What are micro credentials?
Micro credentials are a new trend in education that are gaining popularity due to the number of benefits they provide, both to businesses and their staff. In 2019, The National Centre for Vocational Education Research stated that 2.6 million students were enrolled in a subject that do not form part of a nationally recognised course.
Micro credentials are a recognition of completed training of a short course, a series of courses, or an entire skill set that prove the employee now has the skills and knowledge in that subject area. Recognition can include a digital badge that can be proudly displayed on a LinkedIn profile as a testament to a short course completed in a subject relevant to your profile. Another example is statement of attainment for courses that are accredited, for example our Construction Induction (White Card) course.
Paul Konig, Chisholm General Manager of Workforce Solutions has seen the shift in the education landscape.
Paul says, “The education landscape is changing with growing demand for short form courses. Chisholm see micro credentials as a great tool for individuals that are unsure of their career path and are seeking an immersion or taster or looking to upskill into a new career opportunity.”
Benefits of micro credentials
A major benefit to business is that employees can upskill in a short amount of time, minimising the time away from their job.
Micro credential courses are industry relevant, and can be personalised to eliminate knowledge gaps in your workforce. Employers can scale up or down, based on organisational need and focus on key training needs, versus a blanket approach to training, thus saving time and money. Micro credentials are another option for businesses when they are mapping out people development plans based on business forecasts.
Employees also benefit from a micro credential as it can address their career objectives and aspirations.
Professional development fills the desire to learn new skills, and boosts morale, as it demonstrates the business values them, by investing in their professional growth. This in turn acts as a mechanism to drive employee loyalty and reduce attrition.
In addition, employers that promote training and development can use micro credentials as a method to attract and recruit new employees.
Micro credentials training can be stackable, meaning that those employees with the desire to complete a full certification can stack them on as a pathway to full certification. While stackable training is not mandatory as a micro credential, it can be a way to complement existing qualifications or be a new standalone micro credential.
Paul says, “Chisholm have identified that stackable micro credentials that lead to learning pathways is the future of supporting individual’s learning journey while supporting industry demand. “
How to choose a micro credential
When searching for a micro credential or a skill set for your organisation, make sure your employees are trained by a reputable organisation like Chisholm. We have a range of short courses and skill sets across many industries which ensures a relevant learning experience and a quality practical outcome.
“Chisholm selects micro credentials that support the pull of Industry demand and choose to push nationally recognised micro credentials towards government priority areas and industry needs.” Paul says
A Deloitte study examining attitudes of post bachelor formal learning noted that affordability, flexibility and industry reputation are key considerations for those wanting to engage in formal learning with 54% of research respondents preferring short courses.
Determine the best fit for course delivery. Micro credential courses are flexible, convenient and easy to complete, as they can be delivered in a variety of modes: online, face-to-face or blended style. They can be conducted at your workplace or on a Chisholm campus.
Micro credentials are no longer an educational buzzword, and should be viewed as part of the employer training and development toolkit, by ensuring your teams are skilled in the latest industry trends and empowering your business to maintain its competitive advantage.
Like to know more?
Contact an Industry Specialist to learn more about how Chisholm’s short courses and skill sets could help your business.
