1) The document discusses quality assurance of micro-credentials. It finds that most countries currently have no specific standards for micro-credentials, though some are developing frameworks. 2) A few countries like Australia, Canada, the UK, and the Netherlands already apply their common standards to micro-credentials. New Zealand, Malaysia and Ireland have specific guidelines for micro-credential quality assurance. 3) The document outlines issues around quality assurance of online micro-credentials and institutional supports needed, including strategy, infrastructure, learning design, and using data for feedback and review. It emphasizes quality assurance as an ongoing process.

1. EADTU Webinar
5th July 2023
Professor Mark Brown
Director, National Institute for Digital Learning
Dublin City University
Photo by Ciprian Boiciuc on Unsplash

2. Survey of 510 US employers
https://upcea.edu/employers-are-all-in-on-microcredentials-survey-shows-inside-higher-ed/
Why a focus on quality assurance?

3. Why a focus on quality assurance?

4. External QA of micro-credentials
Institutional QA of micro-credentials
Institutional supports to enhance quality
Outline

5. https://jime.open.ac.uk/
Before we start…

6. QA / QE
Processes Resources
I
n
p
u
t
s
O
u
t
p
u
t
s
Gap
Digital
Education
- Macro-Level
- Meso-Level
- Micro-Level
- Nano-Level
• Multifaced and
multifunctional
• Highly contextualised
• Institutions are central
• Owned & distributed
across institutions
• Conversational,
shares experiences
and involves feedback
loops
• Dynamic as part of a
living and thriving
quality culture
Framing principles
1. External QA of micro-credentials

7. https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/education/digital-higher-education_f622f257-en
(How) do the quality
assurance principles apply to
micro-credentials?
OECD, 2022
1. External QA of micro-credentials

8. 1
In 25+ countries, we found no national framework, standards or guidelines for micro-credentials. In many
cases, however, there is evidence of a plan or commitment in the future to integrating quality assurance standards
for micro-credentials within existing requirements.
No specific quality assurance standards for micro-credentials
1. External QA of micro-credentials

9. 1
In 25+ countries, we found no national framework, standards or guidelines for micro-credentials. In many
cases, however, there is evidence of a plan or commitment in the future to integrating quality assurance standards
for micro-credentials within existing requirements.
2
In Australia, Canada (x3), United Kingdom, Estonia, Spain (x2) and The Netherlands we found
common standards already apply for micro-credentials, and tangible evidence of a decision to extend the
application of existing standards for their quality assurance.
No specific quality assurance standards for micro-credentials
Common standards and quality assurance processes apply for micro-credentials
1. External QA of micro-credentials

10. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/education/post-secondary-education/micro-credentials/mc_framework.pdf
1. External QA of micro-credentials

11. 1. External QA of micro-credentials

12. https://www.education.gov.au/higher-education-publications/resources/national-microcredentials-framework
2022
Older Newer
1. External QA of micro-credentials

13. 1. External QA of micro-credentials
Germany
Spain
Estonia

14. 1
In 25+ countries, we found no national framework, standards or guidelines for micro-credentials. In many
cases, however, there is evidence of a plan or commitment in the future to integrating quality assurance standards
for micro-credentials within existing requirements.
2
In Australia, Canada (x3), United Kingdom, Estonia, Spain (x2) and The Netherlands we found
common standards already apply for micro-credentials, and tangible evidence of a decision to extend the
application of existing standards for their quality assurance.
3
In New Zealand, Malaysia and Ireland we identified a framework or specific standards or guidelines for
micro-credentials to address particular issues related to their quality assurance.
No specific quality assurance standards for micro-credentials
Common standards and quality assurance processes apply for micro-credentials
Specific guidelines and quality assurance processes developed for micro-credentials
1. External QA of micro-credentials

15. https://www.nzqa.govt.nz/assets/About-us/Publications/Insights/rationale-for-micro-credentials/Aotearoa-New-Zealands-rationale-for-micro-credentials.pdf
Does not include
universities
1. External QA of micro-credentials

16. 1. External QA of micro-credentials

17. https://www.thestar.com.my/news/education/2022/12/11/mqa-new-micro-credentials-policy-to-launch-soon
Opens market to
industry providers
1. External QA of micro-credentials

