Micro-Credentials

ImpactReport2025

InsightsfromStudentsandEmployers

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Contents

01

Introduction04

Foreword04

Micro-credentials:Thebigpicture05

02

Insightsfromstudentsandemployers10

Buildingessentialskillsandjobreadiness11

Acatalystforemployability12

Thegrowingpopularityofskill-basedhiring13

DrivingsalarypremiumsandemployerROI14

Bridgingsoftskillsgapsandimprovingjobperformance16

03

Micro-credentialadoptiontrends18

Thegrowingadoptionofindustrymicro-credentials19

Ignitingstudentconfidenceandcareerbreakthroughs21

04

Credit-bearingmicro-credentialsincreasestudentengagement22

Addingvaluetodegreeprograms23

Deepeningengagementandsatisfaction24

Risingdemandforcredit-bearingmicro-credentials25

ProjectAdvanceAustin’screditintegrationwithCoursera26

05

GenAImicro-credentialsboostproductivity27

DrivingstudentefficiencywithGenAI28

Bridgingtheemployersupportgap39

06

Navigatingchange30

Empoweringindividualsandinstitutionstoadapt31

coursera2

coursera3

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07

Countryspotlights32

Brazil33

France35

India37

Indonesia39

Mexico41

SaudiArabia43

Thailand45

Turkey47

UnitedKingdom49

UnitedStates51

08

Appendix53

CareerAcademy54

ACE-recommendedcoursesonCoursera55

ECTS-recommendedcoursesonCoursera57

NNSQF-alignedcoursesonCoursera58

GenAI-enhancedProfessionalCertificates59

Methodology60

AboutCoursera61

Endnotes62

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courseraForeword4

Foreword

AsthelabormarketchangesandGenAIreshapesindustries,micro-credentialshelpstudents,

employers,anduniversitiesadaptquickly.

Nearly9in10studentsseemicro-credentialsaskeytojobsuccess—a

powerfulstatisticinanerawhenthelabormarketisinflux.ThisisespeciallytrueforgenerativeAI(GenAI)credentials,with96%ofstudentsfavoringtheirinclusionindegreeprograms.

Meanwhile,employershighlyvaluecandidateswhoholdrecognizedmicro-

credentials—anencouragingsignthatindustry,too,isembracingthisnewformofworkforcereadiness.Globally,96%ofemployerssaymicro-credentialsstrengthenacandidate’sjobapplication.Additionally,9in10arewillingtooffermicro-credentialholdersahigherstartingsalary,andmorewouldhirealessexperiencedcandidatewithaGenAIcredentialoversomeonemoreexperiencedwithoutone.

Recognizingthesetrends,highereducationinstitutionsareusingcareercredentialstostrengthenstudents’long-termcareerprospects.Fifty-threepercentof

universitiesofferingmicro-credentialsprovidecredit-bearingoptions,and82%indicateplanstodosowithinthenextfewyears.1

Whileintegratingnewlearningmodelsrequirescarefulcoordinationbetween

academicadministrators,faculty,andindustrypartners,we’reseeinginnovative

institutionscrackthecode.AttheUniversityofSzegedinHungary,forinstance,

studentscanfulfilltheirdegreerequirementsbycompletingProfessionalCertificatesthatcountascreditsintheEuropeanCreditTransferandAccumulationSystem

(ECTS)—providingaddedvaluetotheireducation.2

TheMicro-CredentialsImpactReport2025bringstogetherperspectivesfromover2,000studentsandemployersacrosssixregions,illustratingboththegrowing

demandandthereal-worldimpactofmicro-credentials.AsChiefContentOfficeratCoursera,I’veseenfirsthandhowindustry-aligned,skills-focusededucationcantransformlivesandlivelihoods.

Whetheryou’releadingauniversity,supportingworkforcedevelopment,orshapingthefutureofwork,myhopeisthatthesefindingswillinspireyoutoembracethe

micro-credentialsmovementandbuildafuturewherelearningtrulypreparesindividualsforsuccessinthemodernjobmarket.

MarniBakerStein

ChiefContentOfficer,Coursera

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courseraOverview|Micro-credentials:Thebigpicture5

Micro-credentials:Thebigpicture

Studentsandemployersseemicro-credentialsascriticaltocareersuccess

Studentsandemployersoverwhelminglyviewmicro-credentialsascriticalto

91%

careerreadiness.Infact,85%ofstudentswhohaveearnedamicro-credentialsayitimprovesjobprospects,and91%believeitwillhelpthemsucceed

onceemployed.

ofstudentswithmicro-credentialsbelievethesecredentialswillhelpthemsucceedintheirjob

Ninetypercentofemployersarealsowillingtoofferhigherstartingsalaries—often10–15%more—forcandidateswithrecognizedorcredit-bearingcredentials.Plus,96%agreethatmicro-credentialsstrengthenacandidate’sapplication,with87%ofemployershavinghiredatleastonemicro-credentialholderinthepastyear.

