A quick look at the global rise of for-credit micro-credentials
Alcino Donadel
October 28, 2024
“The for-credit adoption of micro-credentials signals a transformative shift in higher education,” said Rav Ahuja, CCO and global program director at IBM Skills Network.
For-credit micro-credentials aren’t just fueling enrollment at community colleges across the United States. Colleges and universities across the world are leveraging the credentials to fuel student engagement, brand differentiation and workforce development opportunities for learners of all ages, according to a new report from Coursera.
Over 80% of education leaders surveyed by the online program manager said their institution plans to integrate or expand for-credit micro-credentials in the next five years. Respondents from North America were the most likely to state their institutions already offer them (59% versus 53% globally). Overall professional certificate enrollment growth year-over-year in North America is 61%.
Coursera garnered responses from 1,058 higher education leaders across 852 institutions in 89 countries for this survey. Most of the responses came from the United States and India, followed by Mexico, Colombia, the Philippines, Nigeria and Malaysia.
