International Review of Micro‑Credential Systems

This report explores how countries are working towards the harmonisation of micro-credentials, which are short, flexible learning opportunities designed to help people gain new skills quickly. While these programmes are expanding rapidly, their growth has often been uneven and hard to navigate, making it difficult for learners to understand their value and for employers to recognise them. Focusing on international experience, this report examines the key elements needed to make micro-credentials work as a coherent system. It looks at how countries define and organise these programmes across education and training sectors, how they build trust in their quality, how they link learning to real labour market needs, and how they support both learners and employers to engage with them. Without greater alignment, micro-credentials risk adding confusion rather than opportunity. With it, policymakers and providers can make learning more flexible, help people adapt to changing jobs and provide clearer signals about skills.