Did you know that New Zealand was one of the first countries in the world to introduce micro-credentials to the education system?
In fact, micro-credentials were made available in 2018, but many people around Aotearoa are still learning not just that they exist, but also what they offer.
To help increase awareness of these educational units, NZQA – the New Zealand Qualifications Authority – released a paper discussing the relevance of micro-credentials across the country.
Here are some of the key points and highlights from the paper.
Aotearoa New Zealand’s early micro-credentials journey
Micro-credentials were introduced in New Zealand to increase the relevance and responsiveness of the qualifications system, and to add to the existing formal qualifications system.
They can be at any level on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework, and can cover a variety of credit amounts.
The overall goal for NZQA was to regularise sub-qualifications in order to make learning available for employers, and to make learning more valuable and transferable for learners.
These micro-credentials are subject to the same high standard of quality as other official qualifications, but ensure that short, relevant training options are available for learners.
So far, available micro-credentials in New Zealand either offer a pathway for learners to enter into full qualifications, or as a way to upskill existing employees and career changers. They can also be used to quickly qualify workers as the need arises.
“Micro-credentials have proved effective in upskilling learners while working, at lower and higher skill-levels, including giving learners their first formal credential,” explains the paper.
Micro-credentials with Study From Work
Study From Work provides a variety of micro-credentials, all of which are designed to help upskill employees. Our course options include qualifications in human resources, management and planning, financial planning, and communication management.
To help make learning more accessible for New Zealand workplaces, all of our micro-credentials are available online. This allows learners to study at their own pace, either during work hours or at home.
This can help employers to enjoy the benefits of a more highly skilled workforce, as well as boosted worker morale and loyalty.
Read more about our micro-credentials with our employer guide, or get in touch with any questions about how these qualifications might be relevant for your workplace.
Study From Work – ceri@itc.co.nz 021 623753