ERIC Number: EJ1463595
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025
Pages: 18
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0158-7919
EISSN: EISSN-1475-0198
Available Date: 0000-00-00
Implementing a Competency-Based Assessment Approach to Micro-Credentials
Lena Patterson1; Gary Hepburn1,2
Distance Education, v46 n1 p95-112 2025
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 labor market. But, what type of assessment best addresses the career-oriented goals of micro-credential initiatives and learners? This study focuses on a single case in a Canadian university school of continuing education. The purpose of the case is to support practitioners and leaders through a detailed account of one approach to micro-credential program development and the context that surrounds it. The case describes a competency-based approach to micro-credentials with a focus on authentic assessment design with the goal of improving employment outcomes. Operational implications are outlined including policy development, community consultation, backward design processes, team composition, and branding.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, College Students, Microcredentials, Competency Based Education, Professional Continuing Education, Performance Based Assessment, Employment Potential, Skill Development, Career Readiness, Employment Opportunities, Educational Policy, Teaching Methods, Evaluation Methods
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education; Adult Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Canada
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, Canada; 2Currently Independent