Future-proof provision means offering degrees plus skills - Brendan O’Malley, University World News

To improve employability, tertiary education should recalibrate provision to focus additionally on ensuring students acquire skills useful in the current and future labour market and improve how they make those identifiable to employers. Key steps include identifying what those skills are, examining whether the curriculum and learning experience delivers on them and embedding micro-credentials for skills in degree pathways, expert speakers told ACU 2025 Congress, the annual conference of the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) hosted at the University of Nairobi, Kenya, on 26 to 28 November.

https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20251213211619391

Lifelong learning is the case he’ll never close: University Police investigator becomes Double Eagle - Georgia Southern University

Ellis’ education will not stop with this master’s degree. He is currently enrolled in the Graduate Certificate in Cybercrime program, which focuses on applied digital forensics. He is on track to complete the certificate in 2026. “My goal is to strengthen my technical capabilities and enhance my abilities to investigate digital related incidents with precision and professionalism,” Ellis said. “This program provides training on how to identify, collect and preserve digital artifacts using best practice methods that align with contemporary standards in the field. I see it as an important step forward in supporting the evolving needs of the community.”

https://www.georgiasouthern.edu/2025/12/12/lifelong-learning-is-the-case-hell-never-close-university-police-investigator-becomes-double-eagle

Upskilling Community Cancer Centers: A Training Pilot Hints at Promising Ways to Boost Oncology Clinical Research - Kara Bastarache, et al; Applied Clinical Trials Online

The pilot project aimed to build clinical research capacity and enhance diversity in oncology trials at community cancer centers. Phase 1 identified barriers such as patient recruitment, staffing, and training needs, while Phase 2 provided targeted training to research-naïve programs. Training improved participants' knowledge and confidence, suggesting potential for increased trial access and diversity in community settings. The initiative offers a scalable model for enhancing research readiness and expanding clinical trial sites across the U.S.

https://www.appliedclinicaltrialsonline.com/view/upskilling-community-cancer-centers-training-pilot-boost-oncology-clinical-research

AI Isn't Killing Education - John Nosta, Psychology Today

AI isn’t destroying learning, it’s exposing how education replaced thinking with ritual. Knowledge has shifted from static maps to living webs that demand judgment, not recall. The real risk isn’t ignorance, but fluent minds that no longer notice when thinking stops. For the first time, machines outperform humans in domains that education has long treated as proxies for intelligence, like recall, synthesis, linguistic fluency, and pattern recognition. That shift does not eliminate learning, but it does destabilize a system that equated those outputs with understanding. When the nature of advantage changes, institutions designed to preserve the old order rarely adapt gracefully. And brittle towers fall hard.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-digital-self/202512/ai-isnt-killing-education

Skills are the new hiring currency: 86% of employers say certificates show real job readiness - Preston Fore, Forbes

No longer does simply getting a degree guarantee career success; instead, employers are increasingly evaluating candidates based on demonstrable skills—and credentials that prove them. And a new report from Western Governors University released today, shared first exclusively with Fortune, underscores that shift: 86% of employers now see nondegree certificates as valuable indicators of job readiness. According to the school’s president, Scott Pulsipher, technological innovation is making it essential for professionals of all ages to acquire in-demand skills, making lifelong learning increasingly the norm. “The pace of change and the skills required to be highly productive in the world of work, it’s accelerating, meaning it’s just shortening the shelf life of the skills that we have,” Pulsipher told Fortune.

https://fortune.com/2025/12/09/next-level-leadership-job-readiness-report-western-governors-university-certifications-skills-upskilling/

Micro-credentials as shape-shifters: From learning to recognition - Simone Ravaioli, University World News

What is perceived as ‘new’ is the shape – the naming, the framing, the emerging infrastructure around them. What is not new is the spirit – the longstanding practice of short, targeted, work-based learning tightly connected to capability and performance. Employers have always participated in lifelong learning, but they have never called it ‘micro-credentials’. This is the first encounter with the shape-shifting metaphor: a thing that changes its visible form while retaining its underlying function. Employers are not confused because micro-credentials are too new – they are confused because they are not new enough to require a new category, and yet they are framed as something novel. The puzzle sits in the gap between naming and recognition.

https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20251212115505235

As Insta-Gen Z take to microlearning, HEIs are adopting new programme modules - Education Times

The Instagram generation’s preference for short-form learning is reshaping higher education in India and abroad. Recent data shows that short-form and modular learning models are increasingly converging with accredited university programmes. This structural shift is influencing how educational providers design and deliver their programmes.  A study found that 74% of Gen Z students in India prefer online learning. The 2024 Udemy India Report shows that 98% of Gen Z learners spend at least one hour per week learning new skills. Another report, Deloitte’s 2025 Global Generation Z Survey, shared that 94% of respondents favour practical learning over traditional theoretical instruction. Gen Z has redefined how learning happens. It is shorter, faster, and more career-aligned. This generation does not reject degrees; it expects degrees to adapt to its learning habits.

