The International Conference on Open and Distance eLearning (ICODeL), since its inception in 2012, has consistently served as a platform for exploring innovation in the realm of education. On its fifth run, ICODeL featured a Pre-conference Workshop dedicated to tackling Micro-credentials, titled “Opportunities of Micro-Credentials in Higher Institutions.” The special session was aimed at exploring the potentials of micro-credentials in reshaping the educational landscape. This was held in-person at the UPOU headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna on 21 August 2023 and was attended by 72 participants from 22 institutions all over the country.
As the host and moderator of the event, Dr. Joane Serrano, Dean of the UPOU Faculty of Management and Development Studies, set the stage by defining micro-credentials in a global context. In her presentation, “Micro-Credentials: Definition and Role in the Global Landscape,” Dr. Serrano shed light on the essence of micro-credentials as concise, skill-focused certifications. These credentials cater to the demands of today’s fast-changing job market, offering learners a way to acquire specialized competencies that align with industry needs. She provided the definition of micro-credentials, how it started and how it flourished. According to Dr. Serrano, “Micro-credentials is one of the key technologies and practices that will have a significant impact on the future of postsecondary teaching and learning.” She also discussed how the interest in micro-credentials increased and the challenges involved in the various stages of developing, implementing, and accreditation of micro-credentialing. Compared to traditional degree programs, micro-credentials are smaller, more targeted, and more flexible and are offered for the purpose of educational advancement, employment and wage advancement, and enjoyment and personal growth.
Dr. Primo Garcia, the UPOU Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, presented the “Issues and Prospects of Offering Micro-Credentials in the Philippines: the Case of UP Open University.” Unpacking the local landscape, he drew from the experience of the UP Open University. Dr. Garcia highlighted the unique challenges and opportunities that micro-credentials present within the Philippine context and addressed concerns about quality assurance, credit transfer, and institutional readiness while also showcasing the potential for micro-credentials to enhance accessibility and employability. This information is detailed in the Roadmap for UPOU Micro-credentials, which UPOU developed and formally launched on 22 August 2023, during the 5th ICODeL’s Opening Program. He also shared the experience of developing the roadmap and what were UPOU’s realizations before the final document was finalized.
Dr. Melinda Bandalaria, UPOU Chancellor, then presented and led the workshop titled “Micro-Credentials and the Transformation of Credentialing Paradigms.” She provided a glimpse into the future of credentialing, discussed how micro-credentials can be offered, and what mechanism can be used in accrediting micro-credentials courses toward degree courses. Dr. Bandalaria emphasized that this shift from traditional degrees to competency-based micro-credentials has the potential to reshape how society values education and qualifications. After her short lecture, she allowed the participants to work together and discuss how they plan to develop and use micro-credentials in their respective institutions. She went around the groups to provide advice and recommendations. The participants were also given an opportunity to share their proposed plans and share their experiences.
Dr. Carlos Delgado Kloos, Full Professor of Telematics Engineering at the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, was the next speaker. He is the Director of the UC3M GAST Research Group and the UNESCO Chair on “Scalable Digital Education for All.” He shared his perspectives on the global implications of micro-credentials. With a presentation that delved into “Global Trends and Innovations in Micro-Credentials.” Dr. Kloos defined micro-credentials as an organized learning activity with an associated credential that recognizes a skill or competency that has been acquired and validated through an assessment. Dr. Kloos emphasized how these bite-sized certifications could democratize education and enable learners to build a personalized learning journey. He also highlighted the role of technology, particularly blockchain, in ensuring the validity and credibility of micro-credentials.
The last presentation for the Pre-Conference Workshop was from the team of MicroCASA, which means Micro-credentials for Lifelong Learning and Employability: Building Capacities for developing Agile Educational Interventions in Southeast Asian Universities. The presentation was done by Dr. Dennis Batangan, a Faculty and Research Scientist at the Ateneo de Manila University and the Ateneo EU Erasmus+ MICROCASA project lead; Dr. Marita Concepcion Castro Guevara is an Associate Professor at the Ateneo de Manila University, and former Director of the Ateneo Institute of Philippine Culture; and Mr. Peter A. Sy, an Associate Professor from the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, UP Diliman and is also part of the EU Erasmus+ COMPETEN-SEA project. Titled “Building Capacities for Developing Agile Educational Interventions in Southeast Asian Universities,” the presentation delved into micro-credentials for lifelong learning and employability. They first introduced MICROCASA as a consortium of universities within Europe and Southeast Asia, with UPOU and Ateneo de Manila as members in the Philippines. Its goal is to contribute to the higher education systems responsiveness in the three Southeast Asian nations by building capacities in the field of co-designing short, competencies-based, and transparently-assessed courses that lead to microcredentials. They also shared the various work packages of the EU Erasmus+ MicroCASA Project and how the UP System and ADMU is working together to co-develop the micro-credential program in digital competencies for the technology and vocational group, for health workers and for the agricultural and development workers.
The ICODeL Pre-Conference Workshop not only provided a platform to explore the intricacies of micro-credentials but also facilitated cross-institutional discussions about their integration into higher education. As the world of education evolves, events like this pre-conference become a critical space for collective dialogue, innovation, and future-ready and forward-thinking solutions and strategies.
To end the session, a ceremonial signing of an agreement for collaboration was done between Ateneo de Manila University and UP Open University. The signatories include Dr. Bandalaria and Dr. Serrano, together with Dr. Enrique Niño P. Leviste, Director, Institute of Philippine Culture Ateneo de Manila University.
ICODeL 2023 is part of Tri-conference 2023 held from 21 to 25 August 2023, organized by UPOU in collaboration with the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), UPOU Foundation, Inc. (UPOUFI), and the Philippine Society for Distance Learning (PSDL). The Tri-conference includes the ICODEL 2023, International Symposium on Education and AI Convergence (ISEAC 2023), and the ASEANnale, which share the same theme: Sustainability in Education: Intersections, Ideation, Innovations. Tri-Conference is sponsored and supported by Concentrix (Platinum Sponsor), Near-Life, Development Bank of the Philippines and Nephila Web Technology, Inc (Gold Sponsors), and the following Exhibit Partners: Digital Freedom Network, Disini Law, Veterans Bank, Land Bank, DOST-PCAARRD.
Written by Tri-Conference 2023 Publicity Committee
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