MICROBOL

Micro-credentials linked to the Bologna Process Key Commitments

The MICROBOL project aims for ministries and stakeholders to explore, within the Bologna Process, whether and how the existing Bologna tools can be used for or adapted to micro-credentials.

The two-year project is co-funded by Erasmus+ KA3 Support to Policy reform, and, more specifically  "Support to the implementation of European Higher Education Area (EHEA) reforms". It is linked to the objectives of the new Erasmus+ Programme and the EHEA to increase access to continuous learning for all learners, regardless of age or experience.

These learners include traditional higher education students, but also underrepresented groups, adult learners and all those who want to improve their knowledge, skills and competences. To fill the gap between formal education, leading to classic degrees, and the fast-changing knowledge-development and labour market needs, new and flexible ways of learning and teaching are needed, such as short learning programmes and micro-credentials. These can be offered through formal or informal education and through online or face-to-face courses.

Ideally, all of these short forms of learning should guarantee a standard of quality. They should be linked to the Qualifications Frameworks of the EHEA and be recognised appropriately throughout the EHEA. The project will investigate what the options are available within the current guidelines.

It will focus primarily on micro-credentials provided by higher education institutions or in conjunction with higher education institutions, and touch secondly on those entirely provided by companies or non-profit organisations, the system of “open badges” and other types of “micro-learning”.

In this project an international consortium will organise various meetings and workshops in which governments, experts and stakeholders will come together to evaluate the current practices and policies relating to micro-credentials. Based on the findings of these meetings, a common European framework for micro-credentials will be proposed.

The Flemish Ministry of Education and Training coordinates MICROBOL in cooperation with:

  • EUA (European University Association)
  • The Ministry of Education and Culture from Finland
  • CIMEA (Information Centre on Academic Mobility and Equivalence) of Italy
  • ENQA (European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education)

 

For more information about MICROBOL project and the involvement of EUA, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Resources

  • Micro-credentials supporting flexible higher education and lifelong learning

    Policy input

    09 July 2021

    The present policy input comprises EUA’s key messages for the European Commission’s public consu...

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  • Micro-credentials linked to the Bologna Key Commitments

    Report

    15 September 2020

    Micro-credentials have attracted interest as a means to increase the effectiveness and flexibility o...

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Expert voices

  • Providing micro-credentials: the important role of higher education institutions

    20 January 2022

    It is clear that micro-credentials are quickly becoming a hot topic for policy makers and stakeholders. The proof is in the fact that the European Commission’s 2021 public consultation on micro-cred...

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  • Micro-credentials: What is behind all the buzz?

    09 October 2020

    The European Commission’s Communication on the European Education Area, published on 30 September, includes a commitment to work towards an European approach to micro-credentials. This approach was ...

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