How microcredentials could be a hidden opportunity to boost student engagement in higher education

For students looking for bite-sized education with a substantial impact, microcredentials are an increasingly popular option. While online courses have existed in various shapes and sizes for nearly two decades, microcredentials have evolved into more formal and standardized programs. The uptick in student interest shouldn’t be ignored — according to Coursera’s Micro-Credentials Impact Report, 94% of students agree that microcredentials help build essential career skills. Though this change can be intimidating for some colleges and universities, it can also be a major opportunity to improve the student experience.

At a time when student engagement is waning, can microcredentials help institutions captivate students’ attention and boost long-term success?

What are microcredentials and how do they relate to higher education?

Microcredentials focus on developing tangible skills that provide valuable experience for specific career paths. Sometimes called certificates or boot camps, these programs require far fewer classes than a bachelor's degree and tend to combine in-person and online learning. Once completed, some microcredentials can be stacked to count as credits for an advanced degree, such as an associate or bachelor’s degree.

Whether it’s through programming focused on current workforce needs or providing more hands-on experience in a niche field, microcredentials give students an immediate competitive advantage — which is especially appealing as traditional paths toward economic advancement are becoming less straightforward.

Why microcredentials are a hot topic

Higher education is an investment, one that requires many traditional college students to go into tens of thousands of dollars in debt before their 21st birthday. Though this has been the case for decades, previous generations were graduating into a workforce where they were more likely to see a timely return on this investment, securing entry-level jobs in their chosen career path that set them up for years of future success. With AI rapidly changing our workforce, some students feel they could be investing in degrees that will be obsolete by the time they graduate.

It’s growing increasingly difficult to communicate to teens what the value of higher education is, when all they see is a mountain of debt with no promise of a job in their chosen career field. But higher education has stood the test of time, and counterbalancing these challenges are promising opportunities. Microcredentials can address several concerns, providing valuable skills regardless of where a student is in their educational journey: before enrolling as a full-time student, while enrolled full time, or once they’ve become a working professional. When a student completes a microcredential course, this encourages them to continue the relationship with your institution.

The task for higher ed

Higher education has greater value than simply preparing individuals for the workforce. Colleges and universities are places that can help people learn how to ask questions, to challenge their way of thinking, and to open their minds to new possibilities. Yet this value is hard to communicate to those who are worried about their own livelihood. Great thinkers are known to be well read, not well fed, and even Maslow knew one must care for their physiological needs long before concerning themselves with self-actualization.

The task for the higher ed industry is to find a way to strike the balance between the cerebral and tangible benefits of an advanced degree — and microcredentials could be that bridge.

Three ways incorporating microcredentials into your college or university offering could improve the student experience

Microcredentials can boost engagement by creating a link between the intrinsic value of education and practical skills that will be useful in a chosen career field. These programs can improve the student experience by better meeting expectations, providing a sense of accomplishment and reaching new demographics.

1: Meet student expectations

As technology continues to develop, students need skills that will enable them to keep up with the pace of innovation. This can be incredibly difficult to do with formal bachelor’s degrees — many programs require years to develop and source talent for. But microcredentials are more agile, with programs able to be developed to respond to advancements at a faster rate. Many microcredential programs are also taught in partnership with local businesses, helping students learn relevant skills directly from the source.

2: Give a sense of accomplishment

Getting an associate or bachelor’s degree requires a significant amount of time and energy. Between the time in class and the work outside of class, it can be a challenge for students to stay motivated. Because microcredentials are shorter programs with a specific focus, students are more likely to complete them. This can provide a sense of accomplishment and renewed motivation, encouraging students to keep learning.

In addition, because microcredentials can be stackable, which allows courses from various microcredentials to be stacked to earn a higher degree, this can make these smaller courses even more appealing. Tara Zirkel, director of strategic research at EAB, an education-strategy company, said in an article for The Chronicle of Higher Education, “Stackable credentials give a quick, tangible win that can be motivation — as opposed to what students might see as a four-year grind. It’s an appetizer that can pull a student into an A.A. or B.A. program.”

Microcredentials are mutually beneficial for students and institutions; students gain skills and a sense of accomplishment, and institutions gain revenue. This builds trust and opens the door for students to keep learning, growing and engaging with your institution. 

3: Reach new demographics

Microcredential students could be at varying phases of life. Some may already be working on a four-year degree, looking to supplement their learning with additional tangible skills. Others could be high school graduates who want to try some courses before pursuing an advanced degree. These students can sample different subjects and decide where they want to focus before making a larger time and financial commitment. Or a microcredential student could be a working adult looking to upskill and test a new career. Regardless of an individual’s life stage, microcredential programs meet them where they are to help them achieve their goals.

This flexibility makes it more likely for those juggling other responsibilities — such as jobs or taking care of family — to continue their educational journey. Kate Smith, president of Rio Salado Community College told The Chronicle, “If you have kids and one or two jobs, you might think, how on earth can you give up four years, or even two years, of your life to go to college?” Instead, 3- or 6-month programs could be much more manageable to get started.

Regardless of why, microcredentials have proven to be a useful way to better engage with students. With the alternative revenue potential these programs bring, microcredentials can be a powerful win-win, helping both institutions and students adjust to current economic demands.

Starting a microcredential program at your higher ed institution

Microcredentials are introducing a new variable into the higher education industry — and it’s time your institution analyzed the potential value for you. By starting a microcredential program you can better meet student expectations, give them quick wins to boost confidence and reach new student demographic segments. If microcredentials have the potential to attract new students and keep them engaged, why wouldn’t you take advantage of this opportunity?

Learn how TouchNet can facilitate microcredential payments and streamline backend processes so you can spend less time crunching numbers and more time making an impact. Explore how TouchNet can help, today!