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Online microcredentials: A response to meet the market's demand for soft skills

The demand for professionals with soft skills, such as effective communication, critical thinking and time management, is high in today's job market.

"Soft skills are the personal and social skills that enable professionals to work effectively, both on their own or in teams. They're associated with personal behavior patterns and attitudes such as decision-making, time management and resilience. These skills are crucial in any professional environment, and particularly important in a managerial role," explained Iñaki Bustinduy, a course instructor with the Faculty of Economics and Business at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC).

A recent in this field undertaken by the UOC, led by Carles Bruguera, a member of the Labor Market Research and Analysis Unit(UPAL) and a researcher in the Management and Learning (MeL) group, examines how online microcredentials can help meet this need through flexible training adapted to meet the demands of business.

Microcredentials are academic certificates that prove the acquisition of specific knowledge or skills in short courses. Employers are very positive about the flexibility of these certificates, as they enable professionals to train without interrupting their work. The online learning format also provides access to top-quality international programs, and broadens the range of training options available.

"Microcredentials have so far been widely accepted in the field of digital and technological skills, but this study shows that they can also reinforce the development of soft skills which are in demand in the labor market," explained Bruguera.

"The research on the role of microcredentials in this area has been limited, especially from the perspective of labor market stakeholders, who have a direct view from the inside on the current and future skills that their sectors will need," he added.

Others involved in the study, published in the journal Distance Education, included Carme Pagès, director of the Labor Market Research and Analysis Unit; Mitchell Peters, a researcher on education and technology, and Àngels Fitó, the rector of the UOC, who are all members of the MeL group.

The research adopts a qualitative approach to analyze the perspectives of 85 stakeholders in the labor market, including executives, human resource managers, and vocational training experts. The results show that employers believe that online microcredentials are a useful tool for professional training, but there are still some obstacles that need to be overcome.

"In the study, we found that, in order to be truly effective, microcredentials in soft skills must guarantee practical learning that can be applied to real situations, and provide a robust assessment system to corroborate the knowledge that's been acquired," stressed Pagès, who is also an associate professor in the Faculty of Economics and Business. The process by which a professional acquires new skills is known as reskilling, while upskilling involves improving and enhancing the skills that they already have.

"Reskilling can cover emotional intelligence, change management or creativity, while upskilling can involve digital leadership, communication in hybrid environments, conflict management or remote teamwork. In both cases, the objective is to improve adaptation to a new working environment, either as a result of the requirements of the professional role, the demands of the environment and the market, or due to the emergence of new technologies," explained Bustinduy.

Challenges and limitations to overcome

Despite the advantages, the study identifies three barriers to the consolidation of microcredentials in soft skills:

• Skills-based assessment: skills such as leadership and teamwork are difficult to measure objectively in an online environment.
• Credibility and recognition: some companies and organizations still do not believe they are comparable to more traditional training.
• Practical experience and applicability: developing methodologies that enable students to apply knowledge in real situations is essential.

Recommendations for the strategic design of microcredentials

The study proposes a range of strategies to improve the effectiveness of online microcredentials in the field of soft skills, and make them as similar as possible to real contexts:

• Practical orientation: they should involve practical interactive tools, such as case studies, role-play and collaborative projects.
• Inclusion of immersive technologies: they should use virtual reality or interactive environments for improvement, and make training in skills such as interpersonal communication as real as possible.
• Work with companies: the business sector should be involved in the development of microcredentials to ensure that they are relevant.
• Evidence-based assessment: practical assessment methods that validate the skills acquired should be introduced.