First Step Toward Identifying Quality Microcredential Organizations

How might we collectively advance the design of high quality microcredentials that provide on-ramps to further education and ensure off-ramps to improved career opportunities for our learners?  

How do we assure high value microcredential offerings – as well as trusted provider organizations – in the midst of the rapidly changing learn and work ecosystem of the 21st century? 

These are some of the key questions that HLC’s Credential Lab is asking as we continue to build this initiative. 

First, the Credential Lab has been convening an initial Quality Assurance Design Team to envision a quality assurance framework for microcredential providers (third party educational organizations that create and offer microcredential-related offerings). The Credential Lab’s Leadership Advisory Board, a small group of provider organizations, and several of HLC’s State Partners are meeting to provide  feedback on the team’s initial ideas. 

The design team will then reflect on and integrate this initial feedback through its next iteration of the framework and draft of quality standards for microcredential-related provider organizations.  

A draft quality assurance framework will be circulated more broadly later this year to ensure that the review approach will address the needs of numerous stakeholders, and that it is aligned with the national movement for assuring quality in the expanding marketplace of microcredentials. 

HLC’s Credential Lab is also establishing a second design team to help formulate the offerings of the Credential Lab Innovation Center. The purpose of the Center will be to provide extensive support, guidance, and resources to participating colleges, universities, and organizations when undertaking the design and implementation of quality microcredential-related initiatives to directly meet the needs of employers and learners.  

Finally, HLC’s Credential Lab will participate in several convenings around the country, including the Colorado Department of Higher Education’s Spring Faculty-to-Faculty Conference, the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors conference, a DC-focused Higher Education Roundtable, the Non-Degree Credentials Research Network conference, and the Florida Virtual Campus Members Council conference, among others.  

For more information about HLC’s Credential Lab and to get involved, please contact [email protected].