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Unboxing micro-credentials

An inside, upside and downside view ( Descifrando las microcredenciales: en qué consisten, ventajas e inconvenientes )

Bibliographic Data

ID12486269
AuthorsMark Brown (0000-0003-4098-2929, National Institute for Digital Learning, Dublin City University, corresponding author), Mairéad Nic-Giolla-Mhichil (National Institute for Digital Learning, Dublin City University)
Year2022
Volume34
Issue4
Pages938-973
Publication date2022-10-02
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueCulture and Education (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1135-6405 • E-ISSN: 1578-4118
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/11356405.2022.2102293
OpenAlexW4309007954
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited13

Micro-credentials are the latest shiny new thing attracting the attention of politicians, policy-makers and educational leaders. This paper endeavours to ‘unbox’ the micro-credential by peeling away inherent tensions in competing definitions and underlying drivers. It reports the tripartite methodology adopted for a state-of-the-art literature review which offers an inside, upside and downside view on the micro-credential. Selected findings illustrate how the growth of the micro-credential needs to be understood in a wider socio-cultural context. The micro-credential movement is part of a complex credential ecology steeped in history, politics and cultural norms. In response to major societal and technological change forces, the paper invites debate on what counts as valued skill and knowledge in today’s rapidly changing digital society. It challenges existing business models for higher and further education and the traditional status of the university degree. Therefore, the micro-credential is not just another passing educational fad, as it brings into question much bigger issues concerning employability, the changing nature of work and new models of life-long learning. RESUMENLas microcredenciales son la última novedad que ha atraído la atención de políticos, legisladores y líderes educativos. En este artículo trataremos de esclarecer en qué consisten, descifrando las tensiones inherentes a las definiciones rivales y sus factores subyacentes. Describimos la metodología tripartita adoptada en la revisión de la bibliografía relevante, que revela en qué consisten, así como las ventajas e inconvenientes de las microcredenciales. Los resultados obtenidos ilustran el crecimiento de la microcredencial en un contexto sociocultural más amplio. El movimiento hacia las microcredenciales forma parte de una ecología compleja estrechamente vinculada a la historia, la política y las normas culturales. En respuesta a los importantes cambios sociales y tecnológicos, este artículo invita a un debate sobre qué se valora como aptitud y conocimiento en la sociedad actual, en pleno cambio digital. Se cuestionan los modelos empresariales actuales en la educación superior y el estatus tradicional de los grados universitarios. Por tanto, las microcredenciales no son una mera moda pedagógica pasajera sino que cuestionan aspectos mucho más amplios en torno a temas como empleabilidad, la naturaleza cambiante del empleo y los nuevos modelos de aprendizaje permanente

Physics · Ethics and bioethics in healthcare · Latin American Legal and Economic Studies · Social Sciences and Policies

  • Exploring the potential of micro-credentials

    Open Access•Giedre Tamoliune, Rasa Greenspon et al.•Frontiers in Education•2023

  • Unlocking Career Potential

    Open Access•Kelum A A Gamage, Shyama C P Dehideniya•Education Sciences•2025

  • Leveraging employment with micro-credentials

    Open Access•Talal Alasmari, Abdulrahman M Al-Zahrani•Educational Technology Research…•2024

  • Empowering Inclusive Learning in Industry–Education Partnerships

    Open Access•Xi Zhang, Xinmeng Zhang et al.•European Journal of Education•2026

  • Micro-credentialing as an approach to educator professional learning

    Open Access•Xumei Fan, Xingyue Wei et al.•Teaching and Teacher Education•2024

  • Methodological Guidance Paper

    Open Access•Therese Pigott, Joshua R Polanin•Review of Educational Research•2020

  • A typology of reviews

    Open Access•Maria J Grant, Andrew Booth•Health Information & Libraries…•2009

  • Higher Education’s Microcredentialing Craze

    Open Access•Shane J Ralston•Postdigital Science and Education•2021

  • Methodological Guidance Paper

    Open Access•Patricia A Alexander•Review of Educational Research•2020

  • Gig qualifications for the gig economy

    Open Access•Leesa Wheelahan, Gavin Moodie•Higher Education•2022

Unique citing works5
Citations per year1,67
Citation span2023 - 2026 (4)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 5

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