The UAB leads the debate on micro-credentials at the national forum on European universities
The Office of the Vice-Rector for Studies and Quality of the UAB coordinated the sectoral meeting on micro-credentials held by the Forum of Spanish Universities in European Universities (UEUE), held on 13 and 14 July at the University of Cantabria. The gathering brought together more than forty representatives from Spanish universities that form part of European alliances to share experiences and make progress on the joint design and implementation of this new lifelong learning format.
The opening ceremony was attended by Ramón Vilanova, Vice-Rector for Studies and Quality at the UAB, together with the Rector Conchi López of the University of Cantabria, and Gabriel Moncalián, Vice-Rector for University Transformation at the Cantabrian institution.
Vilanova explained that micro-credentials "are an alternative to formal education, offering greater flexibility than longer-duration educational pathways such as master's degrees". He also highlighted that these formats "are designed for lifelong learning, catering to active professionals and anyone needing to update their skills in any field of knowledge". The UAB delegation at the meeting also included Mireia Galí, the university's institutional coordinator for the ECIU.
During the working sessions, various strategies were presented for the co-creation of international micro-credentials with European partners—spanning academia, the business world, public administration, and civil society—alongside issues regarding their recognition, funding, and accreditation.
Key challenges shared by European universities in the design, recognition, and implementation of these credentials were also addressed.
Key challenges shared by European universities in the design, recognition, and implementation of these transnational micro-credentials were also highlighted—notably, differences in academic regulations across countries, models for recognition by employers, and funding mechanisms for these educational offerings.
One of the meeting's highlights was led by Òscar Redondo, UAB’s technical coordinator for challenges, who conducted a workshop on designing micro-credentials based on Challenge-Based Learning, a methodology that is a hallmark of the ECIU.
The event also focused on the exchange of good practices among Spanish universities that are members of European alliances. Participating institutions presented examples of the design, development, and joint offering of micro-credentials, aimed at moving towards training models that are more flexible and international, and tailored to the needs of professional upskilling and lifelong learning.
In recent years, micro-credentials have established themselves as a key initiative of the European Union to foster lifelong learning. These certifications attest to the acquisition of specific competencies through short-term training activities, with a focus closely aligned with emerging social and professional needs.
In this area, the ECIU has played a pioneering role. In 2023, it became the first European university alliance to begin issuing micro-credentials that are electronically sealed and compliant with European digital credential standards, thereby enhancing the recognition and international portability of learning acquired by students and lifelong learners.
The UEUE forum brings together the 55 Spanish universities that are members of European alliances, as well as other universities interested in this initiative, which aims to increase the competitiveness and internationalisation of European universities.