https://www.educationtimes.com/article/campus-beat-college-life/99740331/as-insta-gen-z-take-to-microlearning-heis-are-adopting-new-programme-modules?amp=1

College initiative exemplifies the quick rise of micro-credentials - Jeff Budlong, Inside Iowa State

In about a year and a half, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) has gone from one micro-credential badge awarded through a single track to more than 160 awarded through seven tracks. Micro-credentials -- short, flexible learning experiences that verify skills students or employees gain -- often don't show up on a college transcript or resumés, but many business leaders see them as key employee attributes. In CALS, the Pathways to Innovation and Leadership program grew quickly because it leveraged skills and high-impact practices already being taught to build micro-credentials, tracks and badges. Pathways staff also worked with the Student Innovation Center, learning communities and the Academic Success Center to build micro-credentials.

https://www.inside.iastate.edu/article/2025/12/02/college-initiative-exemplifies-quick-rise-micro-credentials

Micro-credentials need to be part of national frameworks - Sjur Bergan, University World News

 One approach to micro-credentials is to see them as part of a longstanding development towards greater individualisation of study programmes and learning paths. In this sense, they continue a development that was given a significant push by the introduction of credit systems, which enable students to include elements that may not be part of their major area of academic concentration but which give them added competences in areas they consider important to their further career, enable them to pursue specific interests or both. The idea that degree holders need some competence outside of their main area of specialisation is, of course, not new.

https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20251203074946497

From Microcredentials to AI: Online Learning Enters New Era - Aura Moreno, Mexico Business News

The online learning market is growing as organizations adopt remote learning, mobile-first platforms, and AI-enabled tutoring to address workforce skill gaps. Digital training is reshaping sectors such as staffing, aviation, customer service, and healthcare. Valued at US$15.2 billion in 2024, the market is projected to reach US$28.8 billion by 2033, expanding at a 7.5% CAGR as enterprises, workers, and education systems increase their use of digital training tools, according to a new report by Verified Market Reports. The report attributes growth to rising demand for language proficiency in cross-border operations and the shift toward personalized, scalable training solutions. “Hyper-personalized pathways, real-time proficiency assessments, and automated feedback loops are redefining enterprise adoption strategies,” reads the report. 

https://mexicobusiness.news/talent/news/microcredentials-ai-online-learning-enters-new-era

Defining professional programs: Why evidence and clarity matter in ED’s rulemaking - Katharine Meyer, Brookings

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) recently clarified which graduate programs qualify as “professional” for higher federal loan limits under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). Almost immediately after ED made its decision, social media lit up with claims certain careers such as teaching and nursing had been “removed” or that ED was claiming those careers were not professions. The online reaction was partially warranted. This decision, which is still pending and may change following a public comment period, has direct implications for prospective graduate students who need to borrow money to finance their training. By extension, this decision could also impact the universities that offer graduate programs and the supply of new workers into affected occupations.  

https://www.brookings.edu/articles/defining-professional-programs-why-evidence-and-clarity-matter-in-eds-rulemaking/

Improving digital literacy in older adults is now a health imperative: report - Kimberly Bonvissuto, McKnight's Senior Living

GetSetUp, a virtual learning platform for older adults, recently released its 2025 Active Aging Report, which found older adults eager to learn, connect and take charge of their health and independence. But digital literacy remains a barrier — and an opportunity — for health providers and others, they said. The report shares insights gleaned from a national survey that GetSetUp conducted in 2024 among 465 older adults to explore digital confidence and technology adoption, health habits and wellness priorities, financial concerns and work readiness, emotional well-being and social connectedness, and attitudes toward aging in place.

https://www.mcknightsseniorliving.com/news/improving-digital-literacy-in-older-adults-is-now-a-health-imperative-report/

AI is coming for your job, here’s the one move you need to make to stay employable and relevant in the job market - Manu Kaushik, Economic Times

Hart, who previously served as a technical advisor to Jeff Bezos at Amazon and took over as president and CEO of Coursera in February 2025, told CNBC Make It that students need to go beyond traditional degrees to stay viable in a rapidly changing employment landscape. “The advice that I give to my sons... is one of the best things that you can do is to augment your university degree with micro credentials specifically,” he said according to CNBC website. Micro credentials, short, targeted courses that certify specific skills, are gaining traction as companies deploy AI to handle more tasks traditionally assigned to junior employees. Hart said these add-ons are becoming critical as firms increasingly cite AI when laying off workers. Amazon cut 14,000 jobs this year as it doubled down on AI development. Salesforce eliminated 4,000 customer support roles, saying AI can handle roughly 40 percent of tasks performed at the company.

https://m.economictimes.com/news/international/us/ai-is-coming-for-your-job-heres-the-one-move-you-need-to-make-to-stay-employable-and-relevant-in-the-job-market/amp_articleshow/125667367.cms

Micro-credentials: From lifelong learning to lifelong recognition - Karen MacGregor

