Smart Policies Can Unleash the Power of Micro-Credentials
HEADLINES
Smart Policies Can Unleash the Power of Micro-Credentials (University World News, April 3, 2025) Micro-credentials are gaining increasing traction across the globe due to their potential as flexible alternatives to traditional learning paths and qualifications and their focus on industry-aligned, skill-focused, and competency-based training. Mechanisms must be created for the formal recognition of micro-credentials in the government or industry, or in business circles. It is also important to establish guidelines for recognition, credit transfer, accreditation, and quality assurance.
Degree Flexibility Needed’ as Half of Graduates Regret Choices (Times Higher Ed, April 2, 2025) “If after year one you thought you had made the wrong decision, your studies would still have credit, then the LLE structure could enable you to stop, take time out, and then pick up year two in another place, or study something else,” said Nicola Dandridge, author of the report and professor of practice in higher education policy at the University of Bristol. She added, “It would formalize the accreditation of year one study and potentially enable you to take time out and then pick up again somewhere else.”
In a Fast-Changing World, Lifelong Learning is a Lifeline (University World News, April 2, 2025) In an era characterized by digital transformation, artificial intelligence, enhanced internationalization, and evolving economic demands, the Lebanese higher education system must prioritize continuous education and training to ensure that graduates remain competitive and adaptable throughout their professional lives. despite the challenges of continuing education certificates and micro-credentials, including their transparency, cross-border comparability, recognition, and portability, as well as the associated accreditation issues. This should be accompanied by the development of reliable and accredited assessment methods to evaluate the quality of these certificates and their validity for specific professions and tasks.
Higher Education Council Cracks Down on Bogus Institutions (Zimeye, March 24, 2025) The Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education (ZIMCHE) expressed serious concern over the rise of unregistered institutions operating unlawfully and awarding fraudulent undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications. Members of the public are encouraged to verify the accreditation status of any institution with ZIMCHE before enrolling in any programs. Additionally, some institutions are not owned by Zimbabweans, while others falsely claim affiliations with dubious international universities that lack proper accreditation in their home countries. ZIMCHE is intensifying efforts to ensure that only accredited institutions are allowed to operate within Zimbabwe.
Kenyan Authorities Clamp Down on 15 Unaccredited Universities (University World News, March 20, 2025) Kenyan authorities have clamped down on unaccredited universities that offer degrees that are not legally recognized. The Commission for University Education (CUE) in Kenya has flagged 15 institutions for offering unapproved degree and postgraduate programs and warned students and parents against enrolling in them.