The implementation of microcredentials in Poland requires a lot of advanced work to be done in parallel on every aspect of the issue. Providing opinions on the established standards and recommendations for the use of microcredentials, discussing solutions related to their design, description, issuance and assurance, as well as exchanging experiences and sharing knowledge – these are the main tasks of the Microcredentials Advisory Group, established at the end of March 2024. 

‘Microcredentials are certainly the future of education and the job market. It is worth noting that the solutions developed by the Educational Research Institute (IBE) experts are at the level of global innovation. I am proud that we are setting trends in user needs research and the microcredential technology,’ says Dr Tomasz Gajderowicz, deputy director of the Educational Research Institute, during the inaugural meeting of the Microcredentials Advisory Group.

The meeting took place on 26 March in Warsaw and aimed to introduce the participants to the topic and to establish the direction of the Advisory Group’s work in the project.

‘What makes our Polish experience unique in the world is the comprehensive approach to the project. It is a joint effort of public administration, including many ministries, scientific institutes, leading universities, employers‘ and employees’ organisations, NGOs and commercial companies. Many experts around the world are waiting for the results and conclusions of our project, and we will do our best not to disappoint these expectations,’ declares Michał Nowakowski, leader of the project.

Data from various countries (OECD, 2023) show that people who gain microcredentials for participation in short-term education programmes have better job prospects and can expect to earn higher wages.

In addition to t participation in the programmes, the following are also important:

● the quality of the course (e.g. its duration, comprehensibility, and the prestige of the university that runs it)

● its relevance to current job market needs.

Microcredentials can support learners to start or return to university. Participation in short, certified programmes can encourage them to take advantage of the university’s offerings without making a long-term commitment of several years of study. 

‘Microcredentials enrich the provision of education and skills certification in secondary and higher education, as well as in the private sector – both in business and in the training market. If we use the metaphor of an ‘ecosystem’, microcredentials occupy an undeveloped niche and are part of the skills development cycle. They help to facilitate its phased cultivation, validation and presentation,’ stresses Dr Wojciech Stęchły, lead expert on the design of digital solutions for skills development.

Aiming for the highest standards

During the second meeting of the Advisory Group, held on 14 June 2023, the participants discussed one of the most important topics concerning the functioning of microcredentials in Poland – the development of standards for their application in our country.

‘There is no single universal standard for the use of microcredentials. In countries where they are already in use or are being developed, they are designed, issued and assured differently. These differences exist due to local contexts – cultural differences, user needs, specific educational systems or public policy objectives. We are looking at various solutions in order to be inspired by good practices, learn from mistakes and shape rules that will be tailored to the needs, goals and conditions under which microcredentials are to support learners and the labour market in Poland,’ explains Wojciech Gola, key expert for the design of digital solutions. 

Members of the Advisory Group attended presentations about selected uses of microcredentials in other countries. They also learned about the current findings of the project experts’ work on the development of the Polish standard.

‘The standard for describing microcredentials defines what kind of information is necessary to present them as clearly and comprehensively as possible. What distinguishes Polish microcredentials from other models used in Europe and worldwide, is the specific way in which the criteria for issuing a microcredential and its quality assurance are being addressed. Our proposed standard complies with all elements of the description for microcredentials in the EU Council Recommendation. It also draws on recognised national and international practices,’ explains Urszula Buchowicz, expert on microcredentials.

The technological solutions that are being implemented and adapted in the project for the use of microcredentials were also presented during the meeting. Grzegorz Tylek, an expert in digital design, explained the functioning of the Odznaka+ application, which is designed to issue and collect digital credentials. 

Further improvement of standards

The feedback gathered from the Advisory Group members and other participants allowed the experts to further improve the Polish microcredential standard.The modifications were presented at the next meeting of the Group, on 27 September 2024. It was also an opportunity to summarise the results of the first phase of the pilot project, which concluded with the creation of microcredentials based on the developed standard. Bogusław Dębski of The Polish Information Processing Society (Polskie Towarzystwo Informatyczne) shared his experiences from this part of the project. The next phase of the pilot has also been announced, with more than a dozen new entities joining.

‘Social innovations allow the initial verification of whether a solution actually works. We are looking forward to the results of the second phase of the pilot project, and we are pleased to see the interest in microcredentials from private companies and universities. Several new entities will be able to test which of the tools proposed by the IBE for ensuring the reliability and quality of microcredentials in Poland is the best and, what is also important, the most cost-effective.’ – says Dominika Tadla from the Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy.

The interim data model of the Odznaka+ application was also presented at the meeting. The challenge was to implement the microcredential standard in the Open Badges 2.1 data model so that it would be available for early testing in the application. As originally planned, it was not due to take place until February 2025. 

‘The implementation of the microcredentials standard is 60% more extensive than the implementation of Open Badges. It required, among other things, the incorporation of quality assurance elements. In two months, we created an interim data model and, most importantly, an MVP (minimum viable product) of the target solution so that both publishers and holders can already enjoy the convenience of creating classes, awarding and viewing microcredentials.’ – says Grzegorz Tylek, digital service design expert.

The members of the Microcredentials Advisory Group include:

• Representative of the Department of General Education and the Digital Transformation Programme of the Ministry of Education 
• Tomasz Chomicki, Sector Competence Council – Telecommunications and Cybersecurity
• Bogusław Dębski, Sector Competence Council – Information Technology
• Michał Goszczyński, Ministry of Science and Higher Education
• Justyna John, Ministry of Digital Affairs 
• Prof. Andrzej Kraśniewski, the Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland
• Szymon Kurek, Polish Agency for Enterprise Development
• Małgorzata Lelińska, Lewiatan Confederation
• Agnieszka Majcher-Teleon, Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy
• Dr. Błażej Mądrzycki, the All-Poland Alliance of Trade Unions
• Dr. Robert Musiałkiewicz, the Conference of Public Rectors of Vocational Universities
• Dominika Tadla, Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy
• Prof. Barbara Worek, Sector Competence Council – Development Services