Micro-Credentials: A New Way to Upskill Workers?
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Rapid digital developments and globalisation have compelled industries to change. Today's employees must also evolve so that they are not left behind.
Unemployment rate and lack of skills
Prof Dr Azizul Halim Yahya, Universiti Teknologi Mara's (UiTM) Institute of Continuing Education and Professional Studies (iCEPS) chief executive, stated that employees with skills and competence would be the top preference of employers.
He said that a lack of specific skills and working experience always deter individuals, including graduates, in their mission for employment. The Covid-19 pandemic, which caused a public health crisis, has also affected the labour market and the economic sector.
He mentioned a Department of Statistics Malaysia report, which displayed the unemployment rate decreasing to 4.3% in October 2021 compared to May 2020, which was 5.3%.
Azizul stated the unemployment rate was still high compared to the one recorded on 31 December 2019, which was 3.2%.
According to him, limited job opportunities by employers because of their choice to reduce production and operating costs were among the factors to a rise in the unemployment rate, aside from field inequality.
Micro-credentials
Azizul said that limited job opportunities has led to higher competition for employment. He points out that micro-credentials have become essential in providing added value to candidates to become the employers' choice or stay relevant in their careers.
Hence, he said UiTM, via iCEPS, took a step further by launching a micro-credential course on 15 December. This move was in line with the Malaysian Qualifications Agency's (MQA) call for public universities to provide micro-credential-accredited short-term courses to foster lifelong learning.
Azizul said this learning system that encourages lifelong learning offers a solution to professionals, who face time constraints, in any field to enhance their level of expertise and competence.
He stated that everyone must accept the reality that online learning and micro-credential are the new norms of education that could help Malaysia's sustainability to produce a relevant and competitive workforce.
The micro-credentials courses are accredited programmes provided in smaller learning units, allowing students to concentrate on the unit or topic based on their ability and suitability.
He said micro-credentials courses are a method to strengthen particular upskilling and close the skill gap.
How professionals can benefit from micro-credential courses
Azizul said that journalists, for example, could take micro-credential courses by learning social media monitoring systems or social media management. They could also take technical courses such as video skills and photography.
He said that work that was once done face-to-face in the office, could now done online at home. At iCEPS, employees can take a course micro-credential in office software to assist with their work at home.
He said iCEPS currently offers 33 micro-credential courses, including versatile modules such as Sanitiser Development and technical modules such as Fiber Optic Communication System.
He stated that iCEPS is also heading towards providing recognition to individuals who have finished the micro-credential for credit transfer opportunities for individuals or students studying at UiTM.
Source: NST