Micro degrees: The future of Education is here

For years, we have succumbed to the traditional classroom ways of gaining knowledge. From admission forms to completing your syllabus on time and appearing for exams, we have learnt the process by heart, so much that we’d remember about our exam schedule even in our dreams. But as technology advanced and the internet started governing our lives for the major part, we realised the need of the hour - E-learning.  

Typically conducted via electronic means through the internet, E-learning has gradually become the talk of the town. Students, all over the globe, are looking forward to enhancing their knowledge by means of a short duration course that can easily be availed on the internet; thus eliminating the hassle of admission processes, classroom studies, exams and everything else that tags along with it. 

The ease that this system brings with it has brought us closer to yet another term - micro degrees. Breaking down the barrier which restricted students to a particular course for a specific duration, micro degrees have slowly crept into our lives, making itself an essential commodity for us all. 

But what exactly are Micro Degrees? 

Micro degrees, often called micro masters or micro-credentials, are bite-sized chunks of education, specifically designed to teach skills that can be applied immediately to a specific profession. In other words, unlike traditional degrees where you are required to undergo a complete course for a couple of years to earn a degree, micro degrees are focused on teaching skills, in a short duration of time, that can be professionally applied.

Additionally, micro degrees do not need prior knowledge of the subject and can be earned online easily. Also, the fees needed to avail the degree is a lot less than that required to get admission to a full-time course. 

In recent years, HRs from various companies have noticed that college graduates do not have the skills required to work in a practical environment. And hence, a growing skill gap has been witnessed. This compels companies to ask their employees to undertake a micro degree, one that would help in enhancing their skill-sets. So, if you are looking forward to upgrading your skills and earning a better salary, this might be your way out.

The need of the hour

A study revealed three major trends why micro degrees are rapidly gaining popularity. The first is the emerging need for tertiary education which undoubtedly should be of high quality. The second is digital transformation which brought drastic changes in numerous industries. This change has worsened the traditional skills gap, so much that even prestigious universities aren’t emphasizing on training students for the skills that are in high demand. Thereby, most companies take these degrees as pieces that can help in advancing their workforce. 

The third factor noticed in the study was the digitisation of the education sector, primarily pertaining to higher education. In a constantly evolving world, it no longer is enough to have obtained a degree. You need to continuously upgrade your skill-sets. And because people cannot afford to regularly take time out for attending physically established institutes, they are turning more towards e-learning methods, which aren’t only feasible but also are available at cheaper costs.    

The question - Supplement or Replace?

So, what’s next? Are these micro-credentials aimed at replacing traditional degrees altogether or can they work side by side, supplementing each other?

While the question is genuine, the fact that traditional degrees still hold relevance cannot be entirely wiped off. Even though many micro degrees such as boot camps for coding are devised to help students to fill gaps universities aren’t able to, they cannot downright replace the education imparted in universities. 

Yes, traditional degrees attained in colleges and universities hold significant value and are in high demand in the job market, even in the current scenario. They are still known to give economic returns. So, even though recruiters are heading towards skill-based hiring, the candidates hired are usually the ones who have obtained a core degree but have supplemented it with boot camps or micro-credentials.  

The best way out, if you ask us, will be to get hold of a core degree and then top it with a micro degree to fill in the gaps, a win-win situation! Thus, in order to cope up in this fast-paced world, that’s moving forward at the speed of light, you will have to get into the crevices, clean up the clogged spaces and fill them up with essential practical skills that can come in handy in the corporate realm. 

The next step - Look out for the skills that are currently in demand and then for courses that can train you in those skills. Get up and get going before you are left far behind in this race. All the best!