ASU's Cronkite School launches investigative editing certificate for working professionals

Investigative faculty of ASU’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication and its Howard Center for Investigative Journalism have created a new investigative editing curriculum that will be offered online starting in January 2025. The continuing professional education curriculum consists of 12 online learning modules that will allow learners to work through the course at their own pace. Each module will conclude with a live Zoom session, giving learners a chance to speak with Cronkite faculty who helped develop the curriculum. Those include Pulitzer Prize winners Leonard Downie, Jr., the former executive editor of The Washington Post, Angela M. Hill, the Ida B. Wells professor of journalism at Cronkite, and Steve Doig, a Cronkite professor who is one of the pioneers in data journalism. Other award-winning faculty involved in developing the curriculum include Mark Greenblatt, executive director of the Howard Center, Lauren Mucciolo, the center’s executive producer, and Maud Beelman, a veteran investigative editor who was the founding director of both the Howard Center at ASU and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.

https://cronkite.asu.edu/news/2024/cronkite-school-launches-investigative-editing-certificate-for-working-professionals/

Year 2024 in review: Industry’s grip on higher education - Economic Times, India

Year 2024 in review: Industry’s grip on higher education - Economic Times, India

The introduction of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) by the Indian government heralded a new era of research funding, with over ₹12,000 crore earmarked for fostering cutting-edge collaborations. The University Grants Commission’s (UGC) revised guidelines for industry-sponsored courses also spurred growth, allowing institutions to co-create programmes with corporations. The outcomes have been transformative: over 25% of engineering colleges reported enhanced employability metrics, thanks to the integration of specialised skills like AI/ML and IoT into their curricula.These developments underscore a clear trend—higher education is no longer confined to academic silos. Instead, it has become a dynamic ecosystem, fuelled by collaborative efforts to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving job market. The figures speak volumes: the Gross Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD) witnessed a notable increase, bolstered by initiatives like the establishment of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF). Let’s delve into the milestones that shaped this collaboration and redefined higher education in 2024.

https://education.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/higher-education/year-2024-in-review-industrys-grip-on-higher-education-boon-or-bane/116681761

Skipping College: The New Playbook for Successful Careers Without College - Thomas Frey, Future of Education

It has become increasingly evident that many young people are questioning the long-held belief that a traditional four-year college education is the best—or only—path to success. Rising tuition costs, mounting student debt, and uncertain job prospects after graduation have driven a growing skepticism toward the value of a college degree. At the same time, the rapid evolution of technology and shifting demands in the labor market have highlighted the need for skills-based learning and alternative career pathways. This change reflects a broader cultural and economic shift, with more individuals seeking practical, affordable, and efficient ways to enter the workforce. The future of career preparation is evolving, with a focus on building meaningful networks, acquiring hands-on skills, and leveraging personalized education options like trade schools, certifications, online courses, and mentorships. These alternatives not only align better with individual goals but also provide direct, tangible routes to professional success in an ever-changing world.The shifting attitudes toward higher education are being driven by a convergence of economic, professional, and cultural factors. Economically, the skyrocketing cost of college tuition and the resulting student loan crisis have left many young people questioning whether a degree is worth the financial burden. 

https://futuristspeaker.com/future-of-education/skipping-college-the-new-playbook-for-successful-careers-without-college/

Spellman College"s New Business Communications Certificate - eSpellman

New from eSpelman: Online certificate in Business Communications! This two-course undergrad-level offering focuses on the fundamentals of Strategic Communications Management along with crafting persuasive messaging with an exciting course called The Art of the Pitch. eSpelman certificates are designed for adult learners who may not have finished a bachelor’s degree or who are seeking a career switch or advancement. Courses are 8-weeks long and are 100% online. The Business Communications certificate joins others like Cosmetic Science, Project Management, and Diverse Leadership. Add an eSpelman certificate to your resume in 2025!

https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=998609788966804&id=100064533770623

