PriMera Scientific Engineering (ISSN: 2834-2550)

Review Article

Volume 5 Issue 6

Gaps in the Quality Assurance of Micro-Credentials

Sirje Virkus* and Sigrid Mandre

November 28, 2024

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Abstract

Micro-credentials have emerged as a flexible, personalised approach to skills development, serving a variety of learner and industry needs. These credentials offer opportunities for learners to upskill or reskill in a more focused and accessible manner, while enabling employers to address specific skills gaps efficiently. Despite their rising popularity and potential to transform education and workforce development, significant questions surrounding the quality assurance persist. Issues related to the standardisation, transparency, and transferability of micro-credentials pose challenges for both learners and employers seeking to validate and recognise them across different contexts. This paper examines the critical gaps in the quality assurance of micro-credentials, focusing on key areas such as standardisation, recognition, assessment rigor, and alignment with industry standards. It explores the complexity of integrating micro-credentials into existing educational ecosystems and the need for consistent practices that ensure credibility and comparability. Through an analysis of existing literature, this study highlights the pressing need for robust frameworks and alignment mechanisms that guarantee the quality and value of micro-credentials. Furthermore, it highlights the importance of collaboration between educational institutions, industry partners, and policymakers in building a sustainable infrastructure that ensures the integrity and portability of micro-credentials within the broader educational and employment landscape.

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