18. Specific QA issues for online [MCs]
Includes
M
icro-credentials
Organisational context
• Business continuity
• Access to IT infrastructure
• Learners outside of country
Programme context
• Online teaching experience
• Training and professional development
• Synchronous vs asynchronous delivery
Learner context
• Learner readiness
• Access to online resources
• Equivalency of learning support
1. External QA of micro-credentials

19. • Management, Staffing and
Administration
• Teaching, Learning and
Assessment
• Participant support
• Facilities
• Premises and facilities in the
case of face-to-face delivery
Standards and Indicators
https://www.the-bac.org/micro-credentials-pilot-scheme/
1. External QA of micro-credentials

20. 1. External QA of micro-credentials

21. 1. External QA of micro-credentials

22. 2. Institutional QA of micro-credentials

23. https://www.microcredseeker.edu.au
343
11
12
20/03/2023
93% Online
2. Institutional QA of micro-credentials

24. 2. Institutional QA of micro-credentials

25. https://cdn.csu.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/4137924/Micro-Credential-Framework.pdf
2. Institutional QA of micro-credentials

26. https://www.iua.ie/ourwork/learning-teaching/microcreds/
2. Institutional QA of micro-credentials

27. On-campus = 0
Hybrid = 0
Online = 150
Blended = 95
2. Institutional QA of micro-credentials
30/05/2023 https://microcreds.ie/

28. https://www.tcd.ie/teaching-learning/academic-affairs/postgraduate-education/microcredentials/§
QC ◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊
2. Institutional QA of micro-credentials

29. 2. Institutional QA of micro-credentials
A lost opportunity…
• Careers guidance
• Course quality rating
• Details on QA processes
• Learner support information
• Employability outcomes data
• Evidence of a connected system

30. 2. Institutional QA of micro-credentials

31. https://www.iteca.edu.au/ITECA/Content/News/2023/he-q2/mc.marketplace.shutdown.call.aspx
2. Institutional QA of micro-credentials

32. https://engage.eciu.eu/browse
2. Institutional QA of micro-credentials

33. Plan and Adjust
• Institutional leadership
• Organisational structures
• Business models and resource
allocation
• Policies, regulations &
pathways, including for online
delivery outside of country
• IT Systems and platforms
- Flexible enrolment
- LMS/VLE
- Digital badging/certificate
Implement Monitor
• Internal approval processes
• Appropriate workload models
• Professional learning and
support for MC development
• Peer review of learning design
• Appropriate assessment and
learner feedback strategies
• Study disclosure and learner
readiness for success
• Availability of learning
support and library resources
Quality Assurance Processes
and Supports
Strategy, Quality Culture and
Infrastructure
Feedback and Performance
Reporting
• Learning analytics data on
student engagement
• Retention, progression and
completion data
• Student experience data
• Employer satisfaction data
• Meets professional
accreditation requirements
• Graduate employment data
• Cyclic institutional review of
micro-credential offerings
2. Institutional QA of micro-credentials

34. https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/microcredentialtoolkit/
2022
3. Institutional supports to enhance quality assurance

35. https://www.qaa.ac.uk/the-quality-code/characteristics-statements/micro-credentials
3. Institutional supports to enhance quality assurance

36. https://www.nuffic.nl/en/subjects/recognition-projects/the-micro-evaluator
3. Institutional supports to enhance quality assurance

37. 3. Institutional supports to enhance quality assurance
https://zenodo.org/record/6483288#.Y2JT7C8w3Up
2022

38. https://www.versnellingsplan.nl/en/Kennisbank/pilot-microcredentials-2/
3. Institutional supports to enhance quality assurance

39. EUROPEAN QUALITY STANDARDS &
GUIDELINES
GUIDES & BENCHMARKING TOOLS
FOR ENHANCING QUALITY
COUNTRY SPECIFIC QUALITY
GUIDELINES & FRAMEWORKS
New QA considerations? Enabling or Constraining? Fostering Quality Conversations!
Final Remarks

40. https://www.dcu.ie/nidl/micro-credential-observatory
Final Remarks

41. Thank you
Professor Mark Brown
Director, National Institute for Digital Learning
Dublin City University
Ireland
mark.brown@dcu.ie
Contact details…