Our Mention in Volt | The Rise of Micro-Credentials: A New Era in Education
In the ever-evolving education landscape, one trend is making a significant impact: micro-credentials.
As the founder of Micro-credential Multiverse, I am thrilled to share insights from a recent article on VoltEdu that explores the rise and importance of micro-credential programs and our contribution to the article! We’ve also complemented the article with an article of our own below.
The Dawn of a New Educational Era
Balancing a career and continuing education and professional development used to require extensive time management and proximity to a traditional institution. Today, all you need is internet access and a willingness to learn. In the past ten years, Micro-credential programs have emerged as a viable alternative to traditional degree paths, offering significant savings and competitive pricing, however there is still confusion about the value they add and the way in which they are poised to disrupt the traditional educational paradigm.
Institutional Embrace of Micro-Credentials university
More than 60% of colleges and universities in the United States are now offering or considering such programs.
This is a testament to the growing recognition of the value of competency-based courses. As Noah Geisel, micro-credentials program manager at the University of Colorado Boulder, puts it, "Our credentials strive to communicate what it is they are credentialing, even articulating measurable earning criteria and how they are assessed."
Micro-credential Multiverse's Perspective 🔭
As the founder of Micro-credential Multiverse, I share this optimism for higher education institutions integrating micro-credentialing programs. After years of hesitation, there is a growing body of evidence that institution-led micro-credential programs are maturing from the pilot phase and starting to creep into our everyday educational lexicon.
“There is a growing body of evidence that institution-led micro-credential programs are maturing from the pilot phase and starting to creep into our everyday educational lexicon,” Bajor said. “In my view and experience, institutions take more time than most people are comfortable with, but it’s mainly due to their commitment to high quality, valuable education experiences – they want to get it right.”
The Future of Micro-Credentials 🚀
A recent survey by HolonIQ indicates Bajor’s hypothesis is correct. Institutions that described their adoption of micro-credentials as “mature” increased from 7% in 2021 to 13% in 2023. With such large financial and resource investments should schools worry about softening demand?
“Micro-credentials present a rare opportunity to cover all three of these strategic goals: they are demonstrably more flexible, affordable, and broadly accessible than traditional degree-bearing programs,” said Bajor. “That said, the fourth and possibly more important category is this idea of continuous improvement and innovation. Micro-credentials provide universities and institutions of higher education with a rare opportunity to check all four boxes.”
Spotlight on Micro-Credential Programs 💡
The VoltEdu article highlights several micro-credential programs, including edX MicroMasters, Coursera Specializations and MasterTrack Certificates, and Udacity Nanodegrees. These programs offer a range of courses designed by top universities and industry experts, providing learners with practical, industry-specific skills.
“Think of higher education as a direct highway to many different kinds of opportunities that learners value—the catch is that it’s a long road and a very expensive toll; however, there is a different way, maybe we’ll call it local roads,” said Bajor. “Those local roads cost a fraction of what it would cost to get on the highway and pay those tolls. Maybe you might choose to get on the highway for some stretch that makes sense for you and finish up on local roads later on.”
Wrapping it up
The rise of micro-credentials is a testament to the evolving needs of learners and the flexibility of educational institutions to adapt. As we move forward, it's clear that micro-credentials will play a significant role in shaping the future of education. As Geisel predicts, "I believe it’s more likely that they become ubiquitous than experience declining interest."
Stay tuned to our blog for more insights and updates on the world of micro-credentials. Together, we're shaping the future of education.
