Microcredentials: New phase and face of higher education?

Microcredentials, “a certification of assessed learning that is additional, alternate, complementary to or a formal component of a formal qualification”, have recently attracted a growing interest in higher education across the world. Increasing questioning of whether university diplomas really have “the capacity to represent the breadth and depth of learning provided in and beyond” higher education and complaints of employers about skills gaps of graduates entering the workforce have, beyond any doubt, boosted the interest in microcredentials.

Compared to traditional higher education courses, their more flexible, shorter-lasting, skills-oriented and digitalization-friendly nature attracts stakeholders to integrate microcredentials into universities’ regular departmental curricula and provide graduates with a more skilled transition to workforce. With this respect, a growing number of universities are nowadays focusing on improving the quality assurances of their microcredentials to enhance their recognition in and beyond higher education. Employers, on the other hand, are seeking ways to collaborate with universities to use microcredentials as a means to empower their employees in their career paths by reskilling or upskilling them.

In the light of the growing role of microcredentials in and beyond higher education, this webinar will draw attention to the questions below:

• Are microcredentials something new or a new name for something that has been around for a long time?
• Are microcredentials part of, alongside or a replacement for higher education?
• Are microcredentials only about employment and skills?
• What are the opportunities and risks of microcredentials?
• Why does a country desire to integrate microcredentials into its higher education? (Referring to an international project sponsored by the British Council).

This webinar is part of the free public seminar programme hosted by the Centre for Global Higher Education (CGHE).