Western University will produce three suites of microcredentials leading to microcertificates in healthy aging, pedorthics, and biotechnology for the food and bio-pharmaceutical industries, through the CA$650,000 grant from the province.
Microcredentials are short programs that equip learners with increased professional certifications and skills, with Western University at the forefront of a fast-growing trend to offer them.
Key Takeaways:
- Microcredential programs will be developed by Western University to allow professionals to reskill and upskill.
- Western University currently offers 90 microcredential programs that are eligible for student loans.
- Western’s general microcredential offerings include project management, leadership, marketing, and conflict management.
According to Nicole Tate-Hill, director of Western Continuing Studies, where most of the units have a centralized home, the institution provides 90 microcredential programs that are student loan qualifying.
Tate-Hill said that the difference between microcredentials and typical continuing-studies courses is that microcredentials contain very clear, standardized learning outcomes connected to a specific skill, as well as an assessment at the conclusion.
Microcertification at Western University allows professionals to reskill and upskill. Compared to traditional university programs, these are shorter, more accessible, and stackable.
For instance, the pedorthics microcertificate will be made up of three eight-week microcredentials to enable professionals to expand their knowledge in orthotics and lower-limb care.
Project management, leadership, marketing, and conflict management are among Western’s general microcredential offerings.
Western University has noted that the new microcredential offerings, which will open for enrollment in September 2022, are more specialized.
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