University of Southern Denmark
Part 1:
The University of Southern Denmark don’t use micro credentials.
TalTech
Part 1:
TalTech provides micro credentials in the form of micro-degrees, which as average consist of 2-3 items from degree study programmes and are offered to lifelong learners. TalTech has offered micro-degrees for 4 years already, this September has seen the growth of micro-degrees students by 20%. We started with 49 micro-degrees programmes this fall.
Part 2:
The government is going to amend the Adult Education’s Act to define micro-degrees and micro credentials in the legislative act. This act should come into law starting from 2025. Government and the Ministry of Education and Science have been very vocal in promoting the shorter learning experiences to get adults back to finish their degree studies and to relearn and upskill their knowledge to be competitive on the labour market. All the universities have answered to this “call-of-action”.
University of Oulu
Part 1:
University of Oulu offers small, tailored learning experiences in the form of open university web-based courses (for example: https://joy.oulu.fi/fi/koulutushaku/ohjelmoinnin-alkeet-avoin-yo-4 or https://joy.oulu.fi/fi/koulutushaku/projektinhallinta-avoin-yo-2). University of Oulu open university courses are also offered in the network university FiTech’s platform (see: https://fitech.io/en/) where the learner gets a digital FiTech badge as a proof of the acquired skills. University of Oulu also offers smaller micro-credentials type learning opportunities in the form of open badges. The open badges are aligned with the portability and stackability objectives of micro-credentials, as defined by the EU commission. For example, students who act as a student tutor earn open badges either on the basic level: https://openbadgepassport.com/app/badge/info/509273 or super level: https://openbadgefactory.com/v1/assertion/de069ecd20445dc8b2b9de60e944d55f32caebb4.html Since the needs of the learners and the society are evolving rapidly we follow keenly and work actively for the development of new kind of flexible learning opportunities.”
Comments:
As defined by the EU commission (see: https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-9237-2022-INIT/en/pdf) micro-credentials mean the record of the learning outcomes that a learner has acquired following a small volume of non-formal or formal learning provided by a diverse body of organizations, including universities.
Aalto University
Part 1:
Aalto University has started to offer micro-credentials. Aalto has also in past had academically validated, ECTS credited continuous education programmes, thus micro-credentials are a seamless development in our lifewide learning offering portfolio.
Part 2:
Finland has at the moment a project ongoing, where the government will invest 3M€, the objective being the development of the national framework for micro-credentials. SECLE (The Service Centre for Continuous Learning and Employment) will choose 8 providers through a tendering process to work in the project where the framework, processes and actual micro-credentials will be developed.
Reykjavik University
Part 1:
Reykjavik University is just beginning its journey into microlearning. This autumn, we will offer two shorter master’s degree programs in the sports science department, defined as micro-credentials. We anticipate more developments in this area and are awaiting further guidance from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation.
Part 2:
Amendments to the law on universities (effective March 31, 2024) now allow universities to define micro-credentials for study units at levels specified in higher education and degree criteria. Implementation instructions from the ministry are expected this fall.
Riga Technical University
Part 1:
Riga Technical University (RTU) has embraced the use of micro-credentials as part of its commitment to modernizing education and addressing the changing demands of the labour market. RTU has taken several steps to integrate micro-credentials into its educational offerings by introducing flexible learning pathways together with industry partners developing micro-credential offers that are aligned with the current needs of the labour market.
As a part of the strategy RTU use online and blended learning platforms and is involved in various European Union education and research programs, many of which promote the use of micro-credentials. To sum up – RTU actively uses micro-credentials to offer flexible, industry-aligned learning opportunities. University provides short courses that allow students to earn credentials in specific skills, especially in areas like engineering, IT, and digital technologies.