Top 5 Free Coursera Certificates For 2025, From Research - Rachel Wells, Forbes

As employers relax their requirements for workers with four-year degrees and opt for highly skilled candidates instead, one key factor has been strongly instrumental to the success of this strategic move: online courses and professional certificates. In Coursera's latest report, they explained: "In early 2024, more than half of job listings in the U.S. omitted formal education requirements, and in late November, the U.S. Department of Labor published a skills-first hiring guide." (According to the DOL, their goal is to promote "skills-based hiring as a quality recruitment practice," and to provide employers with the resources and information for this to be effective, regardless of where or how one obtained those skills.) "As demand for alternative credentials rose, there were over 3.3 million enrollments in entry-level professional certificates this year," the report continues.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/rachelwells/2024/12/23/top-5-free-coursera-certificates-for-2025-from-research/

2025 Convergence: Credential Innovation in Higher Education - EdSurge

Arlington, VA - Sep 29 1:15 pm to Oct 1, 2025 12:15 pm - Eastern Time (US & Canada)

Convergence: Credential Innovation in Higher Education examines new and emerging trends and models, especially at the institutional level, in the emergent field of alternative credentials. Presented jointly by UPCEA and AACRAO, two of the organizations most critical to the future development and implementation of innovative credentials, this event brings together key campus stakeholders in credential innovation—deans of professional education, chief online learning officers, registrars, and their staff—to define and develop their institutional strategy with respect to alternative credentials.

https://www.edsurge.com/events/2025-convergence-credential-innovation-in-higher-education-arlington-va-on-2025-09-29

Micro-credentials, reskilling in the spotlight for the year ahead - Irish Examiner

Gone are the days when a single degree could sustain an entire career. Skills gaps are inevitable in today’s fast-moving work environment, leaving workers and employers grappling hard to stay on top of trends. Enter micro-credentials: those compact, targeted courses that equip individuals with the skills they need to meet the demands of the modern workplace. For stretched workforces, micro-credentials offer employees the chance to upskill or reskill efficiently. Often lasting between six and 12 weeks, they are designed with flexibility in mind. Many are delivered online or through a blended format, enabling learners to balance education with professional and personal responsibilities.

https://www.irishexaminer.com/special-reports/arid-41540204.html

Micro-credential programmes seek to narrow skills gap in India - HP Ranina, Khaleej Times

Technical institutes, universities and colleges have now started incorporating micro-credentials in their curriculum and are creating hybrid models that blend traditional degrees with skill-focused programmes. This integration enables students to have a holistic education combining deep academic knowledge with practical, job ready skills. Many industries face skill gaps that hinder growth and innovation. Micro-credentials provide a solution by offering efficient pathways for workers to gain the expertise and skills needed to fill the gaps.

https://www.khaleejtimes.com/business/micro-credential-programmes-seek-to-narrow-skills-gap-in-india

Apprenticeships are a trending alternative to college — but there’s a hitch - Jon Marcus, Hechinger Report

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom time. Increasing their use has bipartisan support and was a rare subject of agreement between the presidential candidates in the election just ended. Apprenticeships have also benefited from growing public skepticism about the need for college: Only one in four adults now says having a four-year degree is extremely or very important to get a good job, the Pew Research Center finds, and nearly two-thirds of 14- to 18-year-olds say their ideal educations would involve learning skills on the job, as in apprenticeships, according to a survey by the ECMC Group. (ECMC Group is affiliated with the ECMC Foundation, one of many funders of The Hechinger Report.)

https://hechingerreport.org/apprenticeships-are-a-trending-alternative-to-college-but-theres-a-hitch/

Looking for internships? They are in short supply - Jon Marcus, Hechinger Report

Not only are there growing concerns about the supply of apprenticeships meeting demand; there’s a shortage of another important workforce training tool — internships. There were an estimated 5.7 million fewer high-quality internships last year than learners who wanted to intern, according to the Business-Higher Education Forum, or BHEF.Employers last year provided 2.5 million high-quality internships, compared to 8.2 million people who wanted one, the BHEF found. Another million internships that were offered fell short of high standards of quality and skills development, the organization said.

