Shorter work-aligned certificates as a credential type experiencing renewed market emphasis¶

Element · All elements
Evidence · 2 claims (1 for, 1 against) · 2 studies (1 causal, 1 theoretical), q1–q3 · 0 of 2 report an effect size · 2 claims rest on one study

Description¶

Certificates are described as one type of shorter, work-aligned credential. The paper notes community colleges' "long history in awarding certificates, one type of shorter work-aligned credential that is experiencing a new emphasis in today's market". Certificates serve as the paper's example of how community colleges' existing credentialing infrastructure maps onto the new demand for shorter, competency-focused credentials.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Awarding infrastructure and quality assurance practices to support a broad array of shorter credentials

Constraints¶

Target Learners¶

• community college students
• adult and re-employment learners

Target Learning Goals¶

• work-aligned competencies
• employment preparation

Claims¶

• Changes in the credentialing market have produced demand for shorter credentials focused around job market competencies [+W]
• Year Up may result in little to no change in industry-recognized credential, certificate, or license completion [-W]

Related Elements¶

Examples¶

• Build credentials that respond to four trends: competency- and market-oriented programs, lifelong learning structures, unbundled degrees, and quality assurance

Key Sources¶

• Sean Gallagher, Nan L. Maxwell. (2019). Community Colleges and the New Era of Work and Learning. Working Paper 66. Oakland, CA: Mathematica Policy Research. https://www.mathematica.org/publications/community-colleges-and-the-new-era-of-work-and-learning