Insightsinaction

Highereducation:Incorporatemicro-credentialsintodegreestomeetrisingstudentdemandforcareerrelevance.

Governments:Promote

credentialsthroughworkforcedevelopmentprogramstotrainjobseekersandaddresslocalskillgaps.

Employers:Recognize

micro-credentialsinhiringandL&Dframeworkstofindjob-readytalent.

Learners:Pursuemicro-

credentialsthatalignwith

targetrolesorindustries,

highlightingtheseonrésumés.

Whatisamicro-credential?

Amicro-credentialisarecordoffocusedlearningachievementverifyingwhatalearnerknows,understands,orcando.Itincludesanassessmentbasedonclearlydefinedstandardsandisawardedbyatrustedprovider.3

Amicro-credentialholdsstandalonevalueandmayalsocontributetoalargerqualification—suchasafulldegree—throughrecognitionofpriorlearning.Critically,accreditingagenciesrecognizemicro-credentialsthatmeetthequalitystandardstheyset.

OnCoursera,ProfessionalCertificatesandSpecializationsaretwotypesof

micro-credentialsthathelplearnersdevelopin-demandskillsforspecificjobsorindustries.Entry-levelprogramstypicallytake3–12monthstocompleteandfeatureskill-buildinginareassuchasprojectmanagement,dataanalysis,andsoftwaredevelopment.Manyofferadditionalcareersupport,includingrésuméhelp,interviewpractice,andnetworkingopportunities,ensuringlearners

candemonstratecompetencytoemployersandstaycompetitiveinafast-changingjobmarket.

courseraOverview|Micro-credentials:Thebigpicture6

Credit-bearingcredentialsdrivestudentenrollmentandengagement

94%

Studentinterestandengagementsoarwhencampusesoffercredit-bearingmicro-credentialsthroughrecognizedacademicpartners.

Studentsare2xmorelikelytoremainengaged(from40%to89%)and2.4xmore

likelytoenroll(from36%to88%)ifadegreeprogramofferscredit-bearingmicro-

ofstudentsareeagertoearncredit-bearingcredentials

credentials.Ninety-fourpercentofstudentsalsosaythey’reeagertoearncredentialsthatcountascredittowardtheirdegree—upfrom55%in2023.4And41%ofthosewhohavemicro-credentialsearnedatleastonethatwascredit-bearing.

Highereducationleadersofferingmicro-credentialsseethemasapathtohappierstudents,withnearly9in10agreeingtheyboostsatisfactionandengagement.

Insightsinaction

Highereducation:Integratemicro-credentialsbacked

byaccreditingbodies(e.g.,ACE,ECTS)andqualificationframeworks(e.g.,NSQF)intoyourcurriculum.

Governments:Incentivizeuniversitiestooffercredit-bearingmicro-credentials,expandingaccessto

recognized,job-alignededucation.

Employers:Co-designcoursesinstitutionscanofferfor

academiccredit,ensuring

studentsgraduateworkforce-ready.

Learners:Usecredit-bearingcredentialstogainin-depth

industryknowledgeandstandouttoemployers.

Seventy-fivepercentagreethatstudentsaremorelikelytoenrollinprogramsthatoffermicro-credentialsforacademiccredit.5

Countryspotlight

KazakhstanMinistryofScienceofHigherEducation

90+universitiesinKazakhstanpartnerwithCourserathroughits

MinistryofScienceandHigherEducation,offeringarangeofcoursesandProfessionalCertificatesincybersecurity,projectmanagement,andgenerativeAI(GenAI).Studentsuccessstoriesareabundant:

1.Zhanbotalaunchedabakery,applyinginsightsfromCoursera’sBusinessStrategycourse.

2.RakhatandAbatbuiltanelectronicqueuesystematZhubanovUniversity.

3.13learnersatAtyrauUniversitywonlocalstart-upcompetitionsaftercompletingCourseracertificatesinentrepreneurship.

courseraOverview|Micro-credentials:Thebigpicture7

GenAImicro-credentialsgainmomentum

GenAIdominatesasthemostcrucialtechnicalskillforcareerpreparation,with86%ofstudentsprioritizingitaboveotherin-demandskillslikeDataStrategyandSoftwareDevelopment.SeventeenpercentofstudentshavealreadyