1.
Catherine Mongenet ~ CEO, France Université Numérique (FUN)
Bringing online
learning to the
labour market
Innovating Higher Education Confrence, Athens,
October 2022

2.
◼ Europe faces multiple challenges
• Digitalization of many sectors and jobs
• Environmental and sustainable development issues
• Ageing societies, inclusion
• Sectors with huge demand of skilled people
◼ Among the EU adult population (25 to 64)
• 20% have low education
• 43% have an insufficient level of digital skills
• 18% have low literacy
• 20% have low numeracy
Continuous education and professional
development : a major issue for Europe
2
CEDEFOP Report, Empowering adults through upskilling and reskilling pathways, 2020
“Europe must improve and
maintain high-level skills and
competences to remain
competitive and innovative.”
“In the EU, between 38% and
46% of the population aged 25
to 64 (105 and 128 million
people) would benefit from
upskilling and reskilling.”

3.
◼ COVID 19 has increased the need for online learning
• With remote working, people are increasingly looking to digital
learning
• Employers more willing to promote online learning
• Since 2020, the number of learners and of enrollments have increased
on all online learning platforms
◼ The need for upskilling and reskilling changes the education
landscape
• People need to train more often but for shorter periods each time
• Need for more modularization
• Emergence of micro-credentials
Growing demand for online learning
3

4.
European MOOC consortium
+ 3 000 MOOCs
+ 400 HEI
+ 5 languages
Created in 2018, It gathers all major
MOOC platforms in Europe
◼ Erasmus + Project : EMC for Labour Market (2019)
• To strengthen the use of online courses in the field of continuing professional
development
◼ Observation : numerous "micro-credentials" initiatives, no consistency
◼ Objectives
• To meet the needs of companies and employees with a clear and shared "micro-
credentials" system in Europe
• Facilitate recognition between higher education institutions

5.
Common micro-credentials framework
5
100-150 hrs workload
4-6 ECTS
Assessment combined
with a reliable method
of ID verification
Level : EQF 5 to 8
Transcript with
specification of learning
outcomes, hours, level
and credits earned
Its characteristics
• Accredited
• Rigorously evaluated
• Standardized
• Transferable
• Stackable
• Provides access to
other qualifications

6.
Micro-credentials : a European approach
◼ Launch in February 2020 of a WG on micro-credentials under the
joint supervision of DG Education and DG Employment
◼ Objective: to define a European approach to micro-credentials
• A shared definition
• Common characteristics
• A roadmap of actions at European level
◼ New EU skills agenda (2021-2025)
• Action 10: A European approach to micro-credentials

7.
Micro-credentials : a European approach
The proof is contained in a certified document that lists the name of the holder,
the achieved learning outcomes, the assessment method, the awarding body
and, where applicable, the qualifications framework level and the credits gained.
Micro-credentials are owned by the learner, can be shared, are portable and may
be combined into larger credentials or qualifications. They are underpinned by
quality assurance following agreed standards.
DEFINITION : A micro-credential is a proof of the learning outcomes
that a learner has acquired following a short learning experience.
These learning outcomes have been assessed against transparent
standards.

8.
Thank you
for your attention