https://hechingerreport.org/looking-for-internships-they-are-in-short-supply/

Alternative Credentials Market Size and Share - Fortune Business Insights

The global alternative credentials market size was valued at USD 16.33 billion in 2023. The market is projected to grow from USD 18.83 billion in 2024 to USD 69.87 billion by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 17.8% during the forecast period. This market refers to the education and training sectors that provides non-traditional credentials aimed at developing specific skills and competencies outside the traditional degree programs. This market includes various credentials, such as certificates, micro-credentials, digital badges, nanodegrees, professional certifications, and bootcamps. The global market is rapidly emerging as a transformative force in the education and professional development landscape. Unlike traditional degrees, alternative credentials offer a flexible, affordable, and skill-focused approach to learning. Employers and educational institutions, due to the need for continuous skill enhancement in an ever-evolving job market, are increasingly recognizing these credentials.

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/alternative-credentials-market-110785

Nursing and Healthcare Education Online Post-Master's Certificate (PMC) - UMass Dartmouth

This four-course graduate post master’s certificate in nursing and healthcare education certification will help clinical experts transition into the role of novice educator. The curriculum blends theory with practical application, equipping students with advanced knowledge and competencies in nursing education. Through a combination of innovative coursework, hands on experiences, and mentorship from distinguished faculty, students develop the critical thinking, instructional design, and leadership abilities essential for success in educational roles across diverse healthcare settings. Completion of the program provides graduates eligibility to become a Certified Nurse Educator (CNE®) through the National League for Nursing.

https://www.umassd.edu/programs/nursing-healthcare-education-pmc-online/

Communication graduate Hope VanBennekom set to pursue master’s degree in security and disaster management - Steve Walentik, UMSL

Hope VanBennekom has spent a lot of time thinking about Saturday afternoon’s walk across the commencement stage at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. “It’s been almost 20 years in the making,” she said recently. VanBennekom, who is taking part in a commencement ceremony for graduates of the College of Arts and Sciences, will earn her bachelor’s degree in communication while graduating summa cum laude with certificates in public relations and health communication as well as a certificate from the Pierre Laclede Honors College. That’s all coming nearly two decades after she received her associate degree in early childhood education. She’d known for a while that she wanted to return to school, but she kept putting it off while raising her two kids and helping support her husband Kurt’s budding military and legal career.

https://blogs.umsl.edu/news/2024/12/13/hope-vanbennekom/

New ‘Civil Discourse for Citizenship Certificate’ program to open for student enrollment in spring - Madison Wallace, the Lantern

Ohio State’s Center for Ethics and Human Values is offering a new academic program enrollment opportunity this spring that aims to educate students about the importance of respectful dialogue, with the added benefit of appearing on a college transcript. The Civil Discourse for Citizenship Certificate — a 12-credit program that combines theoretical and practical knowledge from relevant disciplines as a formal certification, according to the center’s website — is designed to create an opportunity for students to study the principles of civil discourse. Kathryn Joyce, the center’s Civil Discourse Program director, said the program will allow students to deepen their understanding of civil discourse in various contexts through tailored coursework and classroom discussion. “Our hope is that this program will help future professionals and citizens appreciate civic values so they can contribute to the creation of inclusive, tolerant communities that recognize the importance of free speech and open dialogue across difference,” Joyce said. 

https://www.thelantern.com/2024/12/new-civil-discourse-for-citizenship-certificate-program-to-open-for-student-enrollment-in-spring/

Kentucky State University launches new correctional certificate program - Rachel Richardson, Lex 18

Kentucky State University set big goals for its strategic plan, including making education affordable and creating non-traditional pathways. The school's Director of Adult Learning and Governmental Relations, Cathi Smith, explains they're checking both boxes with its new partnership with Louisville Metro Department of Corrections. Smith said, "Those courses are all criminal justice courses and there are a couple of communication courses. There are four core courses that they take that are all criminal justice classes and then there's one elective that they can pick which elective they want."

https://www.lex18.com/news/kentucky-state-university-launches-new-correctional-certificate-program

Lessons Learned from Implementing the Largest University Based Microcredential Program in the U.S. - SUNY

