Non-degree credentials are surging. But the data is lagging Access and Affordability - Alcino Donadel, University Business

Attainment of certifications, licensing, boot camps, micro-credentials and apprenticeships tripled from 2009 to 2021. The latest findings from Pew now suggest that up to one-third of U.S. adults today have earned some form of a non-degree credential. While this trend signals growing demand for short-term, flexible learning opportunities, it remains unclear how some students can afford tuition. The majority of such programs are too short to qualify for federal aid, and less than a quarter of students accessed financial support for their credentials. More than half of all respondents paid tuition out of pocket. 

https://universitybusiness.com/non-degree-credentials-are-surging-but-the-data-is-lagging/

ASU named among the world’s best universities for graduate employability - Marshall Terrill, ASU News

Holding strong, the university retains its No. 2 ranking among US public institutions in the latest Global Employability University Ranking and Survey. Fourth-year ASU business student Mariana Torres has already held intern positions for Walmart and Google. She says ASU has helped set her up for career success post-graduation. Photo by Deanna Dent/Arizona State University. When Mariana Torres first stepped onto the campus of Arizona State University, she was stepping into uncharted territory — not just for herself but for her entire family.

https://news.asu.edu/20251030-university-news-asu-ranked-among-world-best-graduate-employability

Freshman Summer Internships Are Important, But Don’t Forget These Other Skills - Justin Higgins, Georgetown University

College freshmen are told time and time again not to worry about landing an internship the summer after their first year. Instead, they’re urged to enjoy their “last summer of freedom” before entering the workforce for the foreseeable future. If you ask me, that’s pretty solid advice.But at a place like Georgetown — where there is a strong pre-professional culture — following that advice can be easier said than done. When your classmates are already interning on the Hill or taking networking calls (guilty), it’s hard not to feel like you should be doing something too. The truth is, almost anything that you do during your freshman summer can help you.

https://www.georgetown.edu/news/summer-internships-are-important-but-dont-forget-these-skills/

Boréal introduces online training to support child care managers - Sudbury

Micro-credentials aim to equip managers with techniques to meet diverse needs of young kids. Collège Boréal is launching three new micro-credentials designed to help early childhood managers strengthen their leadership and mentoring skills while gaining knowledge tailored to the specific needs of francophone minority communities. The college launched the new initiative in October as part of National Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Week and Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day. Offered in French and titled Développement comportemental de l’enfant, Bien-être et santé mentale and Sensibilisation culturelle (Child Behavioural Development, Well-being and Mental Health, and Cultural Awareness), these three online programs, each lasting three months, will be rolled out progressively starting in winter 2026. 

https://www.sudbury.com/local-news/boreal-introduces-online-training-to-support-child-care-managers-11426063

Padmasheela Kiiskilä: Building trust in micro-credentials requires strong data governance - Tampere University, Finland

In her doctoral dissertation, Padmasheela Kiiskilä (MS) investigates how higher education institutions and alliances can implement scalable, trusted, and strategically aligned micro-credential systems. Her research identifies the essential features of digital platforms needed for issuing micro-credentials, examines how learners and institutions perceive their value, and analyzes how centralized approaches can support large-scale coordination across universities. Micro-credentials have emerged as an important way to support lifelong learning, reskilling, and the recognition of smaller units of learning. As higher education institutions adapt to changing learner needs and labor market demands, micro-credentials provide digitally verifiable proof of specific skills, competencies, or achievements. 

https://www.tuni.fi/en/news/padmasheela-kiiskila-building-trust-micro-credentials-requires-strong-data-governance

Dual Degrees and Stackable Credentials Gain Value as the New Currency of Global Careers - APN News

Dual degrees and stackable credentials are fast becoming the new currency of global careers. As automation and skills-based hiring redefine the job market, an overwhelming 96% of employers now confirm that micro-credentials significantly strengthen a candidate’s application. The global shift is driving universities and education providers and learners to adopt modular and credit-based education systems designed for flexibility and lifelong learning.

https://www.apnnews.com/dual-degrees-and-stackable-credentials-gain-value-as-the-new-currency-of-global-careers/

Enhancing the learning ecosystem with micro-credentials - Patrick Blessinger, World University News

Micro-credentials have become alternative paths to learning for many people. They are now recognised as legitimate forms of knowledge. In some cases, they can be applied towards certificate or degree-level credentials. I want to discuss how university leaders, employers, professors and students intersect in the creation of micro-credentials and examine the implications for higher education institutions.

https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=2025102112165698

Framework proposes trademark for micro-credentials protection - Jacquie Withers, University World News

