Micro-credentials

• Learning experiences leading to micro-credentials are designed to provide the learner with specific knowledge, skills, and competencies that respond to societal, personal, cultural, or labour market needs.
• Micro-credentials are owned by the learner, can be shared with potential employers or other stakeholders (e.g. on a CV, in a portfolio, on professional platforms like LinkedIn), and are portable.
• They may be stand-alone or combined into larger credentials.
• They are quality assured by processes that demonstrate transparency and accessibility, ensuring they meet learners’ needs and expectations. Quality assurance follows agreed standards in the relevant sector or area of activity.
• Micro-credentials are student- or learner-centred educational formats.

Arqus micro-credentials are distinctive and present added value, first and foremost in their collaborative nature. All Arqus micro-credentials must be jointly prepared and implemented by at least two universities of the Alliance, making them all collaborative, international experiences for the learner. External partners (e.g. industry, labour market, NGOs) and non-Arqus universities can participate as well. Because of the joint nature of Arqus micro-credentials, they provide a multi-cultural learning environment. Arqus micro-credentials have also been developed to help promote the Arqus priority areas of Equality, Inclusion and Sustainability, Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability, Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence, and  European Identity and Heritage.

The participating universities and organisations develop and sign a mutual agreement document.

The cost for each micro-credential varies depending on the universities involved. For more information, please consult the information page dedicated to each micro-credential.

All registration information can be found on the information page dedicated to each micro-credential.

All successfully completed Arqus micro-credentials are awarded ECTS. The number of ECTS depends on the length and difficulty of the learning experiences. The ECTS are recognised by the partner universities as part of an existing course pathway or as an elective, according to the modalities decided by the partner universities.

Arqus micro-credentials vary in length from one another. Courses can be offered in-person, online or in blended and hybrid modes. The most adapted course format is decided on by the partner universities to provide the optimal experience to learners.