Today’s story about micro-credentials is really about their recognition, says Simone Ravaioli, a leading global credentials expert. “If we spent the last 30 years working on learning, the next 30-plus years will be focused on recognition. In a sense, the narrative is shifting from lifelong learning to lifelong recognition.” Ravaioli was speaking at a University World News-ABET webinar on “Recognising micro-credentials: Lessons from the world’s best”, held on 20 November. It was the fourth in a series of webinars that are combining high-level thinking with hands-on advice that will help people to navigate higher education in a time of change and uncertainty.

https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20251128100209342

The Cambrian Explosion of Micro-Credentials - Bryan Penprase, Forbes

Higher education stands at an inflection point. Traditional four-year degrees often disappoint employers seeking graduates with job-ready skills, and students are eagerly seeking more flexible academic programs requiring less time and money. New micro-credentials offerings from top tech companies and universities are filling this gap – providing modular, flexible, and low-cost alternatives to the traditional college degree. The proliferation of thousands of these new programs around the world has created something of a “Cambrian explosion” of academic programs, analogous to the time in geologic history when billions of new life forms 530 million years ago.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/bryanpenprase/2025/11/28/the-cambrian-explosion-of-micro-credenti/

As AI changes the first job, working while in college must evolve - Jane Swift, University Business

As artificial intelligence rapidly reshapes the workforce, few roles face greater risk than the entry-level jobs that young professionals have long relied on as a springboard for launching their careers. A recent Stanford University study found that employment for workers ages 22 to 25 in the most AI-exposed fields has declined by 13% in just three years. With students increasingly unable to gain the competencies and connections traditionally developed through entry-level jobs, it’s more critical than ever for them to build meaningful career skills while still in college.

https://universitybusiness.com/as-ai-changes-the-first-job-working-while-in-college-must-evolve/

Berkeley College Partners with NY Fashion Incubator for Student Internships - NJBIA

Berkeley College students in the Fashion Merchandising and Management program will benefit from experiential learning opportunities under a new collaboration with The Brooklyn Fashion Incubator, Inc. (BFI), a nonprofit that mentors emerging fashion entrepreneurs. The partnership was announced at a Global Fashion Collaborative focused on global business, sustainability, and technology in New York City last month. Through this collaboration, Berkeley College students will shadow BFI executives and potentially obtain internships with BFI, which works to help fashion entrepreneurs with professional growth and business development. 

https://njbia.org/berkeley-college-partners-with-ny-fashion-incubator-for-student-internships/

STUDENT VOICE: College students are tired of being told that we ‘should be grateful’ for our internships. We also want to get paid - Savanah Celeste Scott, Hechinger Report

Imagine clocking out of an eight-hour shift and your compensation is a pat on the back and experience for your resume.  This scenario is a disturbing reality for around one million college students, and it needs to stop. Students work countless hours on top of their academic pursuits only to be told they should be “grateful for the opportunity.”  The government must pass legislation mandating that all internships include monetary compensation; employers must stop exploiting students and recent graduates while they build necessary work experience.  

https://hechingerreport.org/student-voice-college-students-are-tired-of-being-told-that-we-should-be-grateful-for-our-internships-we-also-want-to-get-paid/

A leader’s guide to the future of learning at work - McKinsey

The race to embrace AI in the corporate world means that people at all levels of an organization urgently need to build new tech skills and knowledge. In turn, many companies are accelerating their learning and development programs to help executives and employees keep up with the pace of change. This dynamic landscape presents an opportunity for chief learning officers (CLOs) to reimagine the future of learning in the workplace. This week, we look at how CLOs can help organizations make learning a more fundamental part of the work experience and create cultures of continuous development.

https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/leading-off

College grads face one of the toughest job markets in a decade — ‘Right now is a really difficult time to find a job,’ expert says - Jessica Dickler, CNBC

Even as the U.S. economy adds jobs, there are fewer entry-level positions for college graduates just entering the labor market. “For the first time in modern history, a bachelor’s degree is no longer a reliable path to professional employment,” Gad Levanon, chief economist at the Burning Glass Institute, told CNBC. Even as the U.S. economy adds jobs, there are fewer employment prospects for college graduates just starting out, as those armed with a newly minted diploma are facing one of the toughest job markets in a decade, studies show.

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/11/23/college-graduates-are-struggling-to-find-jobs-ai-is-partly-to-blame.html

How to find summer internships: Tips for college students - U Cincinnati

For college students, summer is prime time to level up your career with a co-op or internship. At UC, co-ops are paid career experience integrated into curriculum, while internships may be paid or unpaid and are often less integrated into curriculum. The search can feel competitive, like everyone’s showing off the flashiest resume, but with a little strategy, you can find a position that gives real-world experience, builds your network and points you toward your future career. Let’s dive into exactly how to find a summer internship that excites you.

https://www.uc.edu/news/articles/2025/11/how-to-find-a-summer-internship.html