Abstract:

The widening skill gap between schooling and what businesses really need is a big problem in today's job market. Universities often verify specific knowledge, but they frequently fall short in evaluating and certifying transversal talents.Both the digital and green shifts are changing the nature of work and education. Digital skills training should be incorporated into higher education curricula, according to the European Commission's Digital Education Action Plan (2021–2027), which highlights the significance of online certification programs. By promoting digital certification rather than paper-based diplomas and incorporating sustainability-focused learning routes into micro-credentials, the project simultaneously supports the green transition.HEI (Instituto Politécnico de Portalegre, University of Technology, Communication and Management (Poland), Universidad de Murcia (Spain), Alma Mater Studiorum - Universita Di Bologna (Italy), Knowledge Innovation Center (Malta), and Univerzitet u Novom Sadu (Serbia) came together to develop a new project to fill this gap.The project's goal is to develop and validate an innovative approach to the development and certification of skills from the 21st century, of which one component is known as the "21st Century Skills Pills" (short and intense teaching modules to develop skills). The project's goal is to develop flexible methods for developing XXI-era competencies and link them to a microcredencial system that will verify that students successfully acquire these competencies in "small steps.". Through the introduction of a structured micro-credentialing system that acknowledges students' accomplishments in the development of 21st-century abilities, the CREDIPILLS initiative improves learning and teaching excellence. Students can gradually develop, validate, and demonstrate their skills in a format that is globally recognized by combining "Pills of Skills" with personalized learning pathways. By being incorporated into the EUROPASS platform, the micro-credentials will guarantee recognition on a European scale and ease students' transition from school to the workforce.CREDIPILLS enables HEIs to become more flexible, future-ready establishments by improving digital infrastructure, upskilling instructors, and providing students with industry-aligned certifications. By creating an accessible and flexible micro-credentialing system that can be used by a variety of learners, including working professionals, lifelong learners who need flexible, stackable learning options, and students from underrepresented groups (such as those with disabilities, those from rural or economically disadvantaged backgrounds), the project actively promotes inclusion and diversity.

Keywords:

Higher Education, Employability, Skills, Microcredentials.