Benefits of Micro-Credentials at Higher Education Institutions

Thanks to the rapid development of technology and the integration of AI tools in all areas of our lives, the importance of education outside of classical study programs that focus on one specific area in the work environment is growing significantly. Even today, there is a need to have knowledge and skills in different places to perform work duties. For these purposes, it is not always necessary to gain expertise by studying several differently focused study programs, but the modularity of gaining additional specializations through micro-credentials is proving to be an advantage. Micro-credentials are short, focused learning programs that certify specific skills, competencies, or knowledge areas. Higher education institutions could play a crucial role in the education process via micro-credentials because they already have expertise in different fields. This paper aims to identify the benefits or risks of providing micro-credential education in the university environment. Based on our experience, we will point out how to use international cooperation and microcredential systems to create extensive and high-quality content that can be beneficial not only for university students but also for workers who need to be educated.