Advancing micro-credentials in Southeast Asia: Highlights from the MICROCASA Project 2024

The MICROCASA Project made remarkable progress in 2024, pushing forward micro-credential adoption in Southeast Asia. A comparative study supported by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) explored regional practices, setting the stage for more unified approaches. On 28 October 2024, the 3rd Roundtable Discussion in Manila gathered experts, including UNESCO Bangkok, to finalize the White Paper: Action Plan for Micro-Credentials Adoption, a key document to guide the region’s next steps.

To build capacity, the project hosted two webinars: one on using micro-credentials for workforce development and lifelong learning and another on designing, assessing, and validating micro-courses. Speakers included experts from Malaysia’s Ministry of Higher Education and representatives from Indonesia and the Philippines, who shared national experiences and challenges.

On 29 October, a technical workshop examined the standards, technologies, and policies needed to roll out micro-credentials in the Asia-Pacific. The following day, University of the Philippines President Angelo Jimenez joined the MICROCASA Coordinating Committee meeting, offering fresh perspectives on integrating micro-credentials into innovative learning methods.

MICROCASA is an international project aimed at sharing the European experiences and building institutional capacities in Southeast Asia. Both Ateneo de Manila and University of the Philippines are consortium project members.