The Effect of Employer Understanding and Engagement on Non-Degree Credentials

Collegis teamed up with the University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA) to survey more than 500 employers about their perceptions of microcredentials and interest in partnering with colleges and universities on these non-degree programs.

These credentials often emphasize a particular skill or competency that help professionals obtain or advance in a given field. Therefore, it is vital that institutions collaborate with employers to help them develop these pathways that can ultimately benefit their workforce.

The results of this study show that 40% of employers have already been engaged by higher education institutions and more than two-thirds (68%) would like to be engaged by higher education institutions to develop alternative credentials. Additionally, when employers were asked how active they would want to be in the process of developing these credentials, nearly three-quarters (73%) said they would like to be extremely or very active in the curriculum design.

Evidently, employers are interested in the benefits of alternative credentials and wish to collaborate with institutions of higher education to leverage these credentials in their respective industries.

As institutions solidify nomenclature and collaborate with employers on the development of nondegree credentials, it is also vital that institutions begin to develop a stackable pathway for these credentials. While there is an increasing number of entities that offer non-credit education, the unique value proposition for institutions of higher education is the ability to build credentials toward a full degree.

When asked about stackable pathways in the study, 80% of employers said that a stackable pathway would increase (or greatly increase) their organization’s interest in non-degree or alternative credentials.

A stackable approach may also improve enrollments for established credentials because it would provide additional on- and off-ramps to traditional programs, thereby bolstering growth potential across the institution.