CPA Australia unveils new ESG micro-credentials - Imogen Wilson, Accountants Daily

CPA Australia has rolled out its first sustainability micro-credential to support its members ahead of a “breakthrough year” in environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting requirements. CPA said the new micro-credentials were designed to support accounting professionals in providing the strategic leadership they needed to integrate sustainability in a way that created value and facilitated long-term growth. The first of the three new micro-credentials, ‘Sustainability: Building Resilience through Leadership’, was released ahead of mandatory climate-related financial disclosures for large organisations in 2025 and SMEs in 2026.

https://www.accountantsdaily.com.au/technology/20687-cpa-australia-unveils-new-esg-micro-credentials

GSU’s Microcredential Initiative: Elevating Skills and Credentials for Learner Success - Georgia State University

The landscape of higher education is expanding rapidly, and GSU innovatively embraces this expansion while always keeping our learners at the center, providing them with meaningful, verifiable credentials. Charged by Provost Parsons-Pollard in Spring 2024, a working group of representatives from Academic Affairs, The Graduate School, CETLOE, College of Education, Perimeter College, and Robinson College of Business developed a new Microcredential Framework to provide a guide for faculty to help learners document their skills and accomplishments through clear, standardized microcredentials. Primarily offered as continuing education or professional credits, these microcredentials provide faculty with a means to help learners showcase demonstrated competencies. 

https://news.gsu.edu/2024/11/14/gsus-microcredential-initiative-elevating-skills-and-credentials-for-learner-success/

Canadian PTIB Applied Project Management Online Certification Program Launch

The new 80-hour accredited applied project management online course offers a flexible schedule that can be completed within 10 weeks given an eight- to 10-hour-per-week commitment. Although the program is open to all, it is especially beneficial for professionals in the engineering and construction sectors looking to transition into more project management-focused roles. Graduates of the course will earn a certificate endorsed by the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills in British Columbia. This certificate confirms that learners have gained essential skills for managing real-life projects.

https://markets.financialcontent.com/stocks/article/marketersmedia-2024-11-23-canadian-ptib-applied-project-management-online-certification-program-launch

Micro-credentials: The solution to the skills gap and accessible education - Mike Caruso, University Business

By reformatting existing programs into micro-credentials and certificates, you can market these new programs to employers and bring new learners through your doors. At the end of 2020, 80% of U.S. employers said they had more difficulty filling job openings due to skills gaps compared to the year before — and the skills gap isn’t going away anytime soon. In fact, a recent Gartner survey found that 58% of employees need new skills to successfully do their work. If organizations don’t provide necessary training, they risk the inability to perform critical business activities, inefficient operations and missed growth opportunities. To close the skills gap, organizations need to invest in upskilling opportunities like micro-credentials — mini-qualifications that demonstrate an individual’s abilities, knowledge or experience in a specific subject area. With micro-credentials, companies can leverage programs from educational institutions to upskill and reskill their workforce

https://universitybusiness.com/micro-credentials-the-solution-to-the-skills-gap-and-accessible-education/

What is the experience of Latin American universities in offering micro-credentials? - UNESCO

In a context where universities require greater flexibility and where it is crucial to align knowledge and skills with the demands of the labour market, micro-credentials have established themselves as an innovative and effective tool to develop and validate specific competences throughout adult life. These credentials allow acquiring and demonstrating practical knowledge in an agile and accessible way, responding to the dynamic demands of today’s professional world. To this end, UNESCO IESALC and Red de Educación Continua de Latinoamérica y Europa (RECLA) have launched a survey to learn about the experience of Ibero-American universities in offering micro-credentials. Although there is no single definition of what constitutes a micro-credential, for this study it is understood as a certification that validates and recognises a specific competence or skill, verified through observable evidence and performance, and includes a learning assessment process.

https://www.iesalc.unesco.org/en/articles/what-experience-latin-american-universities-offering-micro-credentials

College of Engineering to offer microcredentials for manufacturing job seekers - PSU

Manufacturing  in Pennsylvania delivers economic impact of more than $116 billion, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. To help manufacturing workers keep pace with the evolution of skills required in this important sector, the Penn State College of Engineering will offer a new set of manufacturing microcredential courses, beginning in February 2025 and running throughout the spring, summer and fall.  Building on the success of other short-course microcredentials offered by the college, the manufacturing microcredentials are designed for individuals without bachelor’s degrees who are interested in beginning or furthering careers in manufacturing.

https://www.psu.edu/news/engineering/story/college-engineering-offer-microcredentials-manufacturing-job-seekers

Are Short-Term Credentials Really More Affordable? - Sara Weissman, Inside Higher Ed

Short-term credentials are proliferating and growing more popular as students come to see them as quicker, cheaper routes to jobs than traditional degrees. But are these programs as inexpensive as students think? The Education Trust, a nonprofit policy and advocacy organization, explored that question in a new report released Tuesday. The authors looked at how much it actually costs students to participate in these programs, including living expenses like room and board, books, technology, and transportation. They found that costs varied widely among different types of credentials, with some offered at no cost and others exceeding $20,000 per month.

