Læring i nord 2024: Micro-credentials - The Future of Skills Recognition?
The demand for skills in the job market is evolving at an unprecedented pace. In response, micro-credentials have emerged as a valuable tool for documenting and demonstrating specific skills and knowledge. But what exactly do micro-credentials look like in different national contexts, and how can they be leveraged effectively?
This conference will bring together experts, educational institutions, and Nordic education authorities to examine the role micro-credentials can play in shaping the future workforce. Through presentations and discussions, we will explore the current landscape in the Nordic region, the potential for future developments, and the opportunities that exist both nationally and internationally for the education sector.
Join us for an afternoon of insights and dialogue as we explore how micro-credentials can become an integral part of tomorrow’s education systems and job markets!
Program
All times below are in Central European Summer Time
12:00-12:10 Welcome by NVL and EPALE Norway
Opening remarks and a brief introduction of the organizers and the conference theme.
12:10-12:30 Global shifts in learning: navigating the rise of Micro-Credentials in OECD Countries
This presentation aims to provide an overview of micro-credential development in OECD countries. Drawing on recent work by the Higher Education Policy Team, it will highlight how governments are supporting and incentivising education and training providers to develop and offer micro-credentials, as well as how they are encouraging learners to take advantage of these opportunities.
Meet Shizuka Kato, Analyst at the OECD Directorate for Education and Skills
12:30-12:50 Micro-credentials in higher education: what, why and for whom?
What do we mean by “micro-credentials” – a set of standards, targeted learning experiences, digital certificates, all of that? Is it the learner or the provider who owns a micro-credential and learning pathways consisting of them? In what way do micro-credentials differ from other flexible, digital education offers?
12.50-13.00 Break
13.00-13.45 Towards national guidelines for micro-credentials – challenges and opportunities
As in many countries, also in Finland there already exists short learning activities that fit the definition given in the EU Council Recommendation. However, the provision of these learning activities is somewhat fragmented, difficult to perceive as a whole, and hard to find when specific needs arise. There is also concern as to whether the recommendation is sufficient as such, or whether a local interpretation from the perspective of the education system is also required to implement it nationally, while also accommodating interoperability in the European context.
A working group appointed by the Ministry of Education and Culture has addressed these and other issues, and it has prepared draft guidelines (framework) for micro-credentials. These guidelines specify standard elements nationally in order to formulate a concept of micro-credentials and promote their use. The guidelines serve as a foundation for designing and implementing micro-credentials, the information to be presented on the digital service platform, and the certificate and its annexes. The guidelines have been drafted with an eye to the micro-credentials provided by Finnish higher education institutions. They may subsequently be applied and adapted to the supply of uos education providers too. Pilots for testing the functionality of the framework and the benefit it provides, and for testing and developing co-operative practices for higher education institutions and the working life will start this autumn.
In the session views on present and future challenges and possibilities will be presented from the point of view of universities, universities of applied sciences and the Ministry of Education and Culture.
13.45-14.00 Break
Time to stretch your legs!
14:00-14:30 Micro-credentials from European University Alliances: A Norwegian Perspective on ECIU University
European university alliances are exploring new forms of collaboration and have been tasked by the European Commission with developing and testing solutions to implement micro-credentials across Europe. Since its establishment in 2019, ECIU University has been actively engaged in this effort. Its vision is to create an ecosystem of universities, public and private stakeholders, and organizations, all connected through an open, digital campus – engage.eciu.eu – where individuals can study, build competencies, and contribute to addressing societal challenges. The goal is to transform ECIU University into a new kind of higher education provider, offering flexible, digital, and career-focused education that better integrates with society.
Through position papers, technical pilots, and collaboration with Europass EDC, the alliance has successfully introduced the first solution for issuing digital micro-credentials with electronic seals at the European level. These credentials can be combined into a personal competence passport, allowing individuals to share their achievements with educational institutions, current or potential employers. The presentation will showcase how this system works for learners across European borders and provide a Norwegian perspective.
14:30-14:50 Micro-credentials - with the Potential to Strengthen Lifelong Learning
This session will be held in Swedish
Much of what we learn and know today remains invisible; it’s not documented on any certificates or diplomas. Micro-credentials offer new opportunities to describe, quality-assure, and showcase skills, regardless of when or how they were acquired. Micro-credentials have the potential to be one of the keys to addressing major challenges in workforce development.
In Sweden, the potential of micro-credentials was explored through the national project Kompetenspasset. The project's mission was to develop a model for how micro-credentials could be structured and used in a Swedish context. Among the results is a developed model and a technical system for how micro-credentials can be designed and distributed.
Linnéa Svenman Wiker, project manager from the RISE Research Institute of Sweden, has been working intensively on developing the method in close collaboration with the project's pilot organizations. Ann-Sofi Vincent, Educational Developer at the International Unit of Skellefteå Municipality, has been the process leader for the work in the pilot organization Skellefteå Municipality.
Together, Linnéa and Ann-Sofi will share how the work with micro-credentials has progressed, the value it has brought to individuals and organizations, and the potential for further development.
14.50-15.00 Concluding remarks
Final reflections and wrap-up by EPALE Norway and NVL Norway
"Læring i nord" is a Nordic digital conference held annually in collaboration between EPALE Norway and the Nordic Network for Adult Learning. The conference addresses topics related to lifelong learning, education, and training for adults from a Nordic perspective.
