ERIC Number: EJ1463545
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025
Pages: 21
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0158-7919
EISSN: EISSN-1475-0198
Available Date: 0000-00-00
Micro-Credentials and Soft Skills in Online Education: The Employers' Perspective
Distance Education, v46 n1 p56-76 2025
This paper explores the potential of online micro-credentials, a novel learning approach that awards credentials after short educational experiences, as a viable solution to bridging the soft skills gap in the workforce. Using a qualitative foresight research design, the study analyzes and synthesizes insights gathered from 85 in-depth interviews with key labor market stakeholders. The results emphasize how employers generally view online micro-credentials as a feasible and flexible way for professionals to engage in training, although employers underscore various challenges associated with online micro-credentials in soft skills that distance education must take into consideration. The article concludes with recommendations for strategic micro-credential course designs which should be developed with a practical orientation for real-world simulation and application using novel pedagogical approaches. Accordingly, micro-credentials tailored to soft skills development need to be designed and implemented in settings that closely resemble real-life scenarios.
Descriptors: Microcredentials, Soft Skills, Employer Attitudes, Distance Education, Electronic Learning, Labor Market, Stakeholders, Barriers, Influence of Technology
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: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1Labour Market Research and Analysis Unit, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain; 2Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain