After two years as part of UPCEA’s ten-member Credential Innovation Consortium, the University of Maine System (UMS) Micro-Credential Initiative contributed to two reports on credential innovation and employer engagement. The Walmart-funded project aimed to facilitate and expedite the adoption of scalable business and program models by colleges and universities, supporting the development and delivery of noncredit, short-term credentials to local, regional, or statewide businesses.
A Model for Higher Education: The “Building Capacity” Playbook
The first report, a comprehensive playbook titled “Building Capacity, Expanding Pathways: Accelerating the Growth of Credential Innovation in Higher Education,” serves as a primary model for institutions nationwide. The playbook outlines strategies for solidifying non-degree micro-credential and digital badge initiatives. It was featured in University Business, highlighting how UMS and other consortium members found their footing in creating quality alternative credentials.
Expanding Institutional Capacity for Employer Engagement
The final report from the consortium, “Expanding Institutional Capacity for Employer Engagement in Credential Innovation Through a Consortium Approach,” was featured in The Pulse of Higher Ed and catalyzed several “firsts:”
- A Virtual Forum on Employer Engagement and Credential Innovation: A first-of-its-kind event sparked by the report’s findings.
- The University-to-Business (U2B) Engagement Framework: An emergent model designed to bridge the gap between academic rigor and workforce skill requirements.
Because the UMS Micro-Credential Initiative represents an entire state system within the consortium, our contributions offer a unique perspective on how to build trusted, scalable, employer-aligned credential ecosystems that prepare learners for the future of work.
About the UMS Micro-Credential Initiative
The University of Maine System’s (UMS) Micro-Credential Initiative supports the development and implementation of micro-credentials across the system’s seven universities and school of law. UMS micro-credentials are made up of digital badges that highlight the earner’s competencies in skills needed for today’s workforce. They are offered to UMS students, youth, and as professional development opportunities for individuals in the workforce to advance or increase their employability. Micro-credentials earned through the University of Maine System are verified, evidence-based, and shareable. For further information about the UMS Micro-Credential Initiative, visit maine.edu/micro-credentials.