As micro-credentials proliferate in Canada but urgently need improved conceptualisation, standardisation and transparency, a pan-Canadian framework for micro-credentials has been proposed in a new report produced for the Canadian Standards Association – a non-profit, non-governmental standardisation organisation with a national mandate. In the report, Activating the Full Potential of Micro-credentials in Canada, researchers Iain Wilson, Janet Balfour, Sarah Tracy and Alex Usher of Toronto-based Higher Education Strategy Associates (HESA) highlight the global topicality of micro-credentials, and acknowledge their potential for rapid upskilling and reskilling, as well as retraining “in the face of a labour market that values mobility and rapid adaptation to changing skills needs”.

https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20251022141128500

Recognition of credentials – The next big challenge - Karen MacGregor, University World News

There is no comprehensive data on micro-credentials across all providers, but in August 2025 online course aggregator Class Central reported listing 4,171 micro-credentials on 10 online MOOCs platforms; 60% are in business, programming and computer science. There is also a dizzying array of short courses offered across the private, public and civic sectors. Around the world, frameworks are emerging that structure micro-credentials and align them with national qualifications. Some national bodies run recognition systems for micro-credentials, such as in New Zealand, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Scotland, and ahead-of-the-world Europe has several region-wide bodies.

https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20251028080329233

Mapping of microcredentials ecosystem in Latin America - British Council

The rapid evolution of the global job market has highlighted the need for flexible, inclusive, and skills-focused learning pathways. This research explores how UK transnational education (TNE) and micro-credentials can bridge social, economic, and gender disparities, empowering individuals - particularly women and marginalised group - to access international career opportunities. The research provides an in-depth exploration of transnational education and micro-credentials, focusing on their development, implementation and challenges within the higher education landscapes of the UK and Latin America. 

https://opportunities-insight.britishcouncil.org/short-articles/reports/mapping-of-microcredentials-ecosystem-latin-america

Most Students Pay Out of Pocket for Nondegree Credentials - Sara Weissman, Inside Higher Ed

A new report finds nondegree credentials are booming but questions whether students are shouldering too much of the cost. s Americans earn nondegree credentials in droves, many are paying for these programs out of pocket, according to a new report from the Pew Charitable Trusts. The report, released Thursday, analyzed 2022 data from a new national survey of over 15,000 American adults fielded by the U.S. Census Bureau, called the National Training, Education and Workforce Survey. The data included individuals who earned vocational certificates at a higher ed institution, such as a community college or trade school, as well as active industry licenses or personal certifications, like a teaching license.

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/tech-innovation/alternative-credentials/2025/10/23/most-students-pay-out-pocket-nondegree

2025 State of Credentialing Report - Accredible

Our latest State of Credentialing research shows just how urgent this need has become:

91% of employers actively look for digital credentials when reviewing candidates.

86% say they would be more likely to interview someone with a digital credential proving a key skill.

63% have hired a candidate, at least in part, because of a digital credential.

Yet only 46% regularly see digital credentials in applications.

https://www.accredible.com/reports/2025-state-of-credentialing-report

Microcredentials Chip Away at Semiconductor Workforce Gap - Gwendolyn Rak, IEEE Spectrum

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

Micro-credentialing redefines how graduates break into new careers - IT Online

With rapid shifts in the job market becoming commonplace, graduate professionals have to be more resilient than ever to ensure they stay ahead of trends and keep their careers on an upward trajectory.  This has given rise to the phenomenon of micro-credentialing, which allows swift, affordable upskilling, an education expert says. “Micro-credentialing is revolutionising how individuals break into new careers, offering flexible, targeted learning to acquire in-demand skills. Unlike traditional degrees, these shorter, focused courses or certifications allow professionals to upskill quickly in areas that are in high demand,” says Dingaan Moropane, deputy dean: academics at The IIE’s Rosebank College. For career changers, micro-credentials bridge the gap between current expertise and new opportunities, enabling rapid entry into emerging and high-growth fields without having to take a 3-year break to pursue fulltime studies. And as industries evolve, the micro-credentialing model empowers employees to stay competitive and to pivot with confidence, he explains.

https://it-online.co.za/2025/10/13/micro-credentialing-redefines-how-graduates-break-into-new-careers/

Iowa State University launches innovative micro-credential courses - Skyler Stamps, Siouxland Proud

