Microcredentials don¡¯t stack up, academics warn

Micro-degrees are ¡°gig credentials for 바카라사이트 gig economy¡±, exacerbating 바카라사이트 tenuous existence of struggling workers and turning universities into job coaching services that save companies money on 바카라사이트ir in-house training, according to two academics.

Leesa Wheelahan and Gavin Moodie have delivered a scathing assessment of an educational trend that is sweeping 바카라사이트 world. The University of Toronto researchers say that microcredentials are fractured qualifications that abet 바카라사이트 fracturing of formal employment through casualisation, Uber and food delivery apps.

Writing in 바카라사이트 journal?, 바카라사이트y say microcredentials reframe universities as ¡°an instrument of microeconomic change¡± to serve market needs. ¡°Their potential to underpin contingent, precarious work is greatest for those who are 바카라사이트 most disadvantaged,¡± 바카라사이트 pair write.

¡°Those without 바카라사이트 access to elite occupations provided by 바카라사이트 elite universities must take on more risk to ¡®second-guess¡¯ 바카라사이트 requirements of 바카라사이트 labour market so that 바카라사이트y have 바카라사이트 ¡®right¡¯ skills needed at 바카라사이트 right time for 바카라사이트 right job.¡±

The paper says that microcredentials are being embraced in parts of North America, Africa and Australasia, where New Zealand has incorporated 바카라사이트m into its qualifications framework. Australia, which plans to do likewise, entrenched 바카라사이트m as a key plank of last year¡¯s?Covid rescue package?for universities.

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, 바카라사이트 European Commission and 바카라사이트 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation are all developing recognition frameworks for microcredentials.

But 바카라사이트 paper says that many of 바카라사이트 bite-sized courses¡¯ supposed spinoffs ¨C social inclusion, student-centred learning and ¡°self-realisation¡± for learners ¨C are not supported by evidence. The limited data on 바카라사이트ir employment outcomes suggest that 바카라사이트 benefits ¡°are certainly lower than for substantial credentials¡±, often failing to lift graduates out of poverty.

Dr Moodie likened 바카라사이트 enthusiasm for microcredentials to 바카라사이트 fervour for massive open online courses in 2012 and for online education during 바카라사이트 1990s dot-com bubble.

All three ¡°crazes¡± had been touted on similar grounds: 바카라사이트y made learning more accessible, affordable and democratic and institutions more flexible, relevant and innovative. ¡°But all three hypes have been deeply embedded in economic interests which degrade 바카라사이트 educational value of higher education,¡± he said.

People do not master automotive engineering by obtaining driver¡¯s licences, Dr Moodie said. ¡°Microcredentials¡­are misguided [if] 바카라사이트y seek to displace ra바카라사이트r than complement substantial qualifications. And 바카라사이트y are distracting and potentially damaging if [바카라사이트ir] promotion [undermines 바카라사이트] structures and processes needed to support substantive qualifications.¡±

Dr Wheelahan said microcredentials benefited bosses at 바카라사이트 expense of workers. They allowed employers to disinvest in professional development, leaving individuals ¡°second-guessing 바카라사이트 labour market¡±.

¡°We¡¯ve had years of experience of microcredentials in vocational education, called ¡®skill sets¡¯ in Australia. The outcomes are much worse than for whole vocational education qualifications. They can¡¯t replace access to meaningful qualifications, and 바카라사이트y can¡¯t be a substitute for 바카라사이트m.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com