Yale students recount Ukraine summer internships organized by nonprofit - Orion Kim & Kristina Petrova, Yale Daily News

Tetiana Kotelnykova GRD ’25 lived through two major conflicts. The first came when she was displaced in 2014 by Russia’s war in Donetsk, Ukraine, and the second during Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine while she was completing her studies in Kyiv. Over the summer, the program ImpactUA — organized by Kotelnykova’s group, Brave Generation — sent two current Yale students and one recent graduate to work as interns in Ukraine. “I had noticed that many American students struggled to grasp what daily life looks like under the conditions of war, and that Ukrainians were often disheartened by how American politics framed or overshadowed their struggle,” Kotelnykova wrote to the News. “I wanted to show American students that the war is not distant or abstract — it affects real people, every day.” 

https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2025/09/24/yale-students-recount-ukraine-summer-internships-organized-by-nonprofit/

Computer Science Students Gain Research Skills During Paid Internship in France - Madeline Bodin, UMass Lowell

UVSQ students have been interning in science labs at UMass Lowell since 2022. Elkoudi and Carvalho were the first UMass Lowell students to intern at UVSQ, which is located in a southwestern suburb of Paris. “It was an amazing experience,” Elkoudi says. Their journey is part of a larger effort to provide opportunities for students in the Kennedy College of Sciences (KCS) to experience international learning in preparation for today’s global workplaces. Computer science major Wendy Carvalho says the experience she got at her summer internship at France’s University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines will help strengthen her application for graduate school. “Today, your colleagues are not in the next cubicle, but thousands of miles away,” says Foozieh Mir, KCS’s coordinator of undergraduate and international programs. “This experience prepares students for global partnerships.”

https://www.uml.edu/news/stories/2025/computer-science-students-intern-in-france.aspx

New AI tool matches students with high-impact internships - Brittany Sylvestri, University of Florida

Finding the right internship can be an important step for students, but it’s not always clear which opportunities will lead to the strongest growth. To help solve that problem, University of Florida researchers have developed an AI-powered tool that helps students identify internships most likely to accelerate their technical and professional development.  Unlike traditional recommendation engines, Pro-CaRE not only predicts which opportunities will lead to stronger outcomes, it also explains why each suggestion is a good fit. In testing data collected from the students, Pro-CaRE’s predictions proved highly accurate, accounting for more than 72% of the differences in learning gains among participants. While the pilot is being tested in engineering, the tool could be adopted for other disciplines.

https://news.ufl.edu/2025/09/new-ai-tool/

Empowering Learners With Personalized Microcredentials, Stackable Badges - Hope Alvarez, Syracuse University

The University is enhancing its commitment to lifelong learning with digital badges, a tool that recognizes and authenticates the completion of microcredentials. The badges aim to support learners in their professional and personal development by showcasing achievements in short, focused learning experiences. Digital badges will be awarded for various microcredential programs offered by the  College of Professional Studies. Learners can earn digital badges in industries regarding business and management, cannabis, health care, IT, project management and much more. These badges signify specific competencies, skillsets and levels of achievement that can be shared across digital platforms, making them easily visible to potential employers.

https://news.syr.edu/blog/2025/07/03/college-of-professional-studies-empowers-learners-with-personalized-microcredentials-stackable-badges/

Microcredentials Chip Away at Semiconductor Workforce Gap To scale up the workforce, start small with short courses - Gwendolyn Rak, IEEE Spectrum

In 2024, McKinsey & Co. estimated a talent gap between 59,000 and 146,000 engineers and technicians before the end of the decade. As the United States invests in reshoring chip manufacturing, the industry faces a dilemma: How can the semiconductor workforce scale to meet the coming demand? To fill the gap, some universities—including UC Santa Barbara—are also offering microcredential programs separate from traditional degree programs. In these bite-size courses, which can be as short as a week or two, future engineers and technicians can gain critical hands-on experience in clean-room fundamentals or an introduction to topics like lithography or etching. Deploying short, standardized, and skill-based courses across the country could be an essential part of building a sustainable U.S. semiconductor workforce.

