As the cost of traditional degrees increases, educators are turning to low-cost, short-term microcredentials as an alternative. Not all species of microcredential are equally variable. Nanodegrees, MicroMasters, and certificates usually require several months of coursework in a career-focused area like accounting, project management, artificial…

Micro-credential (MC) is an innovative and disruptive technology-based learning model. In higher education (HE), MCs are typically certified in the form of a digital badge (DB) issued to learners upon completion of a credential. The introduction of MCs and DBs has the potential to revolutionise the way in which HE institutions deliver degrees, and…

Intersectionality and positionality can be used to examine how various aspects of identity are analyzed in the context of learners' lived experiences. When examining how learners are recognized for their skills and competencies, there are several ways in which education and credentials can be leveraged. Autoethnographies were used to examine the…

The recent emergence of microcredentials, short courses leading to accreditation with an emphasis on work-aligned skills, is worthy of note due to its speed, scale and accompanying endorsement from governments and influential non-state actors worldwide. This paper analyses the reasons for this rapid growth which have been proposed in academic…

Continuing vocational training benefits from the employees' ability to share individual experience and expertise with their co-workers, as these assets constitute competitive advantages for companies. IT-supported systems can facilitate processes of knowledge elicitation (e. g. as part of collaborative co-creation) to ensure retainment of…

The Indonesian Student Micro-Credentials Program implemented by Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (UMSU) carries 5 courses, all of which are carried out online, in a relatively short time within 2 months. The learning objectives, which are intended to create practical skills, require students to master the courses they follow, thus causing…

Purpose: This study explores the perceptions of Australian employers regarding the benefits and challenges of micro-credentials within higher education and enablers of their effectiveness. Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative approach that included 11 semi-structured interviews with employers affiliated with an Australian university was…

In higher education, micro-credentials -- that is, proof of the learning results a student has acquired after a short learning programme (SLP) -- are gaining in importance. In general, SLPs are formative programs addressed to professionals in a specific area of knowledge. Despite the various characteristics of this type of training, delivered in a…

This paper analyses the potential of micro-credentials in adult education through upcoming EU policies and initiatives, bearing in mind the increasing use of online learning platforms globally. Understanding national and international approaches to micro-credentials allows undergraduate programmes and teaching practices to flourish in economically…

The popularity of digital badges has been accelerated in recent years. Advocates of digital badges suggest their use may improve students' motivation and achievement, but existing empirical studies have failed to show consistent results. Furthermore, to date, no meta-analysis has been conducted on the topic of digital badges. Given this gap, the…

The global talent gap is a consequence of skills mismatch among job seekers. Although micro-credentials appeared to be a potential solution to narrow the talent gap, it is unclear how they can be effectively implemented in a structured academic pathway. The purpose of this study is to explore the potential of a proposed micro-credential model for…

In a time when the value of a college degree is under continuous scrutiny and the opportunity for alternate pathways to workforce readiness is ever-increasing, ensuring high-quality credentials is imperative. However, how can we reassure our students, employers, and other stakeholders that what we offer is high quality? To answer this question, we…

This paper investigates the efficacy of integrating micro-credentials into teaching 21st-century skills to equip students with soft skills required for optimal productivity in the workplace and industry. A mixed-method research design with an experimental approach was used to elicit information from 90 students on the effectiveness of…

The rise of small, skills-focused credentials, also known as micro-credentials, has garnered considerable attention in recent years. By offering micro-credentials, institutions of higher education can provide additional credential options, thereby attracting more diverse audiences beyond degree-seekers. However, amidst their growth, fundamental…

In navigating the current climate of higher education in the United States, university faculty and staff are increasingly tasked with doing more with less. In this article, we explore the value of micro-credentials as a way to benefit both students and universities. We include an account of the successful creation of several graduate certificate…