Micro-credential Pilot Project
Trinity ran a pilot project to develop micro-credentials as part of Human Capital Initiative (HCI) Pillar 3. Micro-credentials allow for a highly flexible and inclusive form of learning that focuses on the acquisition of skills and competencies and supports professionals and lifelong learners who wish to develop alongside the changing needs of industry and society. Four Schools participated in the Trinity micro-credential pilot project - School of Engineering, School of Nursing and Midwifery, School of Social Work and Social Policy and Trinity Business School. Micro-credentials are specifically designed to upskill the workforce and they consist of credit offered for continuing professional development purposes.
Council approved the adoption of the European Council definition of micro-credentials on 1 June 2022 as follows:
'Micro-credential means the record of the learning outcomes that a learner has acquired following a small volume of learning. These learning outcomes have been assessed against transparent and clearly defined standards. Courses leading to micro-credentials are designed to provide the learner with specific knowledge, skills and competences that respond to societal, personal, cultural, or labour market needs. Micro-credentials are owned by the learner, can be shared and are portable. They may be stand-alone or combined into larger credentials. They are underpinned by quality assurance following agreed standards in the relevant sector or area of activity’.(European Council, 2021).
More information on micro-credentials in Trinity can be found here or by contacting the Micro-credentials team at micro-credentials@tcd.ie
The GSC subcommittee on HCI Pillar 3 Micro-credentials reviewed Micro-credential proposals and made recommendations to GSC on whether they met the required criteria. The terms of reference and membership of the Micro-credential sub-committee can be found here.
The following resources were developed as part of the HCI pilot project.
Resources to support the development of your proposal
The approval process for micro-credentials during the pilot is captured in the graphic below. Micro-credentials were submitted to Academic Affairs through SharePoint and an initial review was undertaken by TT&L with feedback provided to Schools to facilitate the further development/refinement of the proposals. The micro-credential proposals (with the feedback addressed) were circulated to the Micro-credentials sub-committee for consideration, and once approved by the sub-committee the micro-credentials were recommended to GSC, and then to Council through the GSC minutes.
A more detailed version of the stages outlining the development and approval of a new micro-credential proposal is available here.