https://spectrum.ieee.org/microcredentials-semiconductor-workforce-development

First Year Seminar incorporates AI, Adobe Suite tools to drive student success - SDSU

Technology, especially the advent of artificial intelligence, is rapidly changing the way people learn, work and communicate, and San Diego State University wants every student to be ready for this new reality. This fall, and for the first time, students in the First Year Seminar (FYS) curriculum are learning about AI toward earning the SDSU AAAI Micro-Credential Program and using Adobe Express, an intuitive tool for creating webpages, videos and graphics.  The more than 4,000 students across more than 228 course sections are relying on the tools for a semester-long keystone project, all designed to train them in the appropriate and responsible use of AI.

https://www.sdsu.edu/news/2025/09/first-year-seminar-incorporates-ai

Presbyterian College offering free Coursera micro-credentials and certifications to faculty, staff, students, and alumni - Presbyterian College

The initiative gives faculty, staff, students, and alumni free access to Coursera’s Career Academy, which offers industry-recognized micro-credentials and certifications in fields such as data analytics, cybersecurity, social media marketing, UX design, and application development. Each program includes interactive lessons and hands-on projects designed by leading companies to prepare participants with skills that can be applied immediately in the workplace.

https://www.presby.edu/coursera/

How Micro-Credentials Are Shaping The Future Of AI-Driven Learners Forbes Technology Council - Venkatadri Marella, Forbes

As AI is implemented in industries ranging from finance to healthcare to manufacturing, one thing is for sure: the future belongs to those who can learn continuously and prove their skills in a hurry. That's why micro-credentials—bite-sized, stackable credentials for single skills—are stepping into the spotlight as a powerful driver of future learners in the age of AI.

https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbestechcouncil/2025/09/24/how-micro-credentials-are-shaping-the-future-of-ai-driven-learners/

A taste of the future through global food tech experience - Massey University (NZ)

“I’d always wanted to see how food science was taught in another country, and Jiangnan is known as one of the best universities in the world for food technology. When the programme was advertised, it felt like the perfect way to spend my break and to travel," Yvonne says. Supported by a scholarship from Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University’s Office of Global Partnerships, the third-year Bachelor of Food Technology (Honours) student joined other students from around the world for a hands-on exploration of food technology. “We visited food factories, studied different areas of food science, and even made gelato. It was such a creative and exciting experience. I met people from all over Asia and learned how different cultures approach food production and development."

https://www.massey.ac.nz/about/news/a-taste-of-the-future-through-global-food-tech-experience/

Preliminary Launches C-GWECLA a Global Certification for Job Seekers

Birmingham, United Kingdom, 20th Sep 2025 - Preliminary (preliminary.online), a Birmingham-based online training provider, today announced the launch of its Certificate in Global Work Ethics, Culture & Language Adaptation (C-GWECLA). This program offers candidates short, job-readiness training with verifiable digital certificates, supporting individuals preparing to pursue employment opportunities overseas. Preliminary Launches C-GWECLA a Global Certification for Job Seekers

Developed as part of Preliminary's commitment to workforce readiness, the C-GWECLA equips participants with cultural awareness, workplace professionalism, and language adaptation skills. The program also enlightens learners on how to recognize and avoid cultural bias, encouraging them to adapt positively to diverse workplace environments. Training is delivered fully online, and candidates receive a secure digital certificate upon completion.

https://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/news/revupmarketer/preliminary-launches-c-gwecla-global-certification-1119484579.html

