To advance the employability agenda in higher education, we need new ideas for embedding career skills into university curricula and novel tools for articulating the capabilities of learners. Situated in the discipline of environmental science, the aim of this study was to examine employer perceptions of the skills needed for a career in the…

Micro-credentials have gained significant interest due to their potential to create flexible learning pathways and offer real-time, up-to-date training for the rapidly evolving labour market. Additionally, international organisations have highlighted their capacity to elevate the value of non-formal education and foster inclusive higher education…

This is a time of challenge for teachers with burgeoning workloads and unsustainable conditions, parental demands and challenging student behaviour. Within this climate of challenge, including that of teacher retention, education systems around the world have had to develop strategies to professionalise and improve the status of teaching. Divided…

Learners who learn from OER often cannot have their learning assessed or receive a credential. Open credentials offer a potential solution to this problem, combining badges or micro-credentials with competence frameworks and digital seals. This study identified the current situation of open credentials in post-secondary education in Europe, the…

The complex interplay between labour market needs and education poses significant challenges to the teaching profession, frequently criticised for its perceived inadequacy in addressing contemporary work - life dynamics and professional practices. In response to these challenges, the "'Micro-Placements'" initiative was introduced in an…

Purpose: The study aims to investigate students' attitudes toward using technology for micro-credential programs (MCPs) and their behavioral intention toward using MCPs for learning and enhancing their skills. The study also intends to investigate the moderating influence of labor market conditions (LMC). Design/methodology/approach: A…

Although there is no globally accepted definition to guide micro-credential activity in higher education, many seek to boost the employability prospects of earners. To do this well, micro-credentials need to indicate skills and competencies. Assessment ensures those skills and competencies are verified, enabling trust and communication in the…

The aim of this research is to give an overview of the psycho-didactical model of Engineering Pedagogy, as the basis of effective STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts (Design), Mathematics) teaching and instructional design. Attributes of engineering graduates and basic skills of 21st century graduates are presented. The competency model…

Assessment and recognition are key aspects of microcredentials, and other courses offered on massive open online course (MOOC) platforms. Microcredentials are designed to address the needs of employers and learners looking for units of study at a higher education level aligned with the requirements of labour markets. This paper reviews current…

Microcredentials hold promise for connecting people's skillsets with labour market demand in a rapidly changing world of work. They have proliferated in recent years across economic sectors and education levels, reinforcing European and national efforts to understand and develop them better. They can increase the provision of…

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a group of health program implementors and research analysts across seven low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) alongside Boston-based collaborators convened to implement data-driven approaches for public health response. An intensive statistics and data science training short course was developed to ensure that…

Qualifications frameworks are tools for describing qualifications of an education or training system by classifying them into levels. Each level provides a clear description of what the holder of a qualification knows, understands and is able to do. They are important tools for making qualifications transparent and comprehensible, within and…

The concept of affordance is helpful to understand the advantages that can be offered to users. However, little is known about the affordable Micro-Credential courses (MC) offered by Higher education (HE) providers. This study utilizes Gibson's affordance theory as a lens and aims to validate the affordances of MCs for HE. Furthermore, this study…

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…

This paper investigates the role of micro-credentials (MCs) in addressing educational challenges in the English-speaking Caribbean, with a focus on their potential to align with regional education policies and strategic development goals (SDGs), particularly SDG4: Education for All. Drawing on policy documents, strategic plans, and other resources…