Going on a Mission: Microcredentials, competence-based learning and Liberal Arts and Sciences

Microcredentials are being discussed increasingly in education and labor markets across Europe: in December 2020 the European Commission (EC) published its “Final Report on A European Approach to Microcredentials”, and a further EC recommendation on the use of microcredentials for lifelong learning and employability is anticipated for the end of 2021. Universities and other institutions of higher education need to understand and position themselves with respect to such policy recommendations, if they want to access support and provide competitive qualifications for students and staff.
The University of Freiburg is exploring the implementation of competence-based microcredentials in several innovative teaching and learning projects, including pilots within the European University Alliance EPICUR. In this workshop, participants will have the opportunity to hear about our current initiatives in Liberal Arts and Sciences and beyond, and to engage in critical discussions about the utility of microcredentials for different stakeholders in higher education (e.g., HE instructors, students, and managers). The aim of the workshop is to share information about formats of microcredentials across European universities, and to explore the benefits and challenges of introducing this new format to higher education. Are microcredentials an opportunity for innovative teaching or a threat to degree-conferring institutions?
Kurzbeschreibung: Microcredentials are becoming increasingly important in higher education. In this workshop, we present the results of some initial pilots with microcredentials being developed in Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Freiburg. We then invite participants to explore the utility of competence-based microcredentials from the perspective of different policy makers, educators, students and employers.