Here is how experiential learning can save colleges from AI - Shannon McKeen, University Business

For centuries, higher education thrived on a simple premise: universities controlled knowledge, faculty acted as gatekeepers, and students paid tuition to access expertise. But artificial intelligence (AI) is dismantling that model at an alarming rate. ChatGPT can analyze Shakespeare, outline marketing strategies, and explain quantum mechanics with competence rivaling many instructors. If knowledge is now universally accessible, what remains of higher education’s value? The answer isn’t competing with AI to deliver information—it’s doing what AI cannot: creating transformative, real-world learning experiences. The institutions that recognize this shift will thrive, while those that don’t will fade into irrelevance.

https://universitybusiness.com/here-is-how-experiential-learning-can-save-colleges-from-ai/

This Boosts Your Chances Of Getting Hired By 96%, New Study Finds - Rachel Wells, Forbes

In 2025, there’s one thing that employers look for on resumes and in job applications more than anything else. This one ingredient has become the new passport to entering into high-paying roles and it opens doors to lucrative career progression opportunities. Wondering what it is? No, it’s not your master’s degree. It’s not even your bachelor’s degree. It’s your microcredentials. This relatively new term has been floated around by various learning providers including Coursera, who just released their 2025 Microcredentials Report today, which revealed that not only are employers willing to pay a premium for microcredential-holders, but also that nine in 10 U.S. employers “agree they’re more likely to hire candidates with GenAI micro-credentials over those without.”

https://www.forbes.com/sites/rachelwells/2025/04/30/this-boosts-your-chances-of-getting-hired-by-96-new-study-finds/

‘This is what employers need within their organization,’ Coursera exec says after new finding on micro-credentials - Lucy Buchholz, Unleash

Coursera, which generated a total revenue of $179.2 million in 2024, has recently released its Micro-Credentials Impact Report 2025. The report unearths the key micro-credentials needed within today’s workplace, while highlighting why these should be a focus for hiring managers. Nikolaz Foucaud, Managing Director EMEA at Coursera, spoke exclusively to UNLEASH to share which micro-credential should be at the top of HR leaders’ radar.

https://www.unleash.ai/artificial-intelligence/this-is-what-employers-need-within-their-organization-coursera-exec-says-after-new-finding-on-micro-credentials/

How micro-credentials could boost your resume - Michell Olson and Ashley Thompson, Keloland

Recently employers have been noticing an increase in the use of micro-credentials and digital badges in potential hiree’s applications. For those who still use a traditional resume, you’re probably asking yourself – what is a micro-credential or a digital badge? Joining us today to explain this new phenomenon was Wendy Alexander. Wendy is an HR professional who sees a handful of these applications almost every day. So whether you’re looking to update your own resume, or build a new one, there’s nobody better to teach you than Wendy.

https://www.keloland.com/keloland-living/how-micro-credentials-could-boost-your-resume/

11 of the best online certificates at M7 b-schools - Daisy Cullerton, Business Because

In today's digital landscape, a wide variety of online certificates and study programs are available, covering diverse fields and career paths within the business world. An online certificate is a great addition to any CV, highlighting a zeal for learning, an enhanced skill set, and a passion for professional growth. Providing the option to learn at your own pace, study from anywhere in the world, and balance work, family, and other commitments—earning an online certification is also a highly convenient way to boost your employability. Even better if your certificate is from one of the world's leading business schools. Join us as we unpack 11 of the best online certificates available at Harvard, Wharton, Stanford and all the other M7 business schools.

https://www.businessbecause.com/news/online-courses/9762/online-certificates-at-m7-bschools

Colleges partnered with an EV battery factory to train students and ignite the economy. Trump’s clean energy war complicates their plans - Kavitha Cardoza, Hechinger Report

