MICROCERTIFICATES
What are microcertificates and what are they used for?
Microcertificates are official records or certificates of completion of smaller learning units that demonstrate the acquisition of clearly defined and comprehensive knowledge, skills, and competencies. They are expressed in ECTS credits and are compatible with the European Qualifications Framework (EQF), which ensures their transparency and comprehensibility for employers and educational institutions within the EU. They serve to expand knowledge, increase qualifications, retrain, strengthen competencies, and connect the academic and applied spheres.
What types of learning units can lead to obtaining a microcertificate?
A learning unit that can lead to the acquisition of a micro-certificate may be:
- A lifelong learning program in accordance with the Higher Education Act (or a set of such programs).
- A subject of an accredited study program.
- A module consisting of subjects from an accredited study program from the Czech Republic or abroad. Typically, these are interdisciplinary and cross-cutting courses with a direct link to the application sphere and an emphasis on the transferability of skills.
Who can obtain a micro-certificate and what are its main benefits for participants in education?
Microcertificates can be obtained by both students and participants in lifelong learning programs if they successfully meet the requirements of a given learning unit and demonstrate that they have acquired the required competencies. The main benefits for participants include:
- Acquiring specific knowledge and competencies that correspond to the needs of the labor market.
- The opportunity to retrain and update existing knowledge.
- Increased chances of employment in the labor market and academia thanks to transparent proof of qualifications.
- Proof of interest in lifelong learning and the possibility of combining completed activities into comprehensive learning pathways.
- Easy sharing and uploading of microcertificates to databases for educational institutions and employers.
- The possibility of recognition of education documented by a microcertificate within the framework of an accredited study program at the University of West Bohemia.
How are microcertificates linked to the European Qualifications Framework (EQF)?
Micro-certificates are linked to the European Qualifications Framework (EQF), which defines individual competencies and levels of education. This link ensures the international comprehensibility and recognition of micro-certificates within the EU.
What is the overall benefit of micro-certificates for society and the labor market?
Microcertificates are an effective way to make lifelong learning, reskilling, and upskilling opportunities available to a wide range of people. In the context of a rapidly changing labor market and new digital and environmental strategies, their importance is growing rapidly. Their advantage is that the programs they certify are smaller in scope, targeted, interdisciplinary, and linked to the application sphere, which appeals to a wider range of interested parties. They are transparent, easily transferable, verifiable, and can be combined into larger units, facilitating the flexible development of competencies for a dynamic labor market.