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Micro-skills facilitate educational progress for both learners and entrepreneurs

Finding the time to add lifelong learning or upskilling to personal and professional commitments may seem like a pipe dream to many. But over a year since MicroCreds.ie launched in Ireland, Micro-credentials is doing just that, offering a range of short, accredited courses for people with busy lives to develop and future-proof their careers or return to work with confidence. And that’s not all, as many of the courses address the country’s skills shortages in key sectors, such as the Micro-credentials in Construction Innovation at the University of Galway.

Professor Jamie Goggins from the School of Engineering at the University of Galway is Director of Construct Innovate, Ireland’s national centre for research into construction technology and innovation, which has developed a range of courses to address key and proven skills needs in the construction and built environment sectors.

“There are over 70,000 businesses in the construction sector in Ireland and over 170,000 people employed, so there is a large group of people who need upskilling to meet the challenges and strategic outcomes set by the Irish Government and construction stakeholders such as Housing for All, National Retrofit and Climate Action Plans,” he said. “Construct Innovate is hosted at the University of Galway and includes partner institutions such as Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, University College Cork and the Irish Green Building Council. We offer five micro-credential courses: Passive House Design; Sustainability Planning in Construction; Digital Construction Technologies; Modern Methods of Construction; and Innovation & Entrepreneurship.

“The micro-qualification places particular emphasis on the knowledge and skills required to develop sustainable technological solutions to the challenges facing the construction and built environment sectors in Ireland and elsewhere, with a particular focus on modern construction methods. Students will be introduced to sustainable innovation and innovative data-driven approaches to informing decision-making in the construction sector. Sustainability is a key theme and the micro-qualification is dedicated to sustainable planning in construction.”

Goggins explains that the courses offer flexibility for participants as they can choose to take the micro-qualification courses individually or combine courses in sustainable construction planning, digital building technologies and modern construction methods to achieve a Postgraduate Certificate of Completion (PG Cert).

“After completing the PG Cert, students can take two further courses to complete the Postgraduate Diploma in Construction Innovation, as well as opting for a Masters after completing a final research project in their company,” he added. “So there is flexibility to progress from a micro-cert to a masters in three to four years if the student wishes to choose that route. The collapsible micro-cert to masters route allows students multiple entry and exit points, so they can choose the lifelong learning path that best suits their career development plans.”

Micro-qualification courses are mostly delivered in a fully online or blended format.

“The Construct Innovate Centre has an active set of over 70 member companies, ranging from small to very large organisations, including SISK Contractors; John Paul Construction; Glenveagh; Arup; Land Development Agency; and Jones Engineering. The micro-qualifications and subsequent certificates and degrees on offer are aimed at those at a range of qualification levels who wish to upskill or reskill to meet the critical demand for skills in digital adoption, sustainability and modern construction methods. To date we have attracted engineers (from a range of disciplines), estimators, architects, product designers, construction managers and students with a science background. All applications are welcome, with students typically requiring a level 8 qualification; however, we have offered entry to students with a level 7 award through recognition of prior learning.”

Micro-qualifications are proving to be a popular and flexible way for learners to take on new challenges that will allow them to develop key new skills and advance their careers. Micro-qualifications available from MicroCreds partner universities (Dublin City University, Maynooth University, Trinity College Dublin, University College Cork, University College Dublin, University of Galway and University of Limerick) range from €200 to €2,000, depending on the length and level of the course. The introduction of the HCI Pillar 3 Learner Fee Subsidy from the Higher Education Authority (HEA), with incentives ranging from 50 to 80 per cent on over 300 courses on MicroCreds.ie, has led to an increase in interest and demand from learners.

“The micro-credential offering, its flexible nature and subsidised fee structure are a perfect combination to drive demand,” said Nuala McGuinn, Director of Adult Learning and Professional Development at the University of Galway. “While it is still early days for this concept in higher education, feedback from learners has been positive, as they like the flexibility it offers and the range of subject areas on offer. It also provides an entry point into the higher education system for those who may not meet the traditional entry requirements for university, or perhaps for learners who lack the confidence to undertake full-time study. Learners can take micro-credential courses at an introductory level to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to progress onto more extensive formal programmes. In this way, it increases access to education for learners who may not have traditionally considered higher education to be suitable for them.

“Micro-credential courses are largely delivered fully online or in a blended format. The materials are designed for asynchronous learning, with students reviewing the materials independently at their own convenience and joining synchronous webinars where they have the opportunity to meet with their instructor and other students to discuss key concepts, meet with industry experts and share best practices. Because many students work professionally in their field, their expertise and insights are also shared with the broader group, and there is a lot of peer-to-peer activity. While not in class, students will have ongoing support from their instructor and the opportunity to stay connected with other students through online discussion forums.”

For more information on micro-credential courses at the University of Galway and all seven participating universities, please see MicroCreds.ie