Micro-Credential Minute: It Takes an Ecosystem by Cristina Goldsmith To learn more about micro-credentials at Yavapai College, email Christina Goldsmith at microcredentials@yc.edu Ecosystems are constantly evolving. They ada…

by Cristina Goldsmith

To learn more about micro-credentials at Yavapai College, email Christina Goldsmith at microcredentials@yc.edu

Ecosystems are constantly evolving. They adapt to stress, growth, and changing conditions. That dynamic nature is exactly what makes the term “ecosystem” so fitting for the work being done with micro-credentials. 

I recently had the opportunity to attend The Badge Summit @ CU Boulder. I was thrilled when the Badge Summit theme this year was "It takes an ecosystem." In the context of micro-credentials, the ecosystem consists of the connected system of learners, faculty, industry partners, technologies, and policies all working together that are essential for learner success.

What is a Micro-Credential?

A micro-credential is a form of recognition of an individual's skills and competencies, usually represented in the form of a digital badge. It serves as a certification of assessed learning that is additional, alternate, complementary to, or a formal component of a formal qualification (Brown et al., 2021; paraphrased from Society for Human Resource Management).

One analogy that was shared during the Badge Summit compared a degree or transcript to learning to ride a bike. Just like saying someone “learned to ride a bike” does not identify the specific skills they gained in the process of learning (balance, coordination, strategic thinking), traditional degrees and transcripts lack recognition of the particular skills and competencies learners develop during their time in the classroom. 

Micro-credentials, on the other hand, are able to verify specific competencies or skills learners master as part of their educational journey.

Effective micro-credentials provide:

• Greater transparency and clearly demonstrated mastery of industry relevant skills. 
• True stackability that leads to higher levels of education such as formal certificates or degrees.  
• Flexible entry and exit points to meet the needs of diverse learners. 
• Clear return on investment where micro-credentials build towards greater opportunities. 

Connecting Industry to Learners: Filling the Talent and Skills Gap  

Micro-Credentials, along with Learning and Employment Records (LERs) also known as digital wallets, can help connect learners and industry by providing a comprehensive record of learners' skill mastery. (An LER is a secure, digital record of an individual's skills, education, and work history that they control and can share with employers or educational institutions to prove their abilities.) 

This kind of agile, skills-based recognition is especially important given that traditional 4-year programs often struggle to keep pace with the rapid evolution of workforce demands. In fact, up to a third of what students learn in a 4-year degree program may be irrelevant by the time they graduate. 

2025 Global Talent Shortage, Manpower Group, 2025: Source

Between 2021 and 2024 alone, 32% of required skills have already shifted. By 2030, 70% of today’s skills will have changed. AI is accelerating this transformation.

2025 Global Talent Shortage, Manpower Group, 2025: Source

There are two core problems that define skill gaps: 

• Skills redundancy: learners have skills and even credentials, but they don’t align with what employers need 
• Skills deficit: employers have jobs but can’t find candidates with the right skills 

The Future of Jobs Report, World Economic Forum, 2025: Source

Micro-credentials directly address both sides of the skills gap—redundancy and deficit—by offering targeted, up-to-date training aligned with industry needs. Because they are developed in collaboration with educators and employers and focused on specific competencies, micro-credentials ensure that learners gain relevant skills that match current job market demands. At the same time, they give employers clearer insight into candidates’ capabilities, helping them identify qualified talent more efficiently.

(Images from Robert Bajor's presentation "The Next Evolution of the Disruption Continuum: Mapping Your Future in Skills-Based Learning, Hiring, and AI") 

Connecting Learners with Opportunity

Micro-credential pathways equip learners with in-demand skills and also provide clear, structured routes toward further education and career advancement. 

Currently, only 3–5% of credentials lead to degree pathways. The result is that many learners get stuck in an endless upskilling maze. In contrast, stackable micro-credential pathways offer a solution by mapping out a progression that answers key questions:

• What’s the first step? 
• What’s the next step? 
• What comes after that?  
• What happens if something gets in the way? 

Image from Why Micro-Pathways by Education Design Lab

By making these pathways visible and attainable, micro-credentials help learners see how each achievement builds toward broader goals, opening doors to both employment and continued education.

Building the Future, Together 

As industries continue to evolve and the skills required to succeed shift rapidly, micro-credentials offer a responsive, relevant, and inclusive way to bridge gaps between learning and work, between education and opportunity. But to realize their full potential, it truly does take an ecosystem. When educators, institutions, employers, and policymakers work together, micro-credentials become pathways to meaningful careers and lifelong learning.

I want to express my sincere gratitude to the presenters at the Badge Summit who generously shared their time, experience, and insights. The information and ideas explored in this article are shaped by their work and contributions.