The State University of New York (SUNY) is just reaching the five-year mark (with some pandemic interruption) of implementing a System-wide Microcredential Policy. Clear lessons are emerging, successes are being scaled, and new goals have been set to address challenges and explore new opportunities. All work is aligned with key pillars set by SUNY’s Board of Trustees and Chancellor John B. King, Jr., including student success; research and scholarship; diversity, equity, and inclusion; and economic development and upward mobility. SUNY is the largest comprehensive system of public higher education in the United States with 64 campuses located across New York State, serving approximately 1.4 million learners each year. The System includes community colleges, technology colleges, liberal arts and science institutions, and doctoral institutions including R1 research centers and medical centers. SUNY campuses are both large and small, in urban centers and rural communities. Microcredentials have been integrated across every sector of SUNY campus and major award level—undergraduate and graduate.

https://www.suny.edu/microcredentials/build-a-program/

What is a microcredential? Here’s what you should know - Carly Fredericks, Oregon State

A microcredential, sometimes spelled “micro credential” or “micro-credential,” is a series of courses that culminate in a digital badge from an accredited university. They let employers and your professional network know that you have proficiency in a subject area. But, you might be wondering, “So what’s a digital badge?” Digital badges offer verified proof of competency and document specific skills you’ve gained through learning. Digital badges aren’t exclusive to microcredentials, but all students who complete a microcredential online with Oregon State University receive one. At Oregon State, all microcredentials are delivered online by nationally ranked OSU Ecampus. 

https://ecampus.oregonstate.edu/news/what-is-a-microcredential/

How Microcredentials Are Transforming Higher Education - Coursera via AACSB

How can universities meet the rapidly changing needs of employers? By offering industry microcredentials that equip students with job-ready skills.

• Both students and employers are placing greater value on industry microcredentials as a way to keep up with the most sought-after skills in an ever-evolving job market.
• Universities have flexibility in how they integrate this training into their curricula—they can offer microcredentials as noncredit, for-credit, or free co-curricular options.
• One solution is Coursera’s Career Academy, where students can learn job-specific skills by completing microcredentials offered by the world’s leading companies.

https://www.aacsb.edu/insights/articles/2023/10/how-microcredentials-are-transforming-higher-education

Global Landscapes Forum Announces Multiple Remote Paid Internships 2025- Apply Now! - Mercy Awofiranye, After School Africa

The GLF Internship Program, offered by the Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) in partnership with CIFOR-ICRAF, provides aspiring young professionals the opportunity to contribute to global sustainable development initiatives. This 9-month, full-time internship supports various GLF teams, including Youth Programs, Communications, and Knowledge, offering hands-on experience in environmental sciences, sustainable development, and digital communications. Interns work remotely and gain valuable skills while advancing GLF’s mission to achieve Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Climate Agreement, and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

https://www.afterschoolafrica.com/92320/global-landscapes-forum-announces-multiple-remote-paid-internships-2025-apply-now/

$1M grant will support paid internships in community archives - Kyle Mittan, University of Arizona Communications

The University of Arizona College of Information Science will help more students – especially those from historically underrepresented backgrounds – get paid internships in community archives, thanks to a $1 million grant from the Mellon Foundation's Public Knowledge Program. The grant will support the work of a collaborative of library and information sciences faculty members from nine universities across the U.S. and Canada, including the U of A. The collaborative is called FOCAS, which stands for Faculty Organizing for Community Archives Support. 

https://news.arizona.edu/news/1m-grant-will-support-paid-internships-community-archives

Women, First-Gen, BIPOC Students Less Likely to Have Paid Internship Experience - Ashley Mowreader, Inside Higher Ed

A September report from the Business–Higher Education Forum found there are not enough internships available for students who want them nationally, and a new brief from California Competes found similar gaps among students at California public institutions. Researchers discovered that only 6 percent of Californians have participated in a paid internship, and only 15 percent participated in an internship at all. Women (4 percent), Black (5 percent), Latino (4 percent) and Native American (0 percent) students were less likely than their peers to complete a paid internship, as were first-generation learners (4 percent) and college students over 30 years old (2 percent).

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/student-success/life-after-college/2024/10/28/equity-gaps-paid-internships-calif-college