QA agencies are responding to micro-credentials in three main ways: 1) Many countries have no framework for micro-credentials but plan to integrate them into existing QA standards. 2) Some countries like Australia, Canada, and the UK apply existing standards to micro-credentials. 3) A few places including Malaysia, New Zealand, and Ireland have specific guidelines for micro-credential QA. Leading institutions are responding by developing micro-credential frameworks, marketplaces, and integrating them into learning and teaching strategies. However, there are still holes like lack of course quality ratings, outcomes data, and learner support information that limit micro-credentials. Stakeholders are discussing how to strengthen quality assurance for online and cross-

1. Photo by Derril Roy on Unsplash
6th November 2023
Professor Mark Brown
Dublin City University

2. Photo by David Clode on Unsplash
“Micro-credentials when done right, can
be like a tiny caterpillar transforming
into a beautiful butterfly.

3. “However, when done wrong, all you may end up with
is a really fast caterpillar”
Photo by Andrew Claypool on Unsplash
(adapted from Westerman; cited in Bozkurt & Sharma, 2022, p. ii).

4. How are QA agencies responding?
How are leading institutions responding?
Where are the holes keeping us from flying?
Outline

5. Before we start…

6. 1. How are QA agencies responding?

7. https://www.enqa.eu/wp-content/uploads/IMINQA-MC-report_Approaches-to-Quality-Assurance-of-Micro-credentials.pdf
1. How are QA agencies responding?

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. How are QA agencies responding?

9. 1
In 25+ countries, we found no national framework, standards or guidelines for micro-credentials. In some
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), Germany 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. How are QA agencies responding?

10. https://www.qaa.ac.uk/the-quality-code/characteristics-statements/micro-credentials
1. How are QA agencies responding?

11. https://www.education.gov.au/higher-education-publications/resources/national-microcredentials-framework
2022
1. How are QA agencies responding?
Enabling

12. https://oucqa.ca/framework/definitions/
Institutional QA
Processes
1. How are QA agencies responding?

13. 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 Malaysia, New Zealand, 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. How are QA agencies responding?

14. 2023 October
Inclusive of
M
icro-credentials
1. How are QA agencies responding?

15. 1. How are QA agencies responding?

16. • 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. How are QA agencies responding?

17. 2. How are leading institutions responding?

18. 2. How are leading institutions responding?

19. http://peqab.ca/Publications/OMC%20final%20for%20posting%20FINAL.pdf
2. How are leading institutions responding?

20. https://www.microcredseeker.edu.au
343
11
12
20/03/2023
93% Online
2. How are leading institutions responding?

21. 2. How are leading institutions responding?

22. https://cdn.csu.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/4137924/Micro-Credential-Framework.pdf
2. How are leading institutions responding?

23. On-campus = 0
Hybrid = 0
Online = 150
Blended = 95
30/05/2023 https://microcreds.ie/
2. How are leading institutions responding?

24. https://www.tcd.ie/teaching-learning/academic-affairs/postgraduate-education/microcredentials/§
QC ◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊
2. How are leading institutions responding?

25. https://www.versnellingsplan.nl/en/Kennisbank/pilot-microcredentials-2/
2. How are leading institutions responding?

26. 3. Where are the holes keeping us from flying?

27. • No course quality rating
• Limited careers guidance
• No learner support information
• Limited details on QA processes
• Little or no outcomes data
3. Where are the holes keeping us from flying?
A lost opportunity…

28. 3. Where are the holes keeping us from flying?
Large holes in the data
Photo by Arjun MJ on Unsplash

29. Doesn’t give students
good advice
https://www.iteca.edu.au/ITECA/Content/News/2023/he-q2/mc.marketplace.shutdown.call.aspx
3. Where are the holes keeping us from flying?

30. Photo by Alexas_Fotos on Unsplash
3. Where are the holes keeping us from flying?
Outside of Country

31. https://jime.open.ac.uk/
3. Where are the holes keeping us from flying?

32. 12%
2020 Survey
3. Where are the holes keeping us from flying?

33. EUROPEAN STANDARDS AND
GUIDELINES
GUIDES AND BENCHMARKING TOOLS
FOR ENHANCING QUALITY
COUNTRY SPECIFIC QUALITY
FRAMEWORKS AND GUIDELINES
Final remarks
New QA considerations? Enabling or Constraining? Quality Conversations!
2018

34. “How does one become a beautiful butterfly…
you must want to fly so much that you are willing
to give up being a caterpillar”.
Photo by Sonika Agarwal on Unsplash
(Trina Paulus, adapted from A. A. Milne, 1922).

35. Questions for discussion
How could we strengthen ESGs to enhance quality
assurance for micro-credentials offered fully online and to
learners outside of country?
Where in Europe can we find good examples of institutions
responding to the quality assurance considerations related to
micro-credentials?
How can we better engage learners as partners and key
stakeholders in developing quality assurance practices for
micro-credentials?