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/tech-innovation/alternative-credentials/2024/11/22/are-short-term-credentials-really-more

New micro-credentials to prepare accountants for the opportunities of a sustainable future - CPA Australia

Australian businesses need to prepare for increasing ESG reporting requirements:

CPA Australia reveals first of three new micro-credentials to help members meet the growing demand for sustainability expertise - Sustainability reporting presents career boost opportunity for accountants - CPA Australia has launched the first of three new sustainability micro-credentials to support members ahead of a breakthrough year in ESG reporting requirements. 

https://newshub.medianet.com.au/2024/11/new-micro-credentials-to-prepare-accountants-for-the-opportunities-of-a-sustainable-future/77317/

Students need more educational choices after high school - Cindy Cisneros, Hechinger Report

Education leaders have long called for expanded postsecondary pathways. College isn’t for everyone. Unfortunately, many college alternatives, especially career and technical education programs, have a complicated history. In the past, these programs have been criticized for funneling students from low-income families into low-paying jobs. That criticism reinforced a stigma around such programs and led to their decline. Now, a growing number of employers are shifting away from degree requirements and embracing nondegree and skills-based credentials. Still, a significant gap remains between employers’ intended approach and actual hiring practices. This dissonance signals that college degrees will not become obsolete in the foreseeable future, and employers will still need a way to assess the workplace value of a degree or credential.

https://hechingerreport.org/opinion-students-need-more-educational-choices-after-high-school/

Getting on the same page: 5 tips for credentialing success - Elizabeth Loutfi-Hipchen, Chief Learning Officer

The world of credentials—badges, alternative degrees, nano-credentials, micro-credentials!—is vast and nuanced. In this Q&A with Chief Learning Officer, Dr. Nancy Coleman, Harvard University’s dean of continuing education, shares her “Fast Five”—recommendations for success in the world of credentialing, and provides insight into the transformative role of alternative credentials in today’s job market.

https://www.chieflearningofficer.com/2024/11/19/getting-on-the-same-page-5-tips-for-credentialing-success/

Victoria’s Educational Leaders invited to apply for powerful learning opportunity - Freya Lucas, the Sector AU

Through the Best Start, Best Life (BSBL) reforms, the Victorian Department of Education has engaged Queensland University of Technology (QUT), in partnership with the Early Learning and Care Council of Australia (ELACCA) to deliver the VELP. After a successful inaugural delivery to a cohort of 200 Educational Leaders in 2024, expressions of interest for the second cohort in Term 2 2025 are now open.

There are 2 micro-credentials on offer: VELP Foundations – designed for new Educational Leaders with 1-2 years’ experience. This credential focuses on the fundamentals of how to be an Educational Leader, including leadership skills, change management theory, facilitating team teaching, and observation and assessment.

VELP Advanced – designed for experienced Educational Leaders with 2+ years’ experience. This credential focuses on advanced leadership models, fostering effective team teaching and driving reflective practice in teams.

https://thesector.com.au/2024/11/18/victorias-educational-leaders-invited-to-apply-for-powerful-learning-opportunity/

Pitching free micro-credentials for all, 1 - Panay News

Enter the concept of the Free University Microcredential International (UMI) Hybrid Program — a ground-breaking 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 program, supported by a JASSO scholarship, focused on higher education innovations, peace education, global collaboration, and internationalization.

\https://www.panaynews.net/pitching-free-micro-credentials-for-all-1/#google_vignette

Students are increasingly turning to microcredentials to boost their career prospects - Sarah Ash, Texas Standard

Fall means it’s college application season, but a growing number of students are looking for post-high school opportunities outside a traditional four-year university. Hundreds of thousands of young people have pinned their hopes on what are called microcredentials as a quicker pathway to in-demand careers. Programs vary widely, with students getting certified to become phlebotomists or welders or earning credentials for specific information technology skills.

https://www.texasstandard.org/stories/student-microcredential-programs-certificates-job-skills/

USI Board of Trustees approves two new master’s degrees, nine certificates and microcredentials - University of Southern Indiana

