THE COMMISSION on Higher Education (CHED) recognized five higher education institutions (HEIs) as new providers of micro-credential courses to advance upskilling and reskilling opportunities in the country.

Micro-credentials are “short and focused learning courses” designed to develop and certify particular knowledge, skills, values, and competencies.

This gives learners flexibility to build competencies through credit or stackable, and non-credit or non-stackable approaches, subject to quality standards and alignment with the Philippine Qualifications Framework.

“By expanding access to shorter, targeted learning options, micro-credentials can help students build additional competencies alongside their degree programs and allow workers to upskill or reskill as industry needs change,” the commission said in a statement Tuesday night.

The newly recognized HEIs are St. Scholastica’s College Manila, World Citi Colleges, University of the Visayas, Saint Tonis College, Inc., and Brokenshire College, Inc.

These HEIs were evaluated by the CHED’s Office of Programs and Standards Development and the Technical Working Group on Lifelong Learning and were found compliant with the required documentary and micro-credential requirements.

In particular, Saint Tonis College, Inc. was granted recognition to offer 22 micro-credentials, covering short courses on information technology, programming, hospitality, culinary arts, teaching and learning, and professional skills.

Twelve micro-credentials on cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, digital marketing, e-commerce, workplace communication, and related areas are allowed to be provided at World Citi Colleges.

For the University of the Visayas, 10 micro-credentials may be provided in application and use cases, data analytics, data engineering, data science, machine learning, and platform administration.

Six micro-credentials in tourism, hospitality, events management, recreation, food entrepreneurship, and culinary sustainability may be offered at St. Scholastica’s College Manila.

The Brokenshire College, Inc. also got approval to offer five micro-credentials, covering cultural and literacy appreciation and specialized healthcare competencies, including phlebotomy and malarial microscopy.

These course offerings are seen to respond to workforce demand in cybersecurity, data analytics, hospitality, tourism, entrepreneurship, healthcare, and education.

The five HEIs approved for micro-credentials are valid for three years.

To date, the total number of recognized HEIs for micro-credential offerings has risen to 12. (PNA)