How short online courses and skill-based hiring disrupt the traditional degree path globally.

The Shift from Degrees to Skills Is Gaining Speed

Microlearning: Such short and intensive educational concepts are becoming increasingly popular worldwide, including the USA National 1, making learning more convenient. Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, and edX are some platforms that record millions of students’ enrollment in certificate courses ranging from coding to leadership, creating a learning community worldwide.

UNESCO describes micro-credentials as learning outcomes that are faster and more flexible than traditional learning. All general training programs can be completed in weeks, making them perfect for students and business personnel. In one year, Coursera, an online learning platform, has seen an increase in enrollment for AI-related certificates by 1,060 per cent.

Skills Over Degrees

Continent-wise, hiring mentality has also been changing. According to a 2024 LinkedIn survey, hiring skills have increased in popularity, and 97% of employers are using or planning to use them. Companies such as Google, IBM, and EY are willing to hire candidates with industry-recognised certifications for many positions.

Skills-based hiring is also beneficial because it provides wider accessibility to potential candidates. LinkedIn data shows that using skills to find candidates increases the number of candidates for a role by six times, meaning people who have learnt skills and work experience are much more likely to get hired in specific fields, especially technology and business.

Universities Adapt to Stay Relevant

That is why universities are working on their prospects and transforming academic education based on the current model. Micro-credentials are evolving as a new solution for individuals and employers since over half of global universities reported now offering micro-credentials in some form, and over 80 per cent of them indicated the desire to offer them in the next five years. Employment-ready certificates are included in learning programs, with school leavers graduating with degrees and industry certification.

A Lifeline for Lifelong Learners

In the current world of work, constant learning cannot be considered an extra but a necessity in lifelong career paths. According to the World Economic Forum, about 39% of the occupations in the current workforce will be rendered obsolete by 2030. For mid-career workers, microlearning presents a viable means of learning without leaving the workplace.

For Google Career Certificates and IBM SkillsBuild, more than a million learners have taken courses globally, and most of them reported promotions, pay raises, or job changes within three months of completing the courses.

Learners in the USA National 1 Are Embracing Microcredentials

In the USA National 1, learners increasingly turn to bite-sized, skills-focused programs. Both are from global platforms like Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, and edX and local training providers. Universities and vocational institutes have rolled out micro-credentials and short courses in collaboration with industry partners to ensure practical relevance.

To address access and connectivity challenges, governments and education bodies are opening digital learning hubs and offering employer-sponsored training. This makes skills-based pathways more attainable and closely aligned with regional workforce needs.

Corporate Adoption is Revving

Employers are not just embracing competencies; they are creating them too. Companies use learning platforms to create academies and digital badge programs that allow organizational employees to learn while working. It is a corporate training platform with a more than 18,000-course catalog.

Whenever employers start to include terms like “degree or equivalent certification, a Google Career Certificate, or an edX MicroMasters” when posting a job advertisement, it only means that credentials are shifting.

What Next?

While it’s still an available option, it’s important to note that the traditional degree is not the only way to get ahead anymore. There is a new form of recognition awards known as digital credentials, which can indeed be considered a form of currency that is portable, stackable (these skills can be accumulated into one larger credential), and more compatible with the modern workplace.

Micro-credentials are an addition to the recognition of universities, companies, and platforms. Still, soon, they may become the opposite – micro-credentials may have more importance as a recognition than the diploma itself.