The push for micro-credentials in Singapore: What are they and are they for you?

SINGAPORE: Adult learners looking for specific skills will find it easier to access them, as Singapore finetunes the landscape for bite-sized courses. These courses, called micro-credentials, are already being offered by Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs), but will be improved , Education Minister Chan Chun Sing said on Tuesday (Jul 9) at the SkillsFuture Forum 2024. He cited numbers showing that they are popular: The number of completed micro-credential courses increased from 34,000 in 2019 to 42,000 in 2022.

The providers, which include polytechnics, universities and Institutes of Technical Education (ITEs), will standardise the naming of such courses. They are also working on how to make micro-credentials recognisable across institutions. More micro-credentials are set to be developed, especially on skills in emerging areas, including in collaboration with industry.

WHAT ARE MICRO-CREDENTIALS? Micro-credentials are mini qualifications that can help individuals learn new skills, progress in their careers or change careers entirely. They are a discrete packet of learning that can be taken separately, said Mr Chan at the forum held at the Lifelong Learning Institute in Paya Lebar. They cater to adult learners who may worry that they cannot commit to a full programme as many of them have family and work commitments, he added.

Typically, the learning is done through short-term courses, workshops, or online modules. Mr Chan gave the example of an ITE graduate who would like to.