The project “Microguide – Development of Guidelines for the Implementation of Microcredentials in Higher Education” was launched with the aim of supporting the European approach to microcredentials and enabling their introduction in Serbia.
The Agency for Qualifications actively participated in the Microguide project. With its experience in developing the National Qualifications Framework, adult education, linking education with labor market needs, and the process of recognizing foreign educational credentials, the Agency made a significant contribution to the development of guidelines and a methodological framework for the implementation of microcredentials.
As part of the project, three pilot curricula for microcredentials were developed as examples of good practice.
With the amendments to the Law on Higher Education in 2023, microcredentials were legally defined for the first time. A certificate of acquired competencies is issued for each completed program, and quality is ensured through an accreditation system. Microcredentials are becoming a reality in Serbia.
Microcredentials are smaller, flexible learning programs, ranging from 1 to 15 ECTS credits, that allow for the rapid acquisition of specific knowledge and skills, as well as specific competencies in a short period of time. They represent a response to rapid changes in the labor market, complement traditional diplomas, and serve as an important tool for filling skill and knowledge gaps.
Individuals, from students to employees who wish to enhance their competencies, can create their own educational journey based on their interests and goals, skill gaps, and specific labor market needs. They can choose microcredential programs, learn at their own pace, accumulate their achievements, and achieve full qualifications.
Thanks to more flexible entry barriers, microcredentials should become accessible to a wider range of participants, including those who were previously discouraged from engaging in the educational system. They can support new ways of learning, contribute to the inclusion of vulnerable groups, and increase the mobility of students and employees.
Microcredentials bring benefits to both individuals and the economy – they enable individuals to quickly acquire relevant competencies, while providing the economy with a workforce equipped with the skills that are currently most needed. In the future, they may become one of the key instruments of lifelong learning, contributing to the competitiveness of our educational system and greater mobility in the European education area.
