Setting the Stage:
Introduction to Micro-credentials
7th November 2021
Professor Mark Brown
Dublin City University
Photo by Kyle Glenn on Unsplash
@mbrownz
• What is a micro-credential?
• Why the interest in micro-credentials?
• How do you implement micro-credentials?
Questions…
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5
https://www.dcu.ie/nidl
https://www.dcu.ie/nidl
1. What is a micro-credential?
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Credit Bearing
Non Credit Bearing
Bundled Unbundled
Credential
Ecology
Macro-credentials
Formal Accredited
Degrees
(Brown et al., 2020)
What?
Credit Bearing
Non Credit Bearing
Bundled Unbundled
Credential
Ecology
Macro-credentials
Formal Accredited
Degrees
Micro-credentials
Formal & Semi Formal
Accredited & Stackable
Nano-credentials
Informal & Non-Formal
Digital Badges & Certificates
Non-status Awards
Semi-Formal Courses
Non-Accredited
(Brown et al., 2020)
What?
TWIG, 2021
500,000 Canadians annually seek to complete St. John’s certificates
Since 1833
What?
What?
Report launch in March 2021…
What?
What?
“A micro-credential is a proof of learning outcomes
that a learner has acquired after a short learning experience.
These learning outcomes have been assessed
against transparent standards”
What?
Our team undertook a major literature review
on contract to European Commission
What?
State of the Art Literature Review on Micro-credentials
What?
What?
2. Why the interest in micro-credentials?
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Lifelong Learning
§
§
Employability
65%
48%
Why?
Why?
Why?
OECD, 2021
Increasing Supply
Why?
Why?
23
“Microcredentialing is an
outgrowth of the neoliberal
learning economy. In this
economy, education resembles a
commodity, a product, or service
marketed and sold like any other
commodity” (p. 2).
Why?
Why?
Why?
September 2021 - $5.6m
Why?
Why?
Why?
Why?
Photo by Matthew Henry on Unsplash
Sheepskin Effect
Why?
31
11.1%
Why?
Why?
Note. Data from adults between ages 25 and 64. From Adult education level [Indicator], by OECD, 2021a
(https://doi.org/10.1787/36bce3fe-en). In the public domain.
Education Attainment in Costa Rica
Why?
Equity
SDGS
Why?
3. How do you implement micro-credentials?
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How?
(Presant, 2020)
VET
Employers
HEIs
How?
How?
How?
€7m
2021
Report launch in January 2021…
How?
European Qualifications Framework
How?
How?
What word best encapsulates your view?
How?
Final remark…
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“Micro-credentials
should be in the service of
big ideas,
not as a big idea
in itself”
Go raibh maith
agaibh!
Thank you

Setting the Scene: Introduction to Micro-credentials