Getting a degree has always been the apex of educational achievement and a passport to professional success. Degrees would often guarantee jobs, and good jobs at that. However, today, a new form of learning is coming to the fore.
Short courses, or “micro-credentials”, have become a valuable way of building knowledge in the rapidly evolving landscape of the 21st-century job market. It’s another way to demonstrate your skills.
With the advent of online learning platforms, there is an increasing acceptance of the value of alternative educational pathways compared to conventional degrees. It’s a growing worldwide movement, and employers in Africa must stay abreast of it.
The traditional value of a degree
A university degree is often seen as a marker of intellectual maturity and professional readiness. It provides a comprehensive education that fosters critical thinking, problem-solving, and a wide spectrum of transferable skills valuable in any career.
However, given the resources it takes to obtain a degree, both in terms of duration and cost, it may not be a viable pathway for everyone. With the relentless pace of change in today’s world, short courses provide another solution.
There are many options. For example, digital marketing certifications are one of the most cost-effective courses that can provide useful skills. Another common short course in high demand is business analytics, as are various software development courses, which can be stacked to create a strong CV.
The changing face of the job market
Since the 1980s, the standard for many job listings has been the mandatory inclusion of a university degree. This requirement all but excluded candidates with the requisite skills and experience. A study conducted in 2017 by a team from Harvard Business School revealed that over 60% of employers dismissed applicants who possessed the necessary skills and experience but lacked a university degree.
Recent trends, however, indicate a shift in hiring practices. Employers worldwide are progressively adapting the emphasis on degree requirements, leading to an uptick in job postings that prioritise micro-skills over formal education. This evolution in job criteria reflects a more inclusive approach to identifying talent, aligning qualifications with the practical demands of the job market.
The new degree
The landscape of education is rapidly evolving, with a trend toward more concise and modular forms of learning. Businesses are increasingly valuing short-term courses and programs that enable employees to enhance their skill sets without stepping away from their professional responsibilities.
These “stackable” credentials, or “micro-credentials,” emphasise a shift in focus towards a person’s capabilities and what they can practically achieve, moving away from the conventional emphasis on academic qualifications and connections.
Skills based pathways
Adopting a skills-based approach to workforce development is a must. There is a need to redefine the contribution of different types of education to the workforce by significantly enhancing skill-based training. This includes a deeper investment in short courses.
According to the World Economic Forum, recognising short courses also addresses the need to elevate the societal esteem and recognition afforded to individuals in trades and vocational careers. Recognising and valuing the critical contributions that all professionals make to the economy, irrespective of their lack of a university degree, is crucial.
Changes are happening everywhere as lawmakers see the value of short courses. Already in the US, federal financial aid that was always reserved for long-term degrees has now been opened up to short courses, no mean feat in a world previously dominated by degrees.
The rise of short courses and alternative education
The landscape of education is undergoing a dramatic transformation, driven by the rise of online platforms and short courses tailored to swiftly address the evolving demands of the global job market.
This growth signals a shift towards more flexible, accessible, and targeted learning opportunities, allowing individuals to obtain specific skills and competencies with direct relevance to emerging industries and technologies.
A platform that exemplifies this trend is the Adobe Education Exchange, which offers free self-paced micro-credentials on creative topics such as infographics, presentations, graphic organisers, and more. Educators can also join the Adobe Creative Educator community and earn digital badges for professional development credit.
An example of a broader approach is Skillshare, a platform that offers a vast array of courses that range from coding and data analysis to digital marketing and project management, all designed to meet the immediate needs of employers and the workforce alike.
Powerful initiatives like these not only democratise access to learning but also align closely with the pace of change in the professional world, ensuring that the workforce can adapt to new challenges and opportunities as they arise.
The employer’s perspective
According to a skills and micro-credential study by McKinsey, businesses are starting to appreciate the advantages of focusing on skills obtained from short courses when it comes to hiring, unlocking a wider pool of exceptional talent.
This approach doesn’t just benefit companies; it also empowers the individual by enabling them to secure better positions based on their abilities and know-how rather than just their traditional academic qualifications.
Given the pace of technological change, companies interested in workforce development must dedicate effort and resources towards promoting these skill-based hiring practices. This commitment will help foster a fairer distribution of opportunities and contribute to thriving communities.
Conclusion
The evolving dynamics of the global job market have seen skill-focused competencies take their place alongside traditional degree-based qualifications. This transition not only broadens the horizons for individuals seeking to adapt and thrive in rapidly changing industries like graphic design and creative arts but also offers businesses a more diverse and agile talent pool.
The integration of short courses and stackable credentials into workforce development promises a new era of flexibility in education. By recognising the value of short courses, educators and employers alike can help redefine what it means to be qualified in the 21st century.
Sources
https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/news/talent-acquisition/skills-based-hiring-requires-commitment-to-changehttps://www.edsurge.com/news/2022-03-09-employers-are-changing-how-they-view-training-here-are-education-trends-they-see-cominghttps://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/taking-a-skills-based-approach-to-building-the-future-workforcehttps://www.weforum.org/agenda/2024/01/davos-2024-6-innovative-ideas-for-reskilling-upskilling-and-building-a-future-ready-workforce/?utm_content=22%2F01%2F2024+09%3A00&utm_medium=social_scheduler&utm_source=linkedin&utm_term=Future+of+Workhttps://www.forbes.com/sites/ryancraig/2024/01/05/the-safety-dance-is-making-us-less-safe/?sh=5e8ff7971815https://edex.adobe.com/explore-professional-learninghttps://www.hbs.edu/managing-the-future-of-work/Documents/dismissed-by-degrees.pdf