Part 2:
In Latvia the government and authorities have been actively supporting the use of micro-credentials as part of broader efforts to modernize the education and training system aligning it with European Union. Latvian Ministry of Education and Science encourages educational institutions to develop and implement short, flexible learning modules that lead to micro-credentials, which are often tailored to labour market needs and integration into Lifelong Learning Strategy. Latvian authorities also work on development and implementation of digitalization Initiatives as well as on funding for micro-credential programs. One of aims is creating clear pathways for the formal recognition of micro-credentials, ensuring that they can be included in official qualification frameworks and counted toward degrees or professional certifications.
Kaunas University of Technology
Part 1:
Kaunas University of Technology is part of the European University ECIU (https://www.eciu.eu/), and all the learning opportunities proposed in it lead to micro-credentials.
Part 2:
Micro credentials are not yet incorporated into the legal system in Lithuania and the practical aspect of their recognition is not yet settled. However, discussions are ongoing, and institutions are cooperating in providing support for the development of the Micro credentials system.
NTNU
Part 1:
NTNU supports the use of Micro-credentials. However, the list of courses with less than 7.5 ECTS is rather short (approx. 35 courses). The courses are offered to both individual students and for groups of students in a company (in which the content may be aligned with the company’s needs).
Part 2:
The Norwegian government has an ambition to make higher education available for a greater portion of our inhabitants. The use of Micro-credentials is one of the tools that can be used to achieve this. The government has established an industry program for competence development in selected sectors. The subsidy program offer support to projects where universities join forces with industry partners to develop competence development programs in general. Since the idea is to offer courses for employees in a company alongside their full-time jobs, the courses will be similar to micro-credentials.
University of Stavanger
Part 1:
Yes, related to our membership in European University alliance ECIU
Part 2:
The use is not sufficiently supported financially. Our university funding is related to total ECTS production and Micro credentials are very resource demanding per produced ECTS, especially from admin side.
The Arctic University of Norway
Part 1:
The university is now in a process of establishing 10 to 15 micro credentials (2,5 ECTS each). They will be available to our students from the autumn of 2025. The micro credentials are primarily targeted to discipline based bachelor studies, which shall have 10 ECTS of micro credentials. For profession-based studies (such as engineering) we are now thinking on how to incorporate micro credentials into the bachelor study programmes, but it has not yet been decided.
Part 2:
The current government supports lifelong learning through development of flexible and decentralized studies. Micro credentials give possibility to provide continuing education to different groups of students. The universities are of course responsible to develop micro credentials that support the defined learning outcomes of an education.
Uppsala University
Part 1:
Uppsala University provides a wide range of courses that can be taken outside of a study program. Most often these courses are 5 credits but the possibility to create shorter courses is discussed. Currently the university allows fewer credits for courses within the special framework of lifelong learning.
Part 2:
The university receives economic support for micro credentials just as we get support for courses within study programs. We are to a large extent allowed to make our own decisions regarding to which extent we offer shorter courses outside programs.
Linköping University
Part 1:
Yes, we use and can issue micro credentials at LiU. So far, the demand has not yet been so high, but within ECIU (i.e. our EUI) the request is more frequent.
Part 2:
A national document for guidance for micro-credential has been presented by SUHF (The Association of Swedish Higher Education Institutions). However, there is a need to increase the knowledge on micro-credentials at a national level and to make it a well-known part of the HEI’s offerings.
Luleå University of Technology
Part 1:
Luleå University of Technology is reviewing the use of micro-credentials. The university offers independent courses that are quality assured and provide academic credits, in accordance with EU standards for micro-credentials.
Part 2:
Yes, in Sweden there are guidelines and policies for micro-credentials. According to the report “Guidance on Micro-credentials” (Vägledning om mikromeriter), Link: Guideline-on-Micro-Credentials from the Association of Swedish Higher Education Institutions (SUHF) from March 2024, there is a framework and guidance for micro-credentials offered as credit-bearing courses at Swedish universities. These guidelines cover quality assurance, documentation, and recognition of micro-credentials, as well as their design to meet the needs of the labor market and individuals for lifelong learning. Swedish micro-credentials adhere to EU standards and principles, and there are also national directives on how micro-credentials should be integrated into higher education and documented in systems such as Ladok. The government also fund educational projects and collaborate with labor market partners to promote lifelong learning and skills development.