The students — recruited for the opportunity by Panasonic — were participants in an eight-week apprenticeship course that involves classes at the community college and on-the-job training. When they’re done, they will be among the first workers at the company’s new electric vehicle battery factory in nearby De Soto, Kansas. The $4 billion manufacturing plant — touted as the largest EV battery factory in the world — is expected to open in early summer and eventually employ roughly 4,000 people. Panasonic also paid for the students’ tuition, as well as the instructor’s salary. Apprenticeship programs like this one have been heralded as the future of workforce development. Born out of partnerships between industry and community colleges, these short-term programs offer credentials closely aligned with employer needs and are often referred to as the pathway to high-skill, high-demand, high-wage jobs.

https://hechingerreport.org/colleges-partnered-with-an-ev-battery-factory-to-train-students-and-ignite-the-economy-trumps-clean-energy-war-complicates-their-plans/

Online continuing education for midwives in China: current trends, barriers, and future directions - Yao Zhang, et al: BMC Medical Education

This study investigated the state of online continuing education for midwives in China via a web-based questionnaire, identified current trends, explored potential barriers, predicted future research directions, and provided insights into improving the effectiveness and quality. The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated the shift from in-person to long-distance online education, significantly modifying continuing education for midwives. Online continuing education is crucial in improving midwifery skills and has been widely adopted in China.

https://bmcmededuc.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12909-025-07180-0

Microcredentialing Opens New Doors for Pharmacy Technicians - Liza Chapman, Pharmacy Times

Pharmacy technicians are taking on increasingly complex responsibilities, from managing inventory and handling prior authorizations to providing patient education and supporting pharmacists in clinical tasks. As their roles expand, so does the need for specialized knowledge and skills. Recognized credentials that validate expertise in specific areas are essential for career advancement and professional growth. Microcredentials certify the learning outcomes of short-term educational experiences, such as specialized courses or training programs. They offer a flexible and targeted way for individuals to develop the knowledge, skills, and competencies necessary for personal and professional growth. These credentials also serve as valuable indicators to employers of their initiative and readiness for new challenges.

https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/microcredentialing-opens-new-doors-for-pharmacy-technicians

Building bridges toward career opportunities for millions of Americans - McKinsey

The US labor market is rapidly evolving, driven by the rise of automation and AI, changes in federal spending, and demographic shifts including a swiftly growing aging population. The result is a fundamental shift in workforce priorities with the economy likely to see growth in higher-wage jobs. According to our research, this means that lower-wage workers will need to upskill and transition into new roles, potentially requiring another 12 million workers to change their jobs by 2030. With over 15,000 workforce development team members and 1.7 million people supported annually across the United States and Canada, the Goodwill network is the largest nonprofit provider of job training and career placement services in North America. Against the backdrop of rapidly shifting workforce demands, Goodwill Industries International and the network of 153 local nonprofits it supports realized they were uniquely positioned to help people from all backgrounds build the skills needed to seize new opportunities and navigate these changes.

https://www.mckinsey.com/mckinseys-work-for-social-healthcare-and-public-entities/building-bridges-toward-career-opportunities-for-millions-of-americans

New book on skills training features Southeast College voices - Sasktoday

A new academic volume set for publication in 2025 brings together experts from across Canada and beyond to examine how vocational education can evolve in response to shifting workforce demands. Innovative Approaches to Regional and Vocational Education is led by Dr. Krista LaRue Keeley, editor-in-chief and training and design specialist at Southeast College. The book includes chapters by two additional Southeast College faculty members: Tania Hlohovsky Andrist and Ryan Gustafson.

https://www.sasktoday.ca/southeast/estevan-mercury/new-book-on-skills-training-features-southeast-college-voices-10564853

Progress with regulatory frameworks for micro-credentials - Clemence Manyukwe, World University News

 The adoption of micro-credentials in Southern Africa is fragmented because of limited regulatory guidance, but Mauritius has made significant progress in the conceptualisation of the concept, and some of its universities are collaborating with international institutions to offer credit-bearing courses that can translate into formal qualifications. This is according to a collaborative initiative between Southern African and European higher education institutions and councils exploring the role of micro-credentials to shape education and workforce development in Southern Africa.

https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20250423191300251

Enhancing nursing careers: UC College of Nursing launches micro-credential programs - Evelyn Fleider, University of Cincinnati

