This is a flexible and modern alternative that seeks to respond to the needs of today’s job market. In this article, we explain everything you need to know about microcredentials and why you might want to apply for them at your university or make sure you get into an educational institution that offers them.
Page Contents
What are microcredentials?
A microcredential is a record of a short learning experience that has been validated through quality assurance procedures. This modular format is designed to certify specific knowledge, skills, and competencies to meet labor market needs.
During a university degree, it’s common to have a wide range of training activities that run parallel to obtaining the e-degree. Whether you’re managing coursework yourself or considering help from an online exam taker, these activities, until now, were more valuable as personal learning experiences than as demonstrable knowledge and experience. Microcredentials address this gap.
Microcredentials are digital certifications
Unlike traditional university degrees, microcredentials are shorter, more flexible, and allow for rapid response to student demands.
According to ANECA (National Agency for Quality Assessment and Accreditation), in Spain, microcredentials allow for the accumulation and transfer of learning in a flexible format, supported by European standards such as the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) and the European Higher Education Area (EHEA).
These credentials can range from short courses to specialized workshops and are often linked to specific skills, such as technological tools, digital skills, or language skills.
What are they for and who do they benefit?
Microcredentials are key to:
- Students : Facilitate access to specific training programs, adapted to their needs and times.
- Professionals : They help update knowledge and skills, improving their employability.
- Universities : They offer a tool to diversify their educational offerings and attract new student profiles.
- Society : They promote social inclusion and equal opportunities in education.
This format also promotes the digital and green transition, encouraging adaptation to the challenges of a constantly changing labor market.
What does ANECA propose?
ANECA, as a key organization in ensuring educational quality, has established a roadmap to promote and guarantee the quality of microcredentials. Its initiatives include:
- Implement internal and external quality assurance systems.
- Define the guidelines for the issuance and certification of these credentials.
- Promote the accumulation and automatic recognition of micro-credentials in the European Higher Education Area (EHEA).
- Collaborate with European and national networks to standardize procedures and formats.
Is there regulation in the Spanish university system?
Universities can adopt microcredentials as the format for certain formal learning experiences, configured as continuing education courses within their own academic programs, regulated by Royal Decree 822/2021. Microcredentials are also the format for a broader catalog of formal, non-formal, and informal learning experiences, the results of which can be validated, according to ANECA (Spanish Association of University Authorities).
Who can issue microcredentials?
According to the Spanish regulatory framework (Royal Decree 822/2021), microcredentials can be issued by:
- Universities and higher education centers.
- Public and private organizations.
- Companies, employers and professional associations.
- Public administrations and employment services.
What should a microcredential include?
A microcredential must contain key information to ensure the principles of authenticity and transparency, such as:
- Student identification.
- Title and objectives of the microcredential.
- Learning outcomes.
- Workload in hours or ECTS credits.
- Quality assurance procedures.
- Date and place of issue.
- Provider that issues the microcredential.
Broadcast format
Microcredentials are issued in digital formats such as PDFs with advanced electronic signatures and can be generated on platforms that include blockchain technology, ensuring their immutability and rapid verification. For students who need to take exam certifications seriously, these microcredentials provide a secure and verifiable way to showcase their achievements.
How is the quality and reliability of a microcredential guaranteed?
Quality is ensured by:
- Internal assurance : Suppliers must implement internal quality and safety systems aligned with European standards.
- External assurance : Agencies such as ANECA certify internal quality systems.
Furthermore, the use of technologies such as blockchain and digital credentials (EDC) reinforces the authenticity and portability of microcredentials.
Microcredentials must also adhere to the principle of portability . Those who obtain them must be able to access them easily through secure digital platforms and wallets such as Europass , which comply with the European Digital Credentials ( EDC ) and Blockchain Services Infrastructure ( EBSI ) standards for generating digital university credentials and are in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation.
How do we help universities in Spain issue microcredentials?
At SIGNE, we have extensive experience in printing university degrees and issuing legally valid electronic academic documents. Our services include:
- Personalized advice: We provide guidance on compliance with regulations and quality standards and assist you in the implementation of your digital certification projects.
- Design: We design and issue customized micro-credentials tailored to your educational institution’s graphic identity.
- Advanced technology: We implement advanced electronic signature systems and blockchain to guarantee the authenticity of your microcredentials.
Thanks to our solutions, your university will be able to adapt to the current demands of higher education, offering more flexible and innovative formats.
