ohio)

88% Of employers said a Microcredential helped a job candidate stand out. - 

Advancing Higher Education with Industry Micro-Credentials, Coursera report

6/10 Workers will require retraining between now and 2027. - 

Future of Jobs Report, World Economic Forum

4,320 Microcredential badges awarded as of April 2024. - 

Miami University Data

https://miamioh.edu/online/microcredentials/index.html

Adobe aims to teach AI, online content skills to 30 million - Steven Melendez, Fast Company

Courses will include material on using AI to create content from video thumbnails to visual effects around text—and doing so ethically, including paying attention to issues around intellectual property. They’ll also cover skills around creating content for social media, digital marketing, and image creation and editing. The course material, which will include video instruction and follow-up work, will generally emphasize Adobe Express, a creativity app that offers some features for free, and will be accessible through a phone, tablet, or computer with a web browser. 

https://www.fastcompany.com/91208628/adobe-aims-to-teach-ai-online-content-skills-to-30-million

To Woo Law Firms, Legal Training Platforms Are Combining Hands-On and Online Learning - Ella Sherman, Law.com

However, the apprenticeship approach in which law firm partners mentor and train new associates isn't always feasible. While associates can gain valuable hands-on experience, firm partners may be unsuitable or unable to teach due to the demands of keeping up their billable hours. Still, firms place a premium on such experiential training. That's why emerging online platforms such as HotShot and AltaClaro are looking to move beyond recorded lectures by trying to find a balance between hands-on learning and the convenience of online training. "You have these video programs, and you gotta click through, and after a while, it's just watered down, you're not really paying attention," AltaClaro founder and CEO Abdi Shayesteh said. "Doctors get to practice through cadavers. … Why not get lawyers to practice through fake clients and receive feedback on it?"

https://www.law.com/legaltechnews/2024/10/10/to-attract-law-firms-legal-training-platforms-are-combining-hands-on-and-online-learning/?slreturn=20241014172309