This document discusses micro-credentials and their potential role in Ireland. It begins by defining micro-credentials as certifications of assessed learning that are additional, alternative, or complementary to formal qualifications. It then discusses three types of micro-credentials and how they relate to formal degrees and short courses. The document suggests a focus on micro-credentials is needed because the nature of work is changing. It poses questions about how much weight Irish employers currently give to micro-credentials and how Ireland might respond by developing credit-bearing micro-credentials beyond just informal badges. The document was presented by professors from the National Institute for Digital Learning at Dublin City University.

1. Prof. Mark Brown & Prof. Mairéad Nic Giolla Mhichíl
@mbrownz & @mngm1
National Institute for Digital Learning
Dublin City University
14th July 2020
Certifying Your Future:
Making Sense of Micro-credentials

2. • What are they?
• Why focus on them?
• How might Ireland respond?
Certifying Your Future:
Making Sense of Micro-credentials

3. • How would you rate your current knowledge
of micro-credentials?
Starter Question

4. “Micro-credentials
should be in the service of
big ideas,
not as a big idea
in itself”
(adapted from Barnett, 2011)

5. 1.What are they?

9. “A micro-credential is a certification of assessed learning that
is additional, alternate, complementary to or a formal
component of a formal qualification” (Oliver, 2019, p. i).

10. Type 1
x Axis
Vertical
Life-Long Learning
Formal & Non-formal
Stackable
Credit-bearing

11. Type 2
y axis
Horizontal
Life-wide Learning
Informal & Non-formal

12. Type 3
Diagonal
Professional
Non-formal & Semi-formal

13. Credit Bearing
Non Credit Bearing
Bundled Unbundled
Credential
Ecology

14. Formal Accredited
Degrees
Credit Bearing
Non Credit Bearing
Bundled Unbundled
Credential
Ecology

15. Formal & Semi-Formal
Micro-credentials
Non-Formal &
Informal Badges
Formal Accredited
Degrees
Credit Bearing
Non Credit Bearing
Semi-Formal
Short Courses
Bundled Unbundled
Credential
Ecology

16. 2. Why a focus on them?

18. 2018
Changing nature of work!

21. • How much weight do Irish employers
give to micro-credentials when hiring?
Follow Up Question

22. 2019

23. 3. How might Ireland respond?

26. Beyond Warm Body Badges

27. Credit-bearing

31. Badges & micro-credentials
Commercial in Confidence

35. http://www4.dcu.ie/nidl
Further
Info

36. Go raibh maith
agaibh!
Thank you