Key points:
- Higher-ed leaders believe microcredentials boost satisfaction and engagement
- 6 steps for a successful microcredential program
- In higher ed, leaders see microcredentials as the future
- For more news on microcredentials, visit eCN’s Teaching & Learning hub
As the labor market evolves and as generative AI impacts industries, students and employers believe microcredentials play an important role in career success, according to a new report from Coursera.
Nearly 9 in 10 students view microcredentials as key to job success, and 96 percent of students favor the inclusion of GenAI credentials in degree programs, according to Microcredentials Impact Report 2025: Insights from Students and Employers.
Eighty-five percent of students who have earned a microcredential say it improves their job prospects, and 91 percent believe it will help reach professional success once employed.
Employers are increasingly recognizing the value of microcredentials, signaling strong industry support for this approach to workforce readiness. Globally, 96 percent of employers believe microcredentials enhance a candidate’s job application. Furthermore, nine out of 10 would offer higher starting salaries–10 to 15 percent more–to job candidates with microcredentials.
Higher education, too, recognizes the trends, and institutions are using microcredentials to boost students’ long-term career prospects–53 percent of universities that offer microcredentials provide credit-bearing options, and 82 percent say they plan to do so in the next few years.
Students are twice as likely to remain engaged (from 40 percent to 89 percent) and more likely to enroll (from 36 percent to 88 percent) if a degree program offers credit-bearing microcredentials, according to the study. Ninety-four percent of students also say they’re eager to earn credentials that count as credit toward their degree–up from 55 percent in 2023. What’s more, 41 percent of those who have microcredentials earned at least one that was credit-bearing.
GenAI dominates as the most crucial technical skill for career preparation, with 86 percent of students prioritizing it above other in-demand skills like data strategy and software development. Seventeen percent of students have already earned a GenAI microcredential, and 96 percent believe GenAI training belongs in degree programs.
Nearly 9 in 10 students who earned a GenAI microcredential report improved AI skills for academic work.
Many employers would prioritize hiring a less experienced applicant with a GenAI credential over a more experienced one without it, and 87 percent have hired at least one microcredential holder in the past year.
The report offers a blueprint to equip students with GenAI skills:
- Develop comprehensive AI literacy programs: These should include not only technical training but also modules on AI ethics, data privacy, and the social impact of AI, ensuring that learners are equipped to use AI responsibly and effectively.
- Integrate GenAI across disciplines: AI isn’t just for computer science students; its applications span disciplines. Universities should ensure that AI literacy is a core component of all academic programs, from the humanities to the sciences.
- Provide faculty development opportunities: Offer workshops, seminars, and resources to help faculty build their confidence and competence in teaching AI concepts, particularly those related to ethics and societal impact.
