Imagine a recent graduate with a degree but struggling to convey their specific skills to potential employers. Now imagine that same graduate confidently presenting a set of micro-credentials that accurately showcase their skills. This scenario is not only possible; is becoming increasingly necessary in today's competitive job market.
However, some educational institutions view microcredentials with skepticism, dismissing them as unfamiliar to employers and not worth the investment. While this perspective is understandable, it overlooks the potential of these programs. Microcredentials offer immediate benefits for both students and institutions, from empowering students to better articulate their skills to forging stronger connections with employers. By addressing common misconceptions and showing the benefits, educational institutions can lead the way in preparing students for the demands of the modern workforce.
What exactly makes microcredential programs so valuable? Below are four key benefits for students, institutions and employers.
1. Puts students in charge of their future
One of the benefits that microcredential programs often cite is that students better understand the skills and knowledge they gain through the program because those skills and competencies are described in the credential. For example, instead of saying they took a public speaking class, they can break down the specific skills they learned or had to use, such as public speaking, critical thinking, and research.
That understanding creates a link between academia and the workforce because it helps establish a common language, ensuring that students are prepared to meet the changing demands of the labor market. Microcredentials can be shared immediately upon earning, allowing individuals to showcase their skills and communication capabilities even before completing a capstone degree or earning full credit. It also allows students to pause and restart their learning journey, providing flexibility that traditional pathways often lack.
2. Allows students to show their achievements
Breaking down microcredentials gives students the language they need to articulate the competencies and skills they gain from diverse experiences. If that microcredential is issued in digital format, it can provide verifiable proof of those competencies and skills. Employers are increasingly using this type of analysis when reviewing resumes, especially those who use software to analyze applications.
Digital credentials that comply with Open Badges or the CLR standard include metadata that verifies their authenticity and provides full details about projects, assessments and skills.
Following open standards, these credentials are developed to give the student greater agency over the credential. They are designed to be interoperable and therefore more portable because they can be issued, accepted and read by various tools and platforms. Credentials are also capable of capturing skills acquired outside the classroom.
It is also important to note that while not all employers or organizations use software to analyze job applications, more and more are moving in that direction. By issuing digital credentials now, your students can take advantage of those current and future opportunities.
3. Underlines the value of educational experiences
One of the biggest obstacles educational institutions face is changing the mindset from focusing on credit hours to focusing on skills. This does not necessarily mean changing what is taught, but it does mean considering how the needs of the workforce are met.
This shift in mindset can also help combat the narrative that higher education is losing value. By making a direct connection between what your students get from your instruction and what employers need from potential employees, the value you offer becomes clearer.
Microcredentials are not a threat to traditional credentials, but rather can complement them by showcasing the skills and competencies that those traditional credentials and the student's extracurricular experiences offer employers. By emphasizing skills over credit hours, institutions can better meet workforce demands and highlight the unique value they provide in preparing students for real-world success.
4. Strengthens relationships between educators and employers
All of the benefits above can also help simplify the hiring process for employers by giving students the language to communicate their skills and competencies; make it easier for employers and hiring managers to verify those skills and competencies; and help draw a direct line between those skills and competencies and the workforce skills employers are looking for. Digital credentials also meet the needs of employers because they can be obtained in less time and can be adjusted as labor market demands change.
A key component to achieving these benefits is working alongside employers and industry professionals as you develop those credentials. By working directly with employers, you can ensure that you use language that is meaningful to them and that the skills and competencies you offer are what they are currently looking for, while strengthening your institution or organization's relationship with those employers.
Educators in both K-12 and higher education have found that employers and other stakeholders are open and often excited to join these collaborations. By partnering with industry leaders, educators can ensure their credentials align with current workforce needs, building trust and opening doors to future collaborations.
Take the first or next step
Members of the 1EdTech Consortium meet throughout the year to expand the use and value of microcredentials, share real-world examples of how they work, and improve standards and frameworks to better meet the needs of all stakeholders. you can see all events 1EdTech staff organize and attend, including annual meeting 1EdTech Digital Credentials Summitas well as learn more about the organization's work on digital credentials in 1edtech.org.