Umeå University
Part 1:
Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, does not practice the use of Micro credentials. However, we offer stand-alone courses (fristående kurser) that in principle could be used for Micro credentials, but we do not issue certificates according to the European Commission’s definition and standards of Micro Credentials.
“A micro-credential is a proof of the learning out-comes that a learner has acquired following a short learning experience. These learning outcomes have been assessed against transparent standards”.
Part 2:
The Association of Swedish Higher Education Institutions (SUHF), has recently published guidelines for Micro Credentials in Swedish higher education, Link: Guideline-on-Micro-Credentials
One of the conclusions of the report is that stand-alone courses that give higher education credits and are quality assured by Swedish universities meet the EU’s standards for Micro credentials. Another conclusion, in the SUHF report, is that Sweden has an excellent, module-based and flexible basic structure for higher education, with potential that is not fully utilized at present.
Mid Sweden University
Part 1:
Not beyond normal free-standing courses. Swedish free-standing courses may be looked upon as micro credentials. However, we do not offer very short free-standing courses at the moment. Usually 7.5 hp. We have been considering much shorter courses that may be combined to learning blocks. Not implemented.
Part 2:
Yes and no. Free standing courses is not a high priority politically at the moment. However, there is no real hinder either.
Mälardalen University
Part 1:
MDU offers hundreds of Lifelong Learning courses aimed for professionals who want to gain new competence. The courses are developed in collaboration with a large number of companies and/or public enterprises based on actual competence challenges and needs. We offer further training and competence development in various forms, both as regular courses with micro credentials in the range of 1-5 weeks (1.5-7.5 educational credits), and in the form of MOOCs and open web seminars. Many can be started any time during the year.
Part 2:
Sweden’s higher education system supports micro-credentials through freestanding courses, which are quality assured to meet all EU standard elements and principles for micro-credentials. The Swedish system is already well-adapted for a flexible and diverse range of freestanding courses, as government grants are allocated based on students’ participation and performance in these courses. Recently, the development of lifelong learning courses has been further stimulated by additional assignments and funding provided to Swedish universities.
Comments:
In Sweden, a project is ungoing to develop a Swedish model for the introduction of micro-credentials. The Swedish pilot project is called “Kompetenspasset” – based on the idea of a passport that collects everything you learn in an organized environment in one place.
The project is a collaboration between RISE – Research Institutes of Sweden, the Swedish National Agency for Higher Vocational Education (Myndigheten för yrkeshögskolan), and the Public Employment Service (Arbetsförmedlingen) and supported by the Swedish Council for Higher Education (Universites- och högskolerådet).
Karlstad University
Part 1:
Several advanced level courses of 1.5 credits (1 week full time study) are offered in Computer Science at The Faculty of Health, Science and Technology at Karlstad University. The courses are open for our regular students but are also designed to be flexible for professionals with free-start, free-pace, online lectures during the semester. To foster inclusiveness, access and equal opportunity, some micro credentials are also offered as fully open courses, without payment, admission or registration.
Part 2:
The government has a framework funding for online education via the “KKS NU” programme, https://www.kks.se/en/program/nu-2/. This has mainly funded the development and initial implementation of the micro credentials at Karlstad University. Micro credentials are also supported internally at the University as continuation after the initial framework funding.
You are cordially welcome to learn about Privacy by Design and the GDPR in our micro credentials offered openly at https://www.kau.se/cs/pbd as well as formally applying and registering for exam assessment. Several other micro credentials are also available in Internet of Things, programmable networks and cloud computing.
Åbo Akademi University
Part 1:
Yes, two of our faculties are currently running pilots for implementation of micro credentials. No established practice exists yet.
Part 2:
The national Opin.fi platform and a major national project ”Digivision 2030” supports the use of microcredentials.
