Models and guidelines for the institutional development of CEPD and the design, implementation and recognition of micro-credentials

The Erasmus+ funded project "Modular Continuing Higher Education by Micro-credentials (MCE)" aims to advance and explore the use and implementation of micro-credentials in higher education. Aligned with European and national priorities, the project supports institutions in adopting these innovative learning solutions. To further understand the concept of micro-credentials, the project conducted an analysis of national and European developments and pilot studies to test their design and development. As part of Work Package 4, the project teams also organised a series of institutional seminars to empower university teaching staff, central support services, and leadership in developing micro-credentials. The goal of these seminars was to raise awareness and interest in microcredentials as a key tool for modernising higher education, and to gain insight into the needs of different institutions within the MCE partnership regarding micro-credentials and lifelong learning. This report presents key lessons learned from the seminars and other project activities, outlining guidelines and best practices for implementing micro-credentials based on the experiences of the project’s partner institutions throughout its duration. The first chapter provides an overview of the various aspects, and the wide range of topics discussed during the different institutional seminars. The chapter focuses on the challenges identified by institutions in implementing micro-credentials, such as quality assurance, recognition, and provision in collaboration with private providers. The insights gained from the seminars served as input for the recommendations outlined in the second chapter of this report. This chapter details the processes and workflows, offering recommendations to guide institutions through all the steps from the initial needs analysis to the design, implementation, assessment, awarding, and recognition of quality-assured microcredentials. Additionally, it includes guidelines regarding the financial model for microcredentials and workflows related to student admission, administration, and recruitment/marketing strategies. The guidelines aim to foster reflection on the steps to take in the process of the design and implementation of micro-credentials and to further empower institutions to address the challenges encountered along the way.