New Microcredentials Aim to Meet Area Employers’ Workforce Demands and Individual Needs
August 12, 2022
MCC helps speed learners along the pathway to in-demand careers or professional advancement
BRIGHTON, N.Y. – Today’s learners are increasingly looking for on-demand, accelerated educational options that help them fulfill a specific goal, whether learning a skill or increasing their hiring and earning potential. Today’s businesses need flexible training options.
Beginning in the fall 2022 semester, Monroe Community College will offer two additional microcredentials, expanding its suite of short-term learning options to meet the increased demand within the past year (a full list of microcredentials is available on MCC’s website):
- Optical Fabrication Essentials – individuals earning this credential are prepared to contribute to the workplace on the first day of employment in the optics manufacturing field at an above entry-level starting wage.
- Construction Fundamentals I – individuals gain skills that a majority of employers in the construction industry seek in an entry-level technician.
MCC microcredentials are narrowly focused so learners achieve specific skills and competencies in their chosen field of study relevant to industry, community or their individual needs.
MCC microcredentials typically consist of six to 14 credits and, for noncredit coursework, 90 to 180 hours to complete. They can stand alone as a valuable career credential or provide a pathway to an existing MCC certificate or associate degree program, allowing learners to build upon their credential over time. Stackable credentials are designed to allow some “on” and “off” ramps so a person can pause or intersperse employment as needed.
This short-cycle educational option is attractive to various learners – from current students to working professionals – because it better accommodates their schedules, saving them time and money in the long run, and in some cases offer an added opportunity to gain work-based learning and industry certification. In addition, employers in need of middle-skill workers benefit from an increased talent pool.
Nationally, the demand for microcredentials is increasing. About 54 percent of U.S. employers surveyed in 2021 said they view microcredentials as extremely/very important, compared with 20 percent of employers in 2019 who said it was something they would consider in place of a college degree when hiring candidates, a report by Wiley Education Services and Future Workplace found.
As much as 40 percent of U.S. colleges and universities are projected to offer for-credit and noncredit micro-credentials by 2028 – double the number from 2018 – according to a report by Northeastern University’s Center for the Future of Higher Education and Talent Strategy.