Micro-Credentials can support the National Skills Agenda

Our fourth MicroNet event entitled  Micro-Credentials can support the National Skills Agenda was hosted by QQI and took place on 30th January 2024.

The MicroNet project aims to drive the awareness, delivery and acceptance of micro-credentials as a learning tool fit for 21^st  century European citizens, aligning with the direction of the European Skills agenda (EC, 2020 – Action 10 on Micro-credentials), showcasing our common drive to a climate neutral Europe (European Green Deal, EC, 2019) together with the empowerment of citizens and enterprise in a sustainable and more prosperous European digital future (Europe’s Digital Decade: Digital targets for 2030, EC, 2021).

The purpose of the event was to highlight the role micro-credentials can play in supporting greater participation in lifelong learning, promoting workplace innovation and skills development – in a time of rapid change in terms of digitalisation, globalisation, climate and demographic change.  Micro-credentials are relatively small learning opportunities that are designed to meet the needs of learners and employers.  The programmes are generally very focussed on specific skill areas and developed in collaboration between industry and education and training providers.

The keynote address was made by Simon Roy, Head of Higher Education Policy, OECD.  He presented the international context and the outcome of the recent (May 2023) OECD Skills Strategy Project Review for Ireland. See below. This was followed by contributions from The Skills and Labour Market Research Unit (SOLAS) and the Employment and Recruitment Federation.  Employers and learners will then provide commentary and feedback on the above presentations.

Relevant reading material and links that will help inform the agenda and the discussion include:

• MicroNet | Irish Universities Association (iua.ie)
• Data on HE micro-credentials in Ireland 2014-2023 | Quality and Qualifications Ireland (qqi.ie)
• OECD (2023), “Public policies for effective micro-credential learning”, OECD Education Policy Perspectives, No. 85, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/a41f148b-en.
• OECD (2023), “Micro-credential policy implementation in Finland, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Spain”, OECD Education Policy Perspectives, No. 86, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/c3daa488-en.
• OECD Skills Strategy Ireland: Assessment and Recommendations | en | OECD