FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS)
ABOUT THE MICROCREDS PROJECT
MicroCreds is an ambitious 5 year, €12.3 million project (2020-2025) led by the IUA in partnership with seven partner universities: University College Dublin, University College Cork, University of Limerick, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin City University, University of Galway and Maynooth University. We will be the first European country to establish a coherent National Framework for quality assured and accredited micro-credentials.
Our micro-credentials are research-led, and quality assured by leading Irish universities. Learners may choose to undertake an individual micro-credential or continue studying, advancing their skills and knowledge over time.
For more information click here
The MicroCreds project funding was awarded following a competitive process under the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science’s (DFHERIS) Human Capital Initiative Pillar 3 Innovation and Agility, with funding drawn from the National Training Fund.
For more information on Human Capital Initiative projects click here
Yes. All MicroCreds micro-credentials are accredited by the university delivering the course. MicroCreds micro-credentials have a credit range between 1-30 ECTS, dependent on the specific micro-credential in question.
MicroCreds is being led in partnership with seven of the IUA universities: University College Dublin, University College Cork, University of Limerick, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin City University, University of Galway and Maynooth University.
For more information on our partner universities click here
MicroCreds micro-credentials are offered at Levels 6-9 on National Framework of Qualifications. The specific NFQ level of micro-credentials can be found on each course page.
The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) is a tool of the European Higher Education Area for making studies and courses more transparent. It helps students to move between countries and to have their academic qualifications and study periods abroad recognised.
ECTS allows credits taken at one higher education institution to be counted towards a qualification studied for at another. ECTS credits represent learning based on defined learning outcomes and their associated workload.
For more information on ECTS click here.
MicroCreds micro-credentials range in price. The specific cost of a micro-credential from one of our partner universities is available on the corresponding course page.
Queries relating to the MicroCreds website or project can be emailed to info@microcreds.ie
If your query is related to a specific micro-credential or partner university, you should contact that university directly. Visit the Contact Us page for more information.
ABOUT MICRO-CREDENTIALS
Micro-credentials are small, accredited courses designed to meet the demands of learners, enterprise and organisations, created by MicroCreds partner universities in consultation with enterprise. Micro-credentials provide learning opportunities which offer a highly flexible, bite sized and accessible way of upskilling and reskilling.
MicroCreds follows the European Commission’s definition of micro-credentials which can be found here.
Micro-credentials have several benefits for learners including:
- Flexible courses that fit around work and personal commitments
- Accredited by leading Irish universities
- Quality assured courses
- Boost career progression or a career change
- Tailored to personal interests and career development goals
- Stay ahead of emerging trends and industry changes
ABOUT ENTERPRISE ENGAGEMENT
Yes. Many of our partner universities actively engage with enterprise on the development of micro-credentials to meet specific skills needs.
If you are interested in contributing to the development micro-credentials reach out to one of our partner universities directly or to the MicroCreds team who can link you with the most appropriate university. Visit the Contact Us page for more information.
Central to MicroCreds has been the development of a dynamic and sustainable model of enterprise engagement for micro-credentials, called MicroCreds Innovate. It is a sustainable model for data-informed university-enterprise collaboration for micro-credentials. The format provides space to explore enterprise-informed development in a focused way, increasing our universities’ capacity to anticipate, understand and respond to emerging skills needs at a granular level.
Key skills focus areas for MicroCreds Innovate events to date have included Zero Carbon, Digital Transformation & Artificial Intelligence and SMEs, with a future focus on BioPharmaChem, Food & Agriculture, together with other sectors currently experiencing high-level skills needs.
If you have a specific skills gap in your organisation but can’t find the right micro-credential to address it, our partner universities may be able to assist you with the development of a new micro-credential.
To discuss specific skills needs reach out to one of our partner universities directly or contact the MicroCreds team who can connect you with the most appropriate university. Visit the Contact Us page for more information.
Our MicroCreds Enterprise Advisory Group (EAG), is a bespoke advisory group comprising senior enterprise members from business representative organisations, enterprise agencies, private sector companies and state bodies with responsibility for skills to change thinking about and engagement structures with university learning.
The MicroCreds EAG informs our work as we are focus on learners who are seeking to up-skill, reskill, return to employment or change careers.
Current membership of the EAG includes senior representatives across Ibec, IDA, Enterprise Ireland, CPL, Glanbia, Dublin Regional Skills Forum, Northern Trust, Taste4Success Skillnet, ISME and SFA.