Kompetansebehovene i arbeidsmarkedet utvikler seg i et enestående tempo. Som svar på dette har micro-credentials vokst fram som et verktøy for å dokumentere og demonstrere spesifikke ferdigheter og kunnskaper. Men hvordan ser micro-credentials ut i ulike nasjonale kontekster, og hvordan kan de benyttes effektivt?

Læring i nord 2024 samlet eksperter, utdanningsinstitusjoner og nordiske utdanningsmyndigheter for å undersøke hvilken rolle mikrokvalifikasjoner kan spille i å forme fremtidens kompetanse. Gjennom presentasjoner og diskusjoner utforsket deltakerne dagens situasjon i Norden, potensiell fremtidig utvikling, og mulighetene som finnes både nasjonalt og internasjonalt for utdanningssektoren.

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Lær mer om Shizuka Kato, analytiker ved OECDs Directorate for Education and Skills 

Finn presentasjonen fra denne sesjonen her.

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? Watch the recorded session here: 

Learn more about Maria Ranta, Senior Adviser at University of Agder and Micro-Credential Task Manager at FORTHEM Alliance.

Find the presentation from this session here.

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 is presented from the point of view of universities, universities of applied sciences and the Ministry of Education and Culture. Watch the recorded session here:

Learn more about Petri Haltia, Senior Ministerial Adviser at the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture, Dr. Minna Hiillos, Vice President of Education at Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences and Jukka Mäkinen, Director of Education and Learning Services at Tampere University 

Find the presentation from this session here.

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 showcase how this system works for learners across European borders and provide a Norwegian perspective.

Learn more about Trym Holbek, Institutional coordinator and project manager ECIU University at University of Stavanger

Find the presentation from this session here.

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 shared how the work with micro-credentials has progressed, the value it has brought to individuals and organizations, and the potential for further development. The session is in Swedish, with English subtitles. Watch the recorded session here:

Learn more about Linnéa Svenman Wiker, Project Manager Lifelong Learning at RISE Research Institutes of Sweden and Ann-Sofi Vincent, Skellefteå Municipality.

Find the presentations from this session here and here.

"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.