6 Micro-credentials Designed for Today’s Higher Education Learners
Since 2013, Digital Promise micro-credentials have provided learners with pathways to obtaining educational certifications. Micro-credentials provide “learners with recognition for the skills they have developed across their education and work experiences“ (Tinsley et al., 2022, p. 3) and shine a light on industry skills that an academic transcript cannot. Unlike other credentials, micro-credentials demonstrate the evidence or artifact that verifies the competence of the skill or set of skills through its assessment piece.
Micro-credentials demand an assessment design of their own. Requiring a thoughtful design, competencies, supportive resources, assessment, and evidence for the learner to demonstrate, education institutions that issue micro-credentials are rethinking their curriculum and practices (West & Cheng, 2023). “Micro-credentials’ gain is not macro-credentials’ loss; each potentially complements and strengthens the other” (Ngoc et al., 2022, p. 12). Several education institutions are designing micro-credentials to meet the needs of higher education learners by providing innovative and specific credentialing learning opportunities. These innovative options can be or not be part of a standard higher education pathway.
Our commitment to the micro-credentials grew from our experiences with the content provided and skills expected. The list of resources provided as part of each micro-credential also provides assurance of a strong alignment to research and best practices.
– Theresa Ewald, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning
(Brown, 2019)
Meeting the Needs of Higher Education Learners
To meet the needs of higher education learners, micro-credentials have been designed to create a constructive competency-based assessment opportunity. Through a high level of peer support, the learner can achieve a higher learning performance (Ngoc et al., 2022). Also, to further meet the needs of higher education learners, micro-credentials provide affordability, flexibility, and personalization, unlike standard higher education pathways. The learning behind micro-credentials makes higher education more relevant and efficient. “Institutional openness to micro-credentials can reduce drop-out rates” (Pirkkalainen et al., 2022, p. 12). When educational institutions meet their learners’ needs, completion rates increase.
“Micro-credentials can have an impact on the flexibility of institutions by meeting students’ need for more flexible and personalised learning [sic]” (Pirkkalainen et al., 2022, p. 11).
Learners can pursue micro-credentials that upskill or reskill them when it is most convenient for them. Since micro-credentials represent skill attainment, it expands the opportunities that learners have to acquire them, which makes the process affordable. Plus, recognizing granular accomplishments along the higher education journey motivates and encourages learners. “The recognition of micro-credentials can enhance student motivation, responsibility, and determination, enabling more effective learning” (Pirkkalainen et al., 2022, p. 13).
Moreover, micro-credentials enable learners to earn postsecondary credentials that offer economic security, well-being, and agency. Micro-credentials have been favored by historically and systematically excluded learners, such as learners from low-income backgrounds, rural learners, learners with learning disabilities, and Black, Indigenous, and Latinx learners, who are not able to commit to the financial and time requirements of a standard higher education pathway. Micro-credentials are paving the way for present-day higher education learners, closing the gap in a way no other credential has been able to. Today’s higher education learners are typically “25 year[s]-old or older who did not immediately pursue college following high school graduation” (Bennett, Evans, & Riedle, 2007, p. 155) and maintain employment, family, and other adult responsibilities (Hudson, Towey, & Shinar, 2008).
– Yolando Ingram (Learner), ClearPath ECE, Tennessee State University Genesis Family Child Care, Owner/Operator
(Cacicio & Tinsley, 2022)
Impact Beyond Higher Education
The journey of completing a micro-credential enhances the experience for the learner and leads to better career preparation. Janchenko and Rodi (2019) state that micro-credentials “play a key role in displaying specific marketable skill sets to employers” (p. 22). This is possible since micro-credentials verify the competence of a specific skill or set of skills necessary to succeed in the learner’s career.
Pirkkalainen et al. (2022) states that better career preparation leads to a decrease in the mismatch of skills, enhancing the learner’s employability. Ngoc et al. (2022) add that “micro-credentials increase the university responsiveness to labour [sic] markets, as well as contribute to social inclusion and education accessibility” (p. 2). Micro-credentials allow learners to obtain competencies in demand by an industry. Because of the nature of micro-credentials, learners are not limited to where and how they can access them. This means that learners are not limited to higher education institutions to earn micro-credentials, as they can be offered through online providers, nonprofit organizations, employers, and others interested in certifying skills.
With their affordability, flexibility, and personalization while creating a constructive learning environment, micro-credentials have provided opportunities for learners to upskill or reskill to stay current with competencies required in their career and industry.
- Micro-credentials provide learners with pathways to obtaining skill recognition that afford them additional paths toward personalized success.
- Micro-credentials contribute to constructive learning environments, while also being affordable, flexible, and personalizable.
- Micro-credentials provide learners the opportunity to reskill or upskill with competencies in demand by industry, which decreases a mismatch of skills and enhances the employability of the learner.