Iowa State University is offering a new, shortened version of learning. It’s roughly a year into the program and popularity is growing on campus. The university is offering micro-credential courses that are geared toward obtaining short learning experiences that focus on career skills as well as soft, transferable skills for both students and career professionals. The program was officially launched October 2024, but has only been growing. It currently offers around 80 courses and nearly 600 people have already completed a course in the past year. Right now, it is geared more toward Iowa State undergraduate and graduate students. The university does currently offer some micro-credentials for people already in the workforce who want to add more experience or get expanded opportunities. These credentials are also for people looking for a career change and need new experiences. 

https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/education/iowa-state-university-launches-innovative-micro-credential-courses/amp/

Florida National University Rolls Out Virtual Work-Based Learning Opportunities - Rhea Kelly, Campus Technology

Florida National University is partnering with online learning marketplace platform Riipen to provide its business students with work-based learning opportunities that connect classroom learning to career skills. The Riipen platform enables college students to take on real-world projects from employers, via a virtual model that provides more flexibility than traditional internships. Faculty can embed employer-created projects into courses and activities, giving students an opportunity to work on projects that are aligned with their learning objectives while developing their professional networks and boosting their economic mobility, the company explained in a news announcement.

https://campustechnology.com/articles/2025/10/09/florida-national-university-rolls-out-virtual-work-based-learning-opportunities.aspx?admgarea=news

AI-driven labor market pressures call for curriculum overhaul in communication education - DevDiscourse

The study recommends that universities integrate micro-credentials and studio-based training modules into communication programs. These modules would cover technical areas such as automation workflows, campaign dashboard analytics, sustainable AI practices, and adaptive use of generative AI tools. By embedding these practical components alongside traditional coursework in media ethics, politics, and governance, universities could equip students to meet the dual demands of responsible and effective AI adoption.

https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/technology/3653986-ai-driven-labor-market-pressures-call-for-curriculum-overhaul-in-communication-education

New professional certificate launches as Brock named Centre of Excellence in Logistics Learning - the Brock News

Working alongside a national leader in supply chain and logistics education, Brock University has launched a suite of new learning opportunities to help professionals thrive in the field. Through its partnership with the Canadian Institute of Traffic and Transportation (CITT), Brock has been recognized as a Centre of Excellence in Logistics Learning and is introducing a Professional Certificate in Logistics and Supply Chain Management. The program will include several micro-credentials that lead to advanced standing toward the CITT-Certified Logistics Professional (CCLP) designation. The programming, run by Brock Professional and Continuing Studies, will help professionals develop the skills needed to become supply chain analysts, operations managers for international and domestic trade, and inventory controllers in manufacturing, retail and transportation.

https://brocku.ca/brock-news/2025/10/new-professional-certificate-launches-as-brock-named-centre-of-excellence-in-logistics-learning/

Micro-credentials give ISU students an edge in a skills-based workforce - Mallory Prescott, Iowa State Daily

In an increasingly skills-driven job market, Iowa State University is leading the way with an innovative approach to helping students showcase what they know and can do, micro-credentials. Micro-credentials are short, focused learning experiences that allow students to build and demonstrate specific skills valued by employers. Unlike traditional academic courses, which can take a semester or more to complete, micro-credentials are more flexible and targeted, often completed in days or weeks. According to Tanya Austin, Professional Learning and Micro Credentials program specialists, the initiative is part of a broader effort to align learning experiences with real-world demands. 

https://iowastatedaily.com/323611/news/micro-credentials-give-isu-students-an-edge-in-a-skills-based-workforce/

Congress exempted beauty schools from rules about how much graduates should earn - Meredith Kolodner, Hechinger Report

Under the “big beautiful bill” passed in July, two- and four-year colleges must ensure that, after four years, graduates on average make at least as much as someone in their state who has only a high school diploma. The colleges must inform students if they fail that test, and if it happens for two out of three years, the college will be ineligible to receive federal loan funds. Some for-profit certificate schools lobbied hard for an exemption. The American Association of Career Schools, which represents proprietary cosmetology schools, spent $120,000 lobbying the Education Department and Congress, including on the “big beautiful bill,” in the first six months of this year. 

https://hechingerreport.org/congress-wants-colleges-to-make-sure-graduates-can-earn-a-living-but-some-schools-got-a-carveout/

HIGE invites faculty to apply for the Global Classrooms Collaborative - John Sweeney, Western Michigan

The Haenicke Institute for Global Education is accepting applications for faculty to join the Global Classrooms Collaborative Spring 2026. Selected participants will engage in a facilitated learning community throughout the semester, following a structured process to design a Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) course. Support includes assistance with international partner matching, course design and intercultural pedagogy. Faculty will receive grant funding, distributed in two parts, half during the spring collaborative and the remainder following course implementation and submission of a final report.

https://wmich.edu/international/globalclassrooms