In recent years, new forms of recognition of qualifications have challenged the traditional concept of higher education institutions which are commonly bound to credit-bearing curricula. The labour market requires from actual or potential employees a frequent reskilling and upskilling due to an exponential technological change, frequent changes of job, a continuous transformation of industries and a longer working life. Therefore, short courses are essential to achieve key competences and skills.

In this context, micro-credentials have emerged as a powerful tool to facilitate more accessible and flexible lifelong learning opportunities, enabling individuals to acquire targeted competencies quickly to face the rapidly evolving landscape of education and employment.

Present students, former graduates, individuals aspiring to enhance their professional prospects or boost their income, those requiring skill enhancement or considering a career shift, those aiming to reenter the workforce, and even those searching for enjoyable, stimulating learning experiences can earn a micro-credential tailored to their requirements.

Furthermore, micro-credentials can better respond to the need for more transparency on the educational experience to facilitate recognition, transferability and portability of learning outcomes at different levels.

These guidelines have been created, bringing together the experiences and challenges collected by implementing the ProcToGo blended courses and by the YERUN ad hoc group on Lifelong Learning. 

As such, they constitute a crucial outcome of YERUN members’ work in Lifelong Learning, one of the priorities of the network’s strategy under the focus are of Talent Development.

.

About ProcToGo

ProcToGo is a KA2 Strategic Partnership co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union that explored innovative approaches for connecting higher education institutions and the labour market, with a specific focus on the area of Digital & Sustainable Procurement.

Led by Tor Vergata University of Rome, the ProcToGo project involved a transnational partnership with University of Antwerp, University of Bremen, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid and Universidade Nova de Lisboa. Associate partners were: Dublin City University (DCU), the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP), the Italian Alliance for Sustainable Development (ASviS) and the Young European Research Universities Network (YERUN).