Crash courses bridge financial skills gap - Barbara Carrs, Reminetwork

A selection of online, crash courses are now available to guide career rookies and/or veterans in non-financial disciplines through commercial real estate’s key accounting and budgeting concepts. Attendees at the recent Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) of Canada’s annual conference were offered complimentary access to one of five short courses that underpin a newly launched micro-credential, which can also be recognized as a component of a full Real Property Administrator (RPA) or Facilities Management Administrator (FMA) designation. “We’ve introduced the micro-credential to meet skill gap needs in the market. In particular, it’s targeting property managers and facilities managers coming into the industry, to help them get up to speed in the areas where they need to be able to hit the ground running when they start work for a commercial real estate firm,” explains Andrea Sine, senior vice president with BOMA International, who was on hand for BOMA Canada’s BOMEX event in Halifax.

https://www.reminetwork.com/articles/crash-courses-bridge-financial-skills-gap/

US faces shortfall of 5.3M college-educated workers by 2032 - Laura Spitalniak, Higher Ed Dive

Nursing, teaching and engineering would experience the largest gaps, per a study from Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce. The U.S. will need over 5 million additional workers who have at least some postsecondary education by 2032, according to a report released Tuesday by Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce. Of that total, 4.5 million will need at least a bachelor’s degree, according to the report. Degree-requiring positions facing “critical skills shortages” include nurses, teachers and engineers, it said.

https://www.highereddive.com/news/us-faces-shortfall-of-53m-college-educated-workers-by-2032/760155/

SCCCD partners with Ed2go to offer online courses for professional growth and development - Jessica Harrington, ABC30

As the job market gets more competitive, The Training Institute through State Center Community College District is making it easy for students to advance their skills and learn new ones. Frank Nuñez is the District Director Trade and Training. "The Training Institute is the not for credit, arm of State Center Community College District, and so we do a lot of short term programs, a lot of professional development," Nuñez said. While they offer on-site training such as truck driving certification and careers in the medical profession, they also have a partnership with Ed2go.

https://abc30.com/post/scccd-partners-ed2go-offer-online-courses-professional-growth-development/17750150/

Students Who Want to Teach Theatre Can Now Earn a Credential at CSUF - Cal State Fullerton

For undergraduates who love theatre but may not dream of celebrity, a teaching credential program launching this fall offers another avenue to use their degree. The one-year program will prepare students with a Bachelor of Arts to get their theatre credential and then teach in K-12 schools. Students with a B.A. in any subject can apply to the program, though if their degree isn’t in theatre they’ll first need to pass a state exam.

https://news.fullerton.edu/2025/09/students-who-want-to-teach-theatre-can-now-earn-a-credential-at-csuf/

The Declining ROI of MBA Degrees and the Rise of Alternative Skill-Building Platforms - Eli Grant, AInvest

- Micro-credentials ($500–$5K) offer faster ROI (12–18 months) with 15%–30% salary boosts, prioritizing job-ready skills over generalized degrees.

- Employers increasingly value micro-credentials equally to MBAs (68% LinkedIn survey), reflecting a shift toward skills over degree prestige.

- Hybrid models (e.g., MIT MicroMasters) and AI-driven learning platforms are reshaping education by blending affordability with personalized, on-demand upskilling.

https://www.ainvest.com/news/declining-roi-mba-degrees-rise-alternative-skill-building-platforms-2509/

Sask Polytech launches micro-credentials to support manufacturing and agriculture sectors - Education News Canada

Saskatchewan Polytechnic is helping Canadian workers adapt to a rapidly changing economy with new micro-credentials targeting manufacturing and agricultural technology. As new technologies reshape industries, employers and workers face growing pressure to keep pace. Targeted upskilling is emerging as one of the most effective ways to build resilience, support growth and stay competitive. Canadian workers are among the most educated in the world, but the supply of skilled labour in advanced manufacturing and agricultural technology is falling behind industry demand. 

https://educationnewscanada.com/article/education/level/colleges/2/1159087/sask-polytech-launches-micro-credentials-to-support-manufacturing-and-agriculture-sectors.html

COLUMN: Education micro-credentials more in line with employer needs - Jennifer Ellis, Lawton Constitution

