MICROGUIDE Project was presented as part of International Conference of Experimental and Numerical Investigations and New Technologies (CNN TECH 2023) held at Zlatibor Serbia (04-07, July, 2023). The project was presented in the form of a poster by Prof. Dr. Sinisa Djurasevic and Prof. Dr. Nebojsa Jasnic, one of the partners of the project (University of Belgrade). The conference addressed the necessity for high-quality, innovative, and learner-centered education and training that can effectively adapt to the ever-evolving society. MCs adaptability are regarded to facilitate the bridging of existing and emerging skills gaps, thereby nurturing inclusiveness and ease of access in lifelong learning. Furthermore, MCs are described as elements to afford higher education and training institutions the opportunity to align with their societal objectives, simultaneously augmenting transparency and quality assurance through well-established methodologies and processes. Regarding the project, the endeavour to formulate guidelines for the seamless integration of MCs into higher education by conducting a comprehensive examination of the legal framework, implementation methodologies, certification and credit evaluation procedures, quality assurance mechanisms, and the alignment of MCs with National Qualification Frameworks practices in collaborating nations is widely explained.
The guidelines seek to foster a collective comprehension and an unambiguous delineation of micro-credentials, instilling trust and acknowledgment across countries and educational domains. Moreover, they serve as a theoretical bedrock for the pragmatic implementation of MCs, providing tangible solutions for policymakers and higher education institutions. In this regard, they are formally introduced and disseminated during the Microguide Project's concluding conference, encompassing all pertinent stakeholders, among them the government in Serbia, wherein proposals for the implementation of MCs in higher education will be put forth. Additionally, the guidelines are planned to be accessible to policymakers and higher education institutions, thereby making a significant contribution to the formulation of a cohesive European framework for MCs.
The results were also printed in the Book of Abstracts: S. Djurasevic, N. Jasnic, N. Zrnic, P. Bulat, C. Mitrovic, M. Dragan, H.H. Hochrinner, A. Ejubovic, F. Badia. Developing Guidelines for the Implementation of Micro-credentials in Higher Education. International Conference of Experimental and Numerical Investigations and New Technologies, Zlatibor, Serbia, July 04-07, 2023. Book of abstracts, P98.
The primary objectives of the Microguide Project encompass a series of tasks: firstly, analyzing the implementation practices of MCs and identifying exemplary approaches; secondly, conducting an analysis to propose new legal frameworks or recommend changes to the existing ones; thirdly, analyzing and suggesting new certification and credit evaluation practices for MCs, or making recommendations for improvements to the current practices; fourthly, analyzing and proposing new quality assurance practices for MCs, or suggesting enhancements to the current ones; fifthly, developing MCs examples as proof of concept; and finally, implementing all findings and proposals into the Guidelines for the implementation of MCs in Higher Education.
Micro-credentials (MCs) are targeted skills and competence acquisitions that complement traditional qualifications. They offer flexibility in education and training, filling skills gaps and promoting inclusion in lifelong learning. Notably, MCs have a low entry barrier, rendering them accessible to learners who might have previously faced discouragement from participating in the formal education system.