The University also approved nine certificates and microcredentials. They are as follows:  

Undergraduate 

Childhood Health and Well-being Microcredential 

Public and Nonprofit Leadership Microcredential 

State and Local Government Microcredential 

Graduate 

Elementary Math Leadership Certificate 

Teacher License Addition for English Learners Certificate 

Nonprofit Professional Microcredential 

Policy Making Microcredential 

Program Evaluation Microcredential 

Fundraising Microcredential 

https://www.usi.edu/news/releases/2024/11/usi-board-of-trustees-approves-two-new-master-s-degrees-nine-certificates-and-microcredentials-hears-update-from-presidential-search-committee-chair

The Microcredential Generation - Sara Weissman, Inside Higher Ed

While these kinds of programs have long served adult learners looking to update their job skills or switch careers, research shows students fresh out of high school are flocking to them in greater and greater numbers. Learners ages 18 to 20 completed more certificates at higher ed institutions than any other age group during the 2022–23 academic year, according to an April 2024 report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. Nearly 154,000 young learners earned certificates that year—an 11 percent increase over the previous year—among the 670,665 certificate earners across all ages. The microcredential student population is much larger than those numbers indicate, because certificates offered at colleges and universities are only one type.

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/tech-innovation/alternative-credentials/2024/10/01/microcredential-generation

Bridging the gap: From professional learning to classroom impact with microcredentials - Donna Spangler, Smart Brief

Microcredentials offer a new way forward: turning learning into action. They build educator capacity and require evidence of application, helping to bridge the gap between learning and classroom practice. Recent research highlights ongoing challenges in translating professional learning into classroom practice. Findings in a 2023 published RAND study revealed challenges between participation in professional learning and classroom application. This gap highlights a critical issue today: little professional learning actually results in classroom application or changes within the classroom. 

https://www.smartbrief.com/original/bridging-the-gap-from-professional-learning-to-classroom-impact-with-microcredentials

Internships a balancing act for adult students Posted by Moira Kelley, University of Wiscons-

For instance, 63 percent of the students wanted to do internships but could not for various reasons, especially a lack of time due to a heavy course load or the need to work a paid job. Internships can be particularly challenging for adult students if they offer little or no pay. Students who land an internship can find it an excellent opportunity to field test a new career pathway, get a foot in the door of a new organization or build professional networks. Research shows that it is critical to have an experienced mentor, realistic and challenging workplace tasks, and ample feedback from your supervisor to ensure a good internship experience.

https://continuingstudies.wisc.edu/blog/internships-a-balancing-act-for-adult-students/

KACIF Program Bridges Gap for Students Pursuing Public Service Internships with Financial Support - GW Today

The GW Career Services Council established the fund in 2013 through alumni and parent donations to reduce financial challenges associated with pursuing high-quality, necessarily unpaid internships (essentially, for organizations that don’t have a paid structure) that may fit into a GW students’ career ambitions and/or enhance their academic programming. The council believes that “the financial support provided by the fund will make a significant difference in the lives of GW students, just as the students will make a significant difference in the world and through their work with the organizations at which they intern.”

https://gwtoday.gwu.edu/kacif-program-bridges-gap-students-pursuing-public-service-internships-financial-support

Health and wellness internships show students how to make a difference - Binghamton University

Binghamton University’s Division of Health and Wellness Studies (HWS), as part of Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences, offers a range of internships that allow students to gain hands-on experience, build new skills and make an impact in the community. Here’s a closer look at those internships and how they’ve shaped students in unique ways.

https://www.binghamton.edu/news/story/5199/health-and-wellness-internships-show-students-how-to-make-a-difference

Internships Become Growing Part of a SUNY Canton Education - SUNY

The college currently has students placed in 52 on-campus Presidential Internships. Two additional students are working off-campus with area agencies, including the St. Lawrence County Center for History and Culture in Canton. The college expanded its robust internship program so students could gain experience working in their chosen fields while still in college.

https://www.canton.edu/news/2024/internships.php

Recognition of non-formal skills: new research on micro-credentialing - Unicef

On the other hand, while slowly and unevenly compared to the global trend, the up-take of micro-credentials is increasing in South Africa. Micro-credentials are a form of alternative education, formal or non-formal, that can be offered by universities, online learning platforms, technical schools, or other skills development entities. It certifies the learning outcomes of short-term learning experiences, for example a short course or training that offer micro-credentials such as online certificates, diplomas, and badges.

https://www.unicef.org/southafrica/press-releases/recognition-non-formal-skills-new-research-micro-credentialing