Highlight your skills to employers with microcredentials

If you’re looking for a way to show your employer that you have the skills, knowledge and expertise they seek, the new Curv Microcredentials offered by The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education can provide fast, barrier-free access to university credentials that validate your competencies.

“The advantages of microcredentials are significant, particularly in today’s rapidly transforming workplace,” said Gary Hepburn, dean of The Chang School. “Employers gain the ability to assess whether job candidates and current staff have the skills they need to address organizational gaps and anticipated future needs. Professionals holding microcredentials gain the ability to clearly indicate that they have the skills employers need.”

Higher education has historically fulfilled a need for comprehensive learning in a variety of subject areas, but career experts at The Chang School identified an additional need: the ability to narrow the skills gaps that employers are increasingly struggling to address. As the economy and job market evolve, professionals in many fields need to keep finding ways to upskill and stay relevant. Microcredentials are therefore an important complement to traditional higher education.

Identifying sought-after skills

Currently, The Chang School offers microcredentials in four subject areas: Digital Accessibility, Project Management for Non-Project Managers, Everyday Ransomware Protection, and Understanding Data.

These microcredentials were developed with input from industry experts, and are based on sought-after skills identified by employers and industry partners. By completing all the microcredentials within a subject area, learners can earn microcertificates that prove their comprehensive expertise in the field.

“Microcredentials are the fastest way to hire, train and recognize employees by providing proof of skillset, increasing employee retention through professional development, and attracting top talent through skills-based hiring,” said Hepburn. He also noted that in a 2021 survey conducted by the Higher Education Quality of Ontario, 60 per cent of Canadian employers said that microcredentials would increase confidence in the skills of a job candidate.

The Curv Microcredentials team is committed to meeting the evolving demands of the job market, and can also help employers build custom microcredentials for their organization. 

To meet demands for AI literacy, The Chang School is developing an AI for Productivity microcertificate, which will consist of four microcredentials focused on improving workplace efficiency through generative AI. The first one, AI for Reports, launched in January and assesses learners’ competency in leveraging publicly available AI tools to build reports.

Later this spring, more offerings will be launched to showcase skills around using AI for data analysis, data visualization and presentations. Each AI microcredential will include an ethics module to reinforce the responsible use of AI tools in the workplace.

To learn more about Curv Microcredentials and other programs for adult learners, visit The Chang School website.