Project results

MERIT programs will adopt a nano-credentials oriented approach

Micro-credentials and nano-credentials are short-term, focused learning programs that provide individuals with specific skills or knowledge in a particular area. While micro-credentials are typically short-term courses that range from a few weeks to a few months, nano-credentials are even shorter in duration, often consisting of very brief courses or modules.

Nano-credentials represent a transformative shift in higher education and have emerged as crucial assets in today’s dynamic labour market. Unlike traditional degree programs that span several years, nano-credentials offer targeted and specialized education in shorter durations, focusing on specific skills and competencies. ICT studies show a constant change in required knowledge and skills. MERIT study programs have a degree structure but are composed of nano-credential elements.

To keep with fast-changing market needs and technology supply, MERIT project study programs will be oriented on a detail specification of each study course, learning resource and task. It will be done via mapping of different resources to an ICT competency tree and its levels.

The ICT competency tree is a dynamic structure, constantly updated to reflect the landscape of various ICT areas. It also has its internal structure, possible directions and relations to other fields. The relations between competency tree elements allow us to link different abstraction or complexity level learning resources. This gives a more consistent view of dependencies between learning resources and paths to improve study structure. Meanwhile the ability to build study programs, student portfolios and market needs portfolios using the competency tree as a reference model and dynamic adjustments of thecompetency tree structure lead to building an explainable and up to date skill matching, upskilling analysis infrastructure. By using MERIT project developed tools, adopting a nano-credentials oriented approach we can:

• Analyse the structure of MERIT study programs in terms of different ICT area coverage from a timeline perspective.
• Build MERIT study program students competency portfolios with abilities to align it with requirement matching for a specific area or a position.
• Investigate the labour market demand for specific competencies and identify key and advanced competencies in certain areas.

This is just the main functionality that can be achieved by using MERIT solutions and tools. We believe that its further development, integration with student progress monitoring tools will lead to new levels of student competency education and study experience provision. These capabilities will be actively used by all parties in the innovative, leading edge MERIT study programs.