Microcredentials can help close skill gaps and support equity—but only if they are built in close partnership with employers, argue Karla Barron (NAIT), Scott Biggs (NAIT), and Partha Roy (NAIT) for The evoLLLution. Drawing on research conducted with SAIT and Bow Valley College, the authors emphasize that microcredentials show real potential in providing to skills needs to emerging fields and supporting the skill development of equity-seeking groups. To maximize their impact, microcredentials must be grounded in labour market data, targeting specific use cases, designing stackable pathways, and pushing for broader recognition. “If we build them with rigour and align them with employer needs and treat them as part of a broader credential ecosystem,” they conclude, “microcredentials can help make the uncertain a little more navigable.”
