Micro-credentials, Higher Education and Career Development: Perspectives of University Students

Abstract

Emergence of micro-credentials, digital qualifications less than a degree, is rooted in an increased demand for quality and digitalized higher education, and a growing demand for skilled human capital tailored for the industry. There is now a wider acceptance of micro-credentials by the industry as proof of necessary skills set developed by employees, either as a supplement or an alternative pathway to traditional college diplomas. However, within the context of higher education, an enlarging ecosystem of micro-credentials is also raising concerns over the potential of micro-credentials in career development. This phenomenological study projects an in-depth understanding of the phenomenon of micro-credentials within the context of higher education by involving experiences and interpretations of key participants- university students. Participants involved 11 junior and senior students enrolled in an advanced communication skills course focused on preparing students for their careers. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews, and they were analyzed using content analysis technique and MAXQDA software. Superordinate themes were extracted from the data; facilitating factors that motivate participants to take up micro-credentials in their way to career development was identified as the first one with two sub-themes: micro-credential-induced and higher education-induced enabling factors. Patterns in the data led to another superordinate theme of barriers to the adoption of micro-credentials that demotivated participants to build a career path on their micro-credentials, micro-credential-induced and work environment-induced factors being the sub-themes. Participants seem to perceive micro-credentials more as a supplement to traditional university degrees rather than an alternative pathway to career development. Adaptive career behavior is the final superordinate theme, highlighting the adoption of micro-credentials as an adaptive career behavior in the context of career-self management model under two sub-themes: cognitive-person factors, and contextual and personality traits. The findings have been discussed in the light of the existing literature on micro-credentials, higher education and the career self-management model, and some implications have been provided.