The concept is simple: learners develop a specific competency, pass an assessment to prove it, and earn a credential that complements, not replaces, a degree. In practice, these credentials are becoming more aligned with the needs of employers. The purpose is twofold. For learners, micro-credentials offer speed and relevance. They help people to pivot in their careers, upskill after a layoff, or deepen their expertise without committing to a multi-year program. For employers, a micro-credential can certify skills in specific software, data analysis techniques, regulatory knowledge, or project management methods. In a rapidly changing job market, such credentials help bridge the gap between learning and doing, benefiting both employers and employees.

https://www.swoknews.com/multimedia/photo_galleries/column-education-micro-credentials-more-in-line-with-employer-needs/article_952dc653-d408-5930-8453-040c86814b13.html

Udemy's cofounder said he's got a way to avoid hiring interns for 'painful and inefficient' work that one person can do - Kwan Wei Kevin Tan, Business Insider

"It was painful and inefficient. I spent as much time training the interns as I got value from their work. But it worked, and we reached thousands of leads to get Udemy off the ground," he added. But the rise of AI-powered tools meant that interns were no longer needed for such tasks, Biyani wrote on LinkedIn. "15 years later at Maven, we now have one person who is more productive than that entire team," Biyani said, adding that AI allowed the employee to "parse through millions of people and find the exact profile you're looking for.""She's as productive as that entire intern team (with less oversight from me)," Biyani continued.

https://www.businessinsider.com/udemy-cofounder-avoid-hiring-interns-inefficient-work-2025-9

The Relationship Between Online Learning Self-Efficacy and Learning Engagement: The Mediating Role of Achievement Motivation and Flow Among Registered Nurses - Tong ZhouTong Zhou1, et al; Frontiers in Psychology

This study aimed to investigate the mediating effects of achievement motivation and flow in the relationship between online learning self-efficacy and learning engagement among registered nurses (RNs). Background Learning engagement is a critical predictor of core professional competencies in nursing. Understanding the factors that influence learning engagement is essential for designing effective educational strategies that support RNs' professional development. Online learning self-efficacy exerts both direct and indirect influences on learning engagement, with the indirect effect mediated by achievement motivation and flow experiences. 

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1629174/abstract

UBC micro-credential programs have macro impact for a changing workforce - Brian Helberg, University of British Columbia

Continuous learning isn’t just important for people looking to advance their careers—it’s crucial for fueling a workforce that can power a changing economy. UBC’s micro-credential programs provide a flexible, affordable way for anyone, regardless of where they live or education level, to get skills needed for the current and future job market. Micro-credentials are focused programs designed to teach practical, career-ready skills. Offered through UBC Extended Learning and many faculties at UBC, these programs are a solution for professionals looking to quickly gain skills in areas ranging from artificial intelligence to climate change, to writing and communication. 

https://news.ubc.ca/2025/09/ubc-micro-credential-programs-have-macro-impact-for-a-changing-workforce/

Accreditors’ New Frontier - Sara Weissman, Inside Higher Ed

Now, two accrediting agencies are stepping into that murky terrain, hoping to bring some order—and branch out into a new market. Both the New England Commission of Higher Education and the Higher Learning Commission, which has been researching short-term programs for eight years, are gearing up to assess whether providers of these programs meet their standards. This past spring, NECHE voted to start endorsing noncredit program providers, including traditional four-year and two-year higher ed institutions and external organizations that offer these programs. This fall, the Higher Learning Commission is launching its own endorsement for microcredential providers, specifically those outside higher ed. The accreditor has been working since 2017 to think through the role it could play in an evolving higher ed landscape. With funding from Lumina and ECMC, it started a think tank on the topic to consult with experts and, two years later, launched its Credential Lab, a hub to help institutions and students navigate the rapid expansion of short-term credentials.

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/governance/accreditation/2025/09/08/accreditors-venture-microcredential-landscape