On 23 October 2025, from 09:30 to 13:00 CET, the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop) will host an online workshop titled “Microcredentials and the Future of Learning.” The event brings together policymakers, researchers, education providers, and stakeholders from across Europe to explore how microcredentials are changing the way people learn and prepare for work in a fast-evolving labour market.
The workshop will focus on the growing use of microcredentials outside traditional education systems. These short, flexible certifications are increasingly offered by training providers, companies, and online platforms to help individuals acquire targeted skills. As their popularity rises, key challenges must be addressed, including quality assurance, recognition, and alignment with labour market needs. Cedefop aims to tackle these issues by presenting early findings from its ongoing research project “Microcredentials for labour market education and training.”
Participants will have the opportunity to join one of four thematic breakout sessions:
• Breakout Room 1, titled “Shaping Skills for Tomorrow: Microcredentials and the Labour Market,” will explore how microcredentials can address current and future skill demands.
• Breakout Room 2, “Building Trust: The Power of Quality Assurance in Microcredentials,” will focus on how to ensure the credibility and reliability of these qualifications.
• Breakout Room 3, “Global Credentials: Making Microcredentials Recognisable and Portable,” will examine how microcredentials can be made more transferable across borders and systems.
• Breakout Room 4, “Uncharted Microcredentials: Digital Innovations Beyond Formal Education,” will highlight emerging practices and innovations in digital learning and credentialing.
A special live segment during the ReferNet Plenary will present recent findings from ReferNet, Cedefop’s network of national experts on vocational education and training, providing a closer look at how different countries are approaching microcredentials in policy and practice.
The workshop is organised by Cedefop experts Anastasia Pouliou, Iraklis Pliakis, and Maite Santos. It is open to anyone with an interest in vocational education, lifelong learning, and skills development.
Microcredentials are increasingly recognised as a valuable tool for lifelong learning, helping individuals access education in more flexible and accessible ways. However, to ensure their full potential is realised, they must be supported by strong policy frameworks, quality standards, and recognition systems. Cedefop’s workshop aims to support the development of such systems and contribute to future EU strategies in vocational education and training, qualifications, and learning recognition.
