Six universities have teamed to launch the University
Learning Store, a platform that will help job seekers and working professionals
earn microcredentials in business and technical fields.
Learners will have to prove their knowledge through verified,
hands-on assessments as measures of competencies to earn a microcredential,
according to a report in eCampus News. In addition, learners can choose to combine microcredentials
to earn larger certification from an institution.
“Although an array of nondegree credentials exist, they
can leave employers guessing at their true value,” said David Schejbal, dean of
the University of Wisconsin-Extension, one of the founding institutions of the
project. “With the University Learning Store, leading institutions have joined
forces to introduce credentials that clearly indicate the capabilities of the
credential holder.”
Microcredentials, available as a printable certificate
or digital badge, can be added to a student’s resume after successfully
completing an assessment. Courses on the University Learning Store site cost $50-$150, but are currently being offered at
half-price for a limited time. Each credential can be earned in days or weeks.
“This
is an innovation in skill credentialing that the workforce, and higher ed, has
not seen before,” said Nelson Baker, dean of Georgia Tech Professional
Education. “At Georgia Tech, we bring the same rigor and real-world
applicability to our nondegree educational opportunities as we do other
programs. Industry validation is the final frontier of proving the value of
lifelong learning.”
