National Microcredentials Framework

The microcredentials ecosystem is disparate, lacking even a consistent definition across higher education, vocational education, and industry. Multiple reports have recommended the establishment of guidelines that microcredentials should follow, including the 2019 'Review of the Australian Qualifications Framework' [available in VOCEDplus at TD/TNC 138.311]. This framework seeks to respond to stakeholder inputs, and in doing so: sets a national definition for microcredentials; agrees on unifying principles for microcredentials; establishes critical information requirements; and outlines a minimum standard for microcredentials that will sit on the Microcredentials Marketplace, a nationally-consistent platform that allows learners, employers and providers to compare short courses and which was announced by the Department of Education, Skills and Employment, the Microcredentials in June 2020. It has been the product of broad consultation with over 120 individuals from approximately 70 organisations, an environment scan that included consideration of over 35 different definitions and multiple existing frameworks, and consensus-based discussion among a Microcredentials Working Group with recognised leaders from higher education, vocational education, and industry.

The framework defines microcredentials as a certification of assessed learning or competency, with a minimum volume of learning of one hour and less than an Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) award qualification, that is additional, alternate, complementary to or a component part of an AQF award qualification. This definition applies across higher education, vocational education, and industry.

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