Micro-credentials examples from across Europe

SwissCore together with EARLALL focused on current development on micro-credentials and highlighted examples from across Europe.

SwissCore, together with EARLALL, organised a webinar and online roundtable on a European approach to micro-credentials. The event was moderated by Noelia Cantero, EARLALL Director, Maria Pascual, Head of the International Projects Unit for VET, Department of Education of the government of Catalonia, and Laurin Reding, Education Advisor at SwissCore.

The webinar was kicked-off with a presentation on the European Commission’s (EC) Proposal for a Council Recommendation on micro-credentials for lifelong learning and employability by William O’Keeffe (for background, see SwissCore article). The proposal will put forward a common definition and elements for the description, design and issuance of micro-credentials with the goal to support and provide guidance for the implementation and regulation of micro-credentials at a national level. The recommendation is expected to be adopted by the Council of the EU in June 2022.

Following the EC’s presentation of the European approach, the webinar put concrete examples and perspectives by education actors in the centre. First, representatives from the Automotive Skills Alliance shared their approach and framework to use micro-credentials at a European level as an element of the Pact for Skills. Second, representatives from different countries in Europe shared their experience and visions for micro-credentials in a virtual roundtable. Dr Emma Francis from the Irish Universities Association presented their MicroCreds project, which establishes a national framework for the use of micro-credentials for the higher education sector in Ireland. Afterwards, Pascal Paschoud, President of the Swiss University Continuing Education Network (swissuni) and a member of the Steering Committee of the European University Continuing Education Network (eucen) as well as Executive Director for Further Education at EPFL, shared the Swiss perspective and the Swiss framework of Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS). Subsequently, Björn Flintberg, Project Leader at the Research Institute of Sweden, shared insights from their pilot project for the use of micro-credentials to up and reskills people in Sweden. Lastly, Cristina Marfil, Technical Advisor at the Directorate-General for Vocational Education and Training, Regional Ministry of Education of the Government of Catalonia, presented the new law in Spain regarding recognition and application of micro-credentials, followed by Neus Caufapé, Principal of Institut Escola del treball de Lleida, who described the MicroVET project funded by Erasmus+.

Recording of the webinar: here

Presentations