Micro-credentials

PRESENTERS

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Diane Meza

Executive Director, Maricopa IT Institute (MITI)

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Leah Palmer

Executive Director, Arizona Advanced Manufacturing Institute, (AzAMI)

• College Based
• Regionally Focused
• Sector Driven

Maricopa Community Colleges

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Definition: A series of courses or shortened, accelerated programs that students can take to gain relevant skills for the workforce.

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They are important because today’s world needs continuous learners. “Validators”

What is a Micro-credential?

In this new time, we need a new class of credential that is more aligned to the market, designed for learner needs, and faster than traditional offerings…

Micro-credential Pathways

• Small, targeted learning modules that focus on specific skills
• Short duration
• Issued by educational institutions, professional organizations or online learning platforms

Micro-credential Characteristics

• Flexible and targeted
• Easily accessible through online platforms
• Affordable
• Relevant to current industry needs
• Enhance employability
• Taught in multiple modalities (online, hybrid, in-person)

Benefits of Micro-credentials

• AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
• CPR Certification
• HubSpot Marketing Certification
• Google Project Management Certification

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How did we create our micro-credentials?

Current Examples

Design Criteria

Include two or more credentials that are stackable, portable, + track toward a degree

Align to dynamic regional labor market employment + wage data

Be employer-initiated + validated

Be completed in one year or less

Be offered in a flexible delivery format

Be affordable

Be digitally discoverable

Integrate technical + 21st Century skills

IT Fundamentals

This is a single, online, self-paced, 8-week course consisting of five modules that prepare students for the Maricopa Community College IT Fundamentals badge.

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Learn how to…�

• Recall Computer hardware components-basic review
• Navigate Windows and Manage files and folders
• Learn word processing software, text-editing, and the basic formatting of documents
• Learn PowerPoint software to produce professional-quality presentation visuals.
• Learn computer spreadsheet skills for solving business problems using Excel, including calculations, forecasting, and projections.
• Identify and recognize different types of databases and data analytic tools.

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Professional Workforce Skills

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This is a single, online, self-paced, four week course consisting of five modules that prepare students for the Maricopa Community College Professional Workforce Skills badge.

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Learn how to…

• Communicating Effectively
• Convey Professionalism
• Promote Teamwork and Collaboration
• Think Critically and Solving Problems
• Discover Your Interpersonal Skills
• Apply Online (Digital) Citizenship Skills
• Lead Effectively
• Resolve Conflicts
• Use Smart Time Management Strategies

Badge-Example

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Proof of Concept

“Mash-up”

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Semiconductor

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Marketing

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HOW WE ARE MAKING IT HAPPEN: Quick Start Partnership Design

• Acceleration MODEL for targeting scope scale designing 10-day credit courses belonging to an existing pathway earning college credit, industry certification and leads to a degree pathway.
• Recruited Adjunct Faculty recruited 49 instructors trained � and teaching currently
• Joint Marketing Systemized - college teams use landing pages, QR codes, measure hits, pretesting for readiness, constant contact
• Industry Hiring Recruiters connect at hiring Fairs monthly
• DEI is a Priority - increasing the # of women technicians as well as overall diversity and equity (measured)
• State Partnership - Economic Development - Industry and Engagement

Meeting Current and Future Demand:

Scope and Scale -Building the Infrastructure

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• Regional Approach (3) collaborating across Maricopa County for using Systems Driven student access, leveraging Automated Industrial Technology (AIT) program
• Curriculum AIT 132 Designed by Industry, centralized MICRO CREDENTIAL - Professional Skills, NIMS Industry Recognized Certification, College Credit and transcript, Leads to a full degree pathway
• Shared Data pipeline matriculation from outreach to employment with benchmarking and refinement where needed.

IMPACT that Moves the Needle

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Meeting Immediate need:

• Program Portal Entries: 5532 students have entered the landing page to start enrollment process. Over 4,000 have passed the pre-test, affirming they are ready for enrollment.
• Currently serving projected 892 semiconductor technicians from July 2022 through December 2023

Skills Credentialing:

• Professional Skills training for the workplace: Situational Awareness, reading, math and Navigation for information
• NIMS and IPC A620 industry certification testing: portable Semiconductor competencies and serves WIOA participants

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QUESTIONS?