A new platform aimed at addressing skills gaps in the workforce and wider economy is being launched today.
MicroCreds.ie has been developed by the Irish University Association in conjunction with a number of universities offering hundreds of short, flexible courses with university-accreditation.
MicroCreds partner universities have developed courses in key skills areas including sustainability, digital transformation, data programming, digital disruption, and Fintech among other areas.
It utilises extensive user research and testing to make lifelong learning easier and more accessible for both individuals and enterprise.
Seven of the founding IUA universities - Dublin City University, Maynooth University, Trinity College Dublin, University College Cork, University College Dublin, University of Galway and University of Limerick - are involved.
The platform has been developed in collaboration with university and enterprise stakeholders.
"We have over 300 courses available and they cover a range of skills from business skills, such as strategy and data management, all the way through to creative," Jools O'Connor, Project Lead for Mor Microcreds at the Irish University Association told Morning Ireland.
"All of the courses are university-accredited and they have what are called ECTS credits attached. Some will have certificates to show that you've gained skills. they're very targeted at the workplace so they're very practical," she explained.
The price for courses vary from around €200 to €2000 depending on the duration of the course and the provider.
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"It is vitally important that we make upskilling and reskilling opportunities easier and more accessible for everyone so that we can address skills shortages," Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris said on the launch of the platform.
"The launch of the MicroCreds.ie platform... will allow learners to re-enter the workforce, progress in or futureproof their careers," he added.
"Ireland has an extremely ambitious lifelong learning target of 60% of adults engaging in some form of upskilling by 2030," Professor Kerstin Mey, President of University of Limerick and Chair of IUA Council said.
"Micro-credentials, which are informed by enterprise, but more importantly are quality assured by leading Irish Universities, offer a perfect solution to help Ireland to reach these targets by 2030," she added.
