1.
Funded under Human Capital Initiative Pillar 3, Innovation and Agility
MicroCreds Innovate:
Dynamic Enterprise Collaboration
for Micro-credentials
Dr Emma Francis, Project Officer
Irish Universities Association
30th November 2022

2.
Estimated that 50% of employees
worldwide will need reskilling by 2025
World Economic Forum, The Future of Jobs Report
2020

3.
www.iua.ie/microcreds @IUAMicrocreds Microcreds
Our Universities

4.
IUA MicroCreds Team
Director of
MicroCreds
lynn.ramsey@iua.ie
Dr Lynn Ramsey
Project Officer
emma.francis@iua.ie
Dr Emma Francis David Corscadden
Digital Engagement &
Communications Officer
david.corscadden@iua.ie

5.
MicroCreds Project Leads

6.
02 Enterprise Engagement
03
MicroCreds: A Pathway
01 National Framework
Development of micro-credentials
across partner universities
04
03 Discovery Platform

7.
What is a micro-credential?
Small, focused courses
Range from Undergraduate to Masters Level
Credit Size 1-30 ECTS
(1 ECT = 25 Learning Hours)
University Quality Assured
Stand alone credential, some may stack towards
a larger award
Developed in response to identified need

8.
Communications
3 Core Pillars to MicroCreds
Communications Strategy
➢ Pillar 1: Comprehension & Awareness
➢ Pillar 2: Credibility
➢ Pillar 3: Value
Communications Working Group Based on
Peer Learning
Two-Pronged Marketing Approach
- National is broad ranging
- Local is specific and focused
Adapting to unique learners and their
requirements

9.
Project Collaboration
All Aspects of Universities
▪ Registry and QA
▪ T&L
▪ Research Centres
▪ ICT systems
Collaboration (at National & European level)
▪ Within universities
▪ Between universities
▪ With other HEIs
▪ With other providers
▪ With national skills architecture
▪ With enterprise
▪ With quality and qualifications agencies

10.
www.iua.ie/microcreds @IUAMicrocreds Microcreds
Outreach & Engagement
Combination of virtual and in-person
activities since launch of project.
Contribution to National, European and
International dialogue on micro-credentials and
lifelong learning
Events of Note:
• EHEA Peer Learning Activity on Micro-credentials
• European Banking & Financial Services Training Association 2022 Annual
General Members Meeting
• 2022 ENQA Members’ Forum
• Micro-credentials in Thai Higher Education: Opportunities, Challenges,
and Outlooks from ASEAN and Europe
• iHE2021 Conference, Bari, Italy
• iHE2022 Conference, Athens, Greece

11.
02 Enterprise Engagement
03
MicroCreds: A Pathway
01 National Framework
Development of micro-credentials
across partner universities
04
03 Discovery Platform

12.
Micro-credentials & Enterprise
Genesis
Report
*2020, IUA
Active
collaboration
Data
ID of
Enterprise
needs
Ability to
respond
Policies
Diverse approaches to enterprise : academic
collaboration
Strongly advocated need for a common
language around micro-credentials
Enterprise
Advisory
Group

13.
Priority Skills Gaps Considerations
Inputs
Data
sources
Outputs
MicroCreds
Innovate

14.
MicroCreds Innovate: In practice
Identification of thematic focus Inputs are evidence based Outputs are co-designed micro-
credentials

15.
MicroCreds Innovate Events
Date Focus Evidence Base Participants
18 January 2022 Zero Carbon EGFSN, Skills for Zero Carbon: The
Demand for Renewable Energy,
Residential Retrofit and Electric Vehicle
Deployment Skills to 2030
51
4 May 2022 Digital Transformation
and Artificial
Intelligence
EGFSN, AI Skills: A Preliminary Assessment
of the Skills Needed for the Deployment,
Management and Regulation of Artificial
Intelligence
59
28 June 2022 SME Productivity EGFSN, Leading the Way: Investing in
Management Development for SME
Productivity and Growth
66
29 November 2022 SME Enterprise Ireland: Spotlight on Skills
Workforce Planning Data
70
TBC 2023 BioPharmaChem EGFSN, Forthcoming Report on Skills for
BioPharmaChem
-

16.
✓ Close skills gaps and improve enterprise
productivity
✓ Meet emerging enterprise needs and trends
✓ Aid career development and progression for
employees
✓ Expand existing training/professional
development programmes
✓ Enhance staff retention and improve
recruitment
✓ Address pandemic related job impacts or other
socio-economic shifts
MicroCreds Innovate: Benefits of
Micro-credentials for Enterprise

17.
Examples of Micro-Credentials
Creating Value with ESG
(Trinity College Dublin)
Productive and Healthy Remote Working
(University of Limerick)
Food Regulation
(University College Dublin)
Finance for Non-Financial Managers
(University of Galway)
Advanced Negotiation Skills
(University College Cork)
FinTech – Financial Innovation
(Dublin City University)
Brewing and Distilling
(Maynooth University)
More information: www.iua.ie/microcreds

18.
Erasmus+: MicroNet Event, 14 December 2022

19.
Thank You!
Stay Connected with the project
This project is funded under Human Capital Initiative Pillar
3, Innovation and Agility
lynn.ramsey@iua.ie
emma.francis@iua.ie
david.Corscadden@iua.ie
www.iua.ie/microcreds
@IUAMicroCreds #MicroCredsIE
MicroCreds #MicroCredsIE