Recognizing the evolving needs of healthcare, UC Nursing has introduced two micro-credential programs to enhance professional skills and support career advancement for nurses. As healthcare becomes increasingly complex, the demand for specialized knowledge in nursing has grown. Micro-credential programs meet this need by providing nurses with manageable, flexible and stackable learning modules that help develop in-demand skills without the commitment of a formal degree or certificate program. These programs allow nurses to enhance their performance and adapt to evolving healthcare standards and clinical practices while earning credits that count towards future certificate or graduate programs.

https://www.uc.edu/news/articles/2025/03/uc-college-of-nursing-launches-micro-credential-programs.html

Wichita State leads the way in microcredential accountability - Wichita State

During the past decade, Wichita State University has been a recognized leader in the development and implementation of microcredentials. Now, the university’s work has taken a significant step forward with its launch of the first 1EdTech TrustEd Microcredential. “We are at the forefront of innovation as it relates to microcredentials,” said Kim Moore, executive director of Workforce, Professional and Community Education at Wichita State. “I’m always looking for opportunities where we can lead.” This partnership establishes a framework of rigor and accountability for institutions granting microcredentials. A microcredential is a series of courses that culminate in a digital badge from an accredited university. A microcredential provides proof of proficiency in a subject area. 

https://www.wichita.edu/about/wsunews/news/2025/03-march/micro_4.php

From Apprenticeships to Microcredentials, Why Alternatives to College Are Gaining Popularity - Kerry McDonald, the 74

For Chase Buffington, college isn’t a priority right now. The 18-year-old from Enfield, New Hampshire is currently a high school senior working as a paid apprentice for a local heating, ventilation, and air conditioning company, a job that he plans to continue full-time for at least the next several years. Buffington is representative of a growing number of young people, especially men, who are eschewing a college degree for alternatives, such as apprenticeships, entrepreneurship, and microcredentialing. While overall college enrollment numbers have roughly rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, surveys indicate that more of today’s high schoolers are valuing on-the-job training over a traditional four-year college degree. Polls also show that Americans overall have soured on higher education in recent years, with only 36% saying in a recent Gallup report that they have a “great deal/quite a lot” of confidence in the sector, compared to 57% in 2015. 

https://www.the74million.org/article/from-apprenticeships-to-microcredentials-why-alternatives-to-college-are-gaining-popularity/

Why the University of Texas System is offering microcredentials to students — for free - Lilah Burke, Higher Ed Dive

The University of Texas System expanded its partnership with Coursera late last year to provide some 15,000 students across its five health campuses with free access to the online learning platform’s microcredentials. Through the partnership, students, faculty, staff, and alumni have access to Coursera’s Career Academy, which offers some 50 professional certificate programs with companies like Google and Microsoft. System officials say they hope the microcredentials help students build upon their college classwork to succeed in the workforce. The results of pairing microcredentials with degree programs have not been fully studied, but higher education experts say they may offer benefits for students. 

https://www.highereddive.com/news/ut-system-coursera-partnership-microcredentials/740906/

Virgin Atlantic Launches AI Apprenticeship to Boost Workforce - Scarlett Evans, AI Business

Virgin Atlantic has become the first airline to launch an AI Champion apprenticeship program, designed to build the AI workforce of the future.  Established in collaboration with education tech company Cambridge Spark, the program is hoped to accelerate digital transformation by teaching non-technical employees how to use AI tools. In a release, Cambridge Spark said the program responds to “sluggish” AI adoption across enterprises, helping to empower AI fluency in workers and improve productivity. 

https://aibusiness.com/generative-ai/virgin-atlantic-launches-ai-apprenticeship-to-boost-workforce

Internship season is here. Glassdoor says these are the 10 best internships of 2025. - Sarah Jackson, Business Insider

