UGC Chairman Explains The Importance Of Micro-Credentials In Higher Education (Image: X/@mamidala90)
UGC Chairman Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar explained the importance of Micro-credentials in Higher Education, via an Op-Ed Article. He said that Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) in India must play a much more active role in ensuring the employability to students.
Emphasising the role of Micro-credentials as a disruptive way of bridging the gap between employability and modern skills, Chairman says, they are evolving as the new normal in higher education due to their flexibility, accessibility and advantages. He pointed out the changing hiring practices with a tendency to prioritising skills over degrees.
Micro-credentials include short-duration learning activities with a proof of specific learning outcomes, validated via a standard assessment process. Offered in online, physical or hybrid mode these courses are of short duration in contrast to macro credential such as Under graduate degrees.
In an Op-Ed article, UGC Chairman @mamidala90 explains the importance of Micro-credentials in Higher Education. He says “Higher education institutes in India can be the catalysts in integrating Micro-credentials with existing academic programmes”.
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— UGC INDIA (@ugc_india) February 5, 2024
Not only the students enrolled in various HEIs but the professionals may also benefit under the micro-credential system. “Working professionals who may not be able to attend a formal degree programme in a university can also learn from this”, says UGC Chairman.
Multiple players such as Google, LinkedIn, Microsoft, Coursera and others offer micro-credentials, informed the chairman. Institutes in Australia, Canada, Europe, UK and US are also engaged in providing them.
“In micro-credentials the trend is to associate the credit with the notional hours spent acquiring a defined minimum competency. As this makes micro-credential credits consistent with those in conventional higher education, they can be universally validated and recognised”, he wrote
He emphasised on aligning of micro-credentials with higher education standards in the areas of delivery, assessment, grading and the awarding of qualifications. “For students in Indian universities this can open up opportunities in integrating diverse skills as a part of their regular education”, he said.
“With the focus of the National Education Policy 2020 on providing skilled education to students right from school to the higher levels, and with employers looking for young employees with adequate skills and competencies to boost productivity, learners are increasing viewing micro-credentials as a value-added advantage”, Chairman added.
He suggested that Indian HEIs must serve as an agent of transformation by introducing micro-credentials as a vital element of their strategic institutional objectives.
