Towards a Harmonised Micro-Credential Ecosystem in Czechia

Czechia’s employment rate is robust, with over 80% of adults employed. However, the country faces substantial labour shortages and skills mismatches, particularly in high-demand sectors such as ICT. Additionally, the labour market is increasingly influenced by digitalisation and automation. Despite these challenges, adult learning participation in Czechia remains below the EU average, with 46% of adults engaged in education and training in 2022. To address these issues, this project aims to establish a robust micro-credential framework, designed to enhance lifelong learning participation, reduce skills mismatches, and better align workforce capabilities with labour market needs.

The project seeks to support the establishment of a harmonised micro-credential framework, bringing together higher education, vocational education and training, and non-formal education and training sectors. It aligns with the EU Council Recommendation on a European approach to micro-credentials for lifelong learning and employability and builds on recent national initiatives. These include the development of a micro-credential framework among public higher education institutions and the pilot testing of individual learning accounts under the Czech Recovery and Resilience Plan.

The project focuses on three core objectives:

• Harmonisation: Establishing a standardised definition and certification format for micro-credentials, enabling seamless recognition and portability of learning within and across education sectors.
• Labour market relevance: Enhancing collaboration between micro-credential providers and industry stakeholders while leveraging skills intelligence data to ensure alignment with the evolving needs of the labour market and society.
• Accessibility: Expanding access to flexible, high-quality learning opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds, fostering inclusivity and supporting lifelong learning for all.

The project comprises four key activities, each designed to build a robust foundation for a harmonised micro-credential ecosystem in Czechia:

• Assessment of the national context (late 2024 – early 2025): Analysing the current state of micro-credentials in Czechia through desk research and interviews with national stakeholders to understand the broader lifelong learning landscape.
• Assessment of relevant international approaches (early – mid 2025): Identifying best practices across OECD and EU countries to inform policy development in Czechia. An international peer-learning event will be held in March 2025.
• Stakeholder consultations (mid – late 2025): Engaging with stakeholders across Czechia to gather insights and feedback on proposed policy directions. Focus groups will be held in six locations during the second and third quarters of 2025.
• Proposal for a strategy and implementation plan (late 2025 – mid 2026): Developing a proposal for a harmonised micro-credential framework, based on findings from prior activities. The project’s outcomes and final recommendations will be presented in a publication and shared at the concluding conference in the second quarter of 2026.

• Project page under the European Commission’s website
• Project page under the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech  Republic’s website (in Czech)
• OECD’s work on higher education policy
• OECD’s work on adult learning