More than half of the 25 top internships Glassdoor identified are in the tech industry, though industries like consulting, finance, and biotech are also represented. "These are really industries that offer high career growth as well as good pay, so it's no surprise that these are very attractive employers for interns," Daniel Zhao, lead economist at Glassdoor, told BI. The job market has cooled considerably in the past few years, and it shows at even the lowest rungs of the career ladder. Glassdoor's report found that last year was the most competitive internship season since the pandemic. The top internships in this year's ranking come from some giants of their industries. "These are larger companies that not only offer good career growth, but are also perhaps more stable than some of the smaller companies that are more volatile year to year," Zhao said. "As the job market cools, there is more appeal to companies where there might be more job security."

https://www.businessinsider.com/the-best-internships-of-2025-tech-accounting-consulting-finance-glassdoor-2025-4

THE RISE OF MICRO-CREDENTIALS IN HIGHER STUDIES - Anindita Acharya, Millennium Post

Let’s say you have a master’s degree in management but you’re not exactly up to speed with the latest tech like blockchain, cloud computing, or AI. What’s the way forward? Well, you can always sign up for a micro-credential programme through an online tech platform. These short, focused courses are designed to complement your traditional degree and help you stay relevant in the job market. Today’s labour market is shifting rapidly towards skill-based hiring. With automation on the rise and AI changing the very nature of work, the kinds of jobs available and the skills they demand are evolving fast. This has created a widening gap between what employers need and what many candidates bring to the table. That’s where micro-credentials come in. Micro-credentials tailored to specific sectors are now being added to academic curriculums, making them more job-ready and aligned with what employers are actually looking for.

https://www.millenniumpost.in/k-reers/the-rise-of-micro-credentials-in-higher-studies-606824

UTSA helps students gain career-ready skills with Adobe microcredentials - Linda McNair, Adobe

The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) is a longstanding Adobe Creative Campus partner that continually finds innovative approaches to drive student outcomes. One of the ways they are helping students stand out in the job market is by encouraging them to earn Adobe microcredentials, which indicate they have mastered an in-demand skill like designing compelling presentations or using generative AI to develop business pitches. Unlike typical Adobe certification courses, which demonstrate expertise in an Adobe app after weeks of study and hands-on experience, microcredentials focus on specific creative tasks, such as editing a short video, designing a presentation, or creating an image with generative AI. They take just a few hours to complete and are entirely self-paced, making it easy for even the busiest students to fit lessons into a busy schedule.

https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2025/04/15/utsa-helps-students-gain-career-ready-skills-adobe-micro-credentials

Trinity College Dublin marks life-long learning milestone as 1,000 complete micro-credentials - Trinity College Dublin

Trinity College Dublin is celebrating a life-long learning milestone as 1,000 learners – who are mainly full-time employees whose ages range from 21 to 67 - have now completed a micro-credentials course at the university.  Launched in the 2021/2022 academic year, micro-credentials are small, focused courses, lasting six to 12 weeks, allowing for in-depth learning in a specific area or topic at postgraduate level. Each micro-credential offers a career and knowledge growth opportunity and a direct impact in the workplace. While they are standalone offerings, there will be opportunities in the future to stack them towards specified Trinity awards. Trinity currently offers 37 different micro-credentials, with a new one in Perinatal Mental Health due to start in January 2026.  Areas involved at Trinity include Nursing and Midwifery, Business, Engineering, Social Work and Social Policy, Medicine, Psychology, Natural Science and Trinity Innovation. 

https://www.tcd.ie/news_events/articles/2025/trinity-marks-life-long-learning-milestone-as-1000-students-complete-micro-credentials--/

Florida House panel advances bill to pay interns and apprentices less than minimum wage - Gabrielle Russon, Florida Politics

Should employers be allowed to pay interns and apprentices below minimum wage? The House Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee thinks so. The panel advanced a bill (HB 541) with a 10-5 vote as the Republican sponsor, Rep. Ryan Chamberlin, argued his proposal gives more opportunities to young people breaking into ceratin industries, citing horse trainers near his home by Ocala as an example. The measure would let employees voluntarily opt out of minimum wage if they are involved in internships, work-study programs, pre-apprenticeships or apprenticeships.

https://floridapolitics.com/archives/726029-house-panel-advances-bill-to-pay-interns-and-apprentices-less-than-minimum-wage/