Microcredentials are formal certifications that recognize the achievement of one or more specific skills, competencies, or learning outcomes, which are identified by industry sectors to meet specific employer needs. Typically short in duration and offered in a more flexible format, microcredentials may be offered face-to-face, distance, or in a blended learning format.
Microcredentials may be additional, alternate, or complementary to a traditional formal qualification such as a certificate, diploma, degree, applied degree, or post-graduate certificate.
Holland College works collaboratively with industry partners to create and develop microcredentials in a timely and responsive manner. Together, they define an organization’s training needs, identify skill gaps, develop content and assessments that are unique to the learner and the employer, and ensure that the learning is offered in an appropriate format, time, and location.
Students may choose microcredentials that focus on a specific set of skills related to their industry or career, or that expand their skills and learning on a topic or area that is of interest to them personally.
The creation and development of microcredentials is driven by employers and industry sectors to meet specific employer workforce needs.
Assessment of microcredentials ensures that students have successfully demonstrated competency in the specific outcomes and skills identified within the microcredential.
Microcredentials focus on specific workplace skills. As a result, they are typically short in duration, ranging from six to 25 hours, and may be offered in a more flexible format, such as face-to-face, by distance online, or in a blended learning format.
Microcredentials are valuable on their own, or can be combined (stacked) with other microcredentials toward the completion of a larger credential. As an example, at Holland College, students can choose to earn some of the seven microcredentials offered in New Manager Training or complete all seven microcredentials and earn a New Manager Training milestone microcredential.
Successful completion of microcredentials are included on students’ academic transcripts. Students earning microcredentials will also receive digital badges which can be shared on a résumé, CV, an online profile, and in their social media accounts.
As with all Holland College post-secondary programs and continuing education courses, microcredentials are subject to a robust and rigorous quality assurance process. Additionally, Holland College’s microcredential definition and guiding principles are part of Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICcan) National Framework on Microcredentials, which has been adopted and endorsed by regional colleges and institutes across the country.
Students who successfully complete a Holland College microcredential receive a digital badge.
Digital badges come in the form of a downloadable emblem containing meta-data that includes the student’s name, the issuing institution (Holland College), and the name of the microcredential, and lists the specific, demonstrated learning outcomes or competencies the student has achieved. The badges can be shared by students on social media accounts, included in an online résumé, or added to an email signature.
The digital badges are issued by , a leading-edge technology platform chosen by Holland College to create, issue, and maintain its digital badges. CanCred has a secure cloud service for high-quality digital badges and microcredentials built on the Open Badges standard.
Badges from can be easily and securely downloaded by students who have successfully earned a Holland College microcredential and shared as PDF certificates, linked on social media profiles, and built up into free digital portfolios on CanCred Passport.
All Holland College Microcredentials are delivered through the college's Customized Training department.
For more information about microcredential training visit our Customized Training page or send us an email.
