Many higher education institutions provide online certification programmes, but a limited number of them offer Micro-credentials. These are an added certification that complements a formal qualification and can accumulate into more extensive credentials or degrees. These are beneficial as it focuses into smaller learning volumes than conventional awards, allowing learners to complete a required study over a shorter duration.
In the past few years the popularisation of online education has increased, especially through new technology and formats like Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). This format has been established in the area of professional lifelong and corporate learning, while being a door-opener for new, innovative formats. Micro-credentials are typically described as credentials covering more than a single course but less than a full degree. This gives students the opportunity to learn and focus on specific knowledge, skills and competences that are heavily society-driven.
The credentials are designed to meet the specific needs aligning to education with labour market demands in the industries such as IT and tourism. It provides benefits to those students that do not want to commit to a long-term degree program, making it accessible and possible for those working professionals.
Micro-credentials have the potential to upgrade the tourism sector by providing more tailored, industry specific and relevant qualifications that can provide support for upskilling and reskilling. With the view of Microidea, they can become a valuable complement to traditional education formats in Europe enabling greater alignment between education systems and the needs of the labour market.
In the world we live in, digitalisation is in our day to day lives. The knowledge needed in this changing world is being changed and cannot be satisfied by the traditional academic and professional profiling as before. The literature highlights the potential of micro-credentials to significantly impact the European economy by addressing post-pandemic challenges, especially in labour markets.
Micro-credentials are expected to impact the European economy by providing flexible learning opportunities that can make the workers adapt better to the jobs tailored to the changing world. By enhancing the learning system, it directly benefits the employability. Another beneficial aspect is that they make it possible to promote lifelong learning, enabling skill development for long-term career growth. All these elements contribute to a more competitive and resilient European workforce.
