Sustaining and Reinforcing the Perceived Value of Higher Education: E-Learning with Micro-Credentials

An important aspect of sustaining higher education is to produce graduates prepared for careers with the expertise and experiences desired by prospective employers. Micro-credentials delivered by higher education can confirm the students’ mastery of demanded skills and knowledge. The use of micro-credentials as an e-learning technology supports sustainability in higher education by reinforcing students’ employability. With hundreds of thousands of these credentials available in the United States, it is predictable that not all are equal. We explored the perceived value of micro-credentials reported by students and employers. Clear differences were found, with employers recognizing their value more than students. Additionally, we considered the source of the credential, which is the organization that creates, brands, and sponsors the award. Results demonstrated that employers used the sources for assessing value. We also tested the differences when higher education was the provider of the micro-credential, and institution type (issuer) was relevant to employers’ value. Finally, this study distinguished between the academic rigor and integrity of university-delivered micro-credentials associated with earning transcripted course credits and credentials that could be earned without course credits (non-transcripted). Employers valued transcripted micro-credentials more. This study found support for the use of micro-credentials to represent the mastery of skills and knowledge in higher education.