What is the current stage of the microcredentials pilot project at the Educational Research Institute – National Research Institute (IBE-PIB)? What did cooperation with its participants look like? How is the issuer accreditation process progressing in the emerging National Microcredential System? These questions were discussed during the eighth meeting of the Microcredentials Advisory Group.

Valuable insights from pilot participants

The meeting brought together members of the Microcredentials Advisory Group, guests and experts from the IBE-PIB for an online session, during which Martyna Leciejewicz, a lead project expert, presented the latest progress in the pilot.

A year on from her previous presentation, two additional pathways have been added to the pilot: one for higher education institutions and one for marketing, complementing the existing ICT pathway.

‘We are pleased to launch a new pilot pathway for higher education, with 20 universities from across Poland set to participate. This step greatly broadens the reach of our activities and allows us to link flexible forms of learning with students’ real expectations and the labour market even more effectively. We continue to gather systematic feedback from participating organisations, enabling us to respond accurately to their needs. At the same time, we are enhancing the application technologically to make it more intuitive, scalable and ready for the next stages of implementation,’ said Martyna Leciejewicz.

The IBE-PIB expert pointed out that, to date, pilot participants have created 51 microcredentials, of which 2,600 were issued, and 441 claimed. 

Jerzy Furman, a microcredential expert at IBE-PIB, outlined how pilot participants developed their microcredential descriptions. He noted that the partnership-based approach, which encouraged honest and open communication, ensured smooth cooperation and led to solutions that best served all parties.

The role of issuers – case studies

Following this, representatives of two organisations participating in the pilot shared their experiences: Rafał Uhl and Anna Tykwińska from the Helena Chodkowska University of Technology and Economics in Warsaw described their cooperation with the IBE-PIB.

‘Microcredentials provide universities with an opportunity to broaden their offerings through short training programmes and to formally recognise specific skills acquired during studies, even before graduation. Cooperation with the IBE-PIB gives us the possibility to co-create an intuitive, cost-free solution that is trusted by its users,’ said Rafał Uhl.

Anna Kania, President of the Polish Institute of Competences of the Future (PIKP), briefed the Advisory Group about both the pilot’s progress and PIKP’s future plans for advancing microcredentials, including educational outreach and promotion, with a strong emphasis on highlighting their value in the labour market: 

‘Interest in microcredentials is growing, and we are glad to see them beginning to genuinely support employee and organisational development. The greatest challenge currently is the limited awareness of this tool in the market, which is why PIKP places strong emphasis on education and invites all stakeholders involved in microcredential development to collaborate. We believe that through joint activities, such as interviews, articles, or educational initiatives, we can build understanding and improve the quality of the entire system much more quickly,’ said Anna Kania from PIKP.

Quoting the PIKP representative, ‘microcredentials are the ideal tool.’ They provide fast and reliable validation of competences, are visible on the labour market, offer clear reference to qualification standards, and allow holders to build their own development pathways.

Through their collaboration, PIKP and IBE-PIB created the microcredential ‘AI in Creating Digital Content: Basics and Opportunities,’ which was awarded to 440 people. 33 percent of those entitled have already claimed their credential.

How to become an issuer in the microcredential system

In the concluding presentation, Dr Wojciech Stęchły, lead expert on the microcredential project at IBE-PIB, detailed the accreditation process for issuers within the emerging National Microcredential System. The expert emphasised that organisations issuing microcredentials must not only have solid reputations but also be thoroughly prepared in terms of expertise, technical capabilities, and staffing. Consequently, the issuer accreditation form is being developed with great care and is continuously improved.

Participants of the meeting included: 

Prof Andrzej Kraśniewski, The Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland (CRASP)

Marek Michajłowicz, The National Information Processing Institute (OPI PIB)

Aleksandra Wąsik, All-Poland Alliance of Trade Unions / Polish Teachers’ Union

Agnieszka Dec, Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy

Bogusław Dębski, Polish Information Processing Society (PTI), Sectoral Skills Council – IT

Barbara Worek, Sectoral Skills Council – Development Services

Agnieszka Majcher-Teleon, Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy