From an evening workshop at the local high school to an internal corporate management workshop, almost everyone has taken part in a short-term learning experience at some point in their life.

Some short courses are purely for personal development (fancy a Learn to Draw course or French for Beginners – or even Dhembe Drumming?). But short courses fill needs for skills in the workplace too. And those needs are growing.

A 2020 McKinsey Global Survey on future workforce needs found that nearly nine in ten executives and managers said their organisations were either already facing skill gaps or expected gaps to develop within the next five years.

One way to help close these skills gaps is short, tailored education programmes. Enter a relatively new buzzword: micro-credential.

What is a micro-credential?

The Times Higher Education website says a micro-credential is a mini qualification aimed at helping individuals learn new skills, progress in their careers or change careers entirely. Also called micro-degrees or nano-degrees, they are often on-demand online courses that can be completed in a person’s own time. They are designed to be fast and specialised. Many are offered by universities, educators and industry bodies, which work together to fill a “skill gap” in their field.

Students are likely to receive a digital certificate or “badge” which can be attached to a CV, added to your LinkedIn profile or included in a portfolio when applying for jobs.

Examples of the fields or topics which can be covered by micro-credentials include agile leadership and management, educational leadership, project management, boosting digital marketing expertise, tools for climate change or transforming your organisation for sustainability… the list is endless!

Benefits of micro-credentials

There’s a lot to like about these learning experiences:

Accessibility and flexibility: Many are offered online, allowing learners to acquire new skills from a venue of their choice. This flexibility is particularly appealing to professionals seeking to upskill or reskill without taking a significant hiatus from their careers.

Industry and business friendly: Micro-credentials cater to the demands of an ever-changing job market, providing a quick and efficient way for people to stay relevant their fields.

Good career moves: For people starting out in their careers, or for those thinking of changing jobs, micro-credentials serve as proof of their commitment to staying abreast of industry trends and evolving with the demands of their profession.

Budget-friendly: These courses are often affordable (some are even free), making them more accessible to a wider audience than traditional MBA or university-accredited courses which can be expensive and require extensive time commitments.

It’s undoubtedly a good move to include micro-credentials in a CV. Coursera, an online course provider, surveyed nearly 5,000 students and employers across 11 countries (Australia, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States), and found that employers are on average 72% more likely to hire a candidate who has earned an industry micro-credential, and 88% of employers agree or strongly agree that a professional certificate strengthens a candidate’s application.

What to beware of with micro-credentials

But not all micro-credentials are created equal. University World News says that a critical issue is the extent to which a micro-credential will be recognised as valid by government authorities, higher education institutions and employers.

If a micro-credential is not part of a qualifications framework or is not offered by an educational institution or industry body, the student has no easy assurance of quality or that their hard-earned qualification will be recognised.

The way in which micro-credentials fit into wider education frameworks is such a critical issue that the European Union has been working on a unified approach to them, while UNESCO is looking for a common definition of a micro-credential.

These international bodies are working on the issue because there is no universal framework that includes a consistent language around micro-credentials and quality assurance mechanisms, says Cherie Diaz, managing director Australia at OpenLearning, a large online education platform.

How to find the right micro-credential

When choosing a micro-credential provider, look for these signs of quality:

Is it part of a national qualifications framework (NQF) in your country or region? Not all countries have NQFs, so another way to find a course is to look for one that’s recommended by your professional body.

Is it offered by a well-established organisation or educational platforms? Research the credibility of the course provider and investigate whether it is recognised in your industry. Look for previous students’ reviews on social media, or message professionals on LinkedIn with micro-credential badges to ask about their experiences.

Is it fit for purpose? Does it give you marketable skills in the industry you wish to enter? See if the course lists the learning outcomes. And then research the current skills of someone higher up in your industry, or in the job you want.

Does the course offer practical experience? Micro-credentials that involve hands-on projects, case studies, or real-world applications are likely to be more valuable than those focused solely on theoretical knowledge. Ask if you can build a portfolio of evidence that is likely to be useful to your career.

What’s the educational model? Does the course offer activities that enable you to build upon your current experience and build a connection with your peers.

How much support is offered to learners? Is there a tutor who can guide you when needed, or does the course offer a platform on which students can help each other?

How is your learning assessed? Does it enable you to demonstrate your skills/understanding or is it just multiple choice?

So yes – you should be working on improving your CV with micro-credentials! But do your homework before signing up.