The Indonesian Student Micro-Credentials Program implemented by Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (UMSU) carries 5 courses, all of which are carried out online, in a relatively short time within 2 months. The learning objectives, which are intended to create practical skills, require students to master the courses they follow, thus causing…

This paper analyses the potential of micro-credentials in adult education through upcoming EU policies and initiatives, bearing in mind the increasing use of online learning platforms globally. Understanding national and international approaches to micro-credentials allows undergraduate programmes and teaching practices to flourish in economically…

The COVID-19 pandemic challenged the practice of traditional higher education providers (HEPs) and highlighted the need for innovative approaches to education for sustainable development. This research note focuses on online short courses (OSCs)--micro-credentials geared at upskilling or reskilling learners with a competitive application process…

There is increasing interest around the use of microcredentials for upskilling, employability, professional development, and reaching a wide range of learners. However, little discussion exists around the use of microcredentials to contribute towards broader qualifications and accreditation. This paper investigates the use of a series of…

This paper explores the Centre for Insurance, Risk and Data Analytics Studies (CIRDAS) as a case study of online adult education which offers flexible upskilling and reskilling opportunities to employees across the Irish insurance sector. It explores how CIRDAS's agile programme development enabled flexible entry, exit and progression routes for…

In 2023, China leads the world in the number of Open Online Courses (OOC, over 64500) and learners (over 1.88 billion). In this article, we provide a brief review of the development of OOCs in China and outline the current situation of Chinese OOC focusing on learning platforms, course size and structure, and micro-credential courses. We also…

In this study, we designed and evaluated the effectiveness of a new course aimed at developing creativity as the cornerstone of technology and design education. This 14-hour synchronous online course was offered to secondary school students in the online format by the Open Educational Laboratory by the National Center of the Junior Academy of…

Microcredentials enable a digital transformation of educational offerings that build skills of learners and the capability of organisations; however learners struggle with balancing study on top of work and family commitments unless they are motivated and self-regulated in their learning. Designing microcredentials that intrinsically motivate…

Two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, much still feels the same, though in some important ways thinking and behaviors may be shifting in anticipation of longer-term changes in the ways lives are structured and how places and spaces are shared. In higher education, these shifts may reflect an evolution from short-term "emergency" or…

This design-based research aims to improve the quality of graduate supervision using a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC). The Quality Graduate Supervision MOOC brings interdisciplinary faculty, postdoctoral scholars, and expert supervisors together in an online learning community to discuss and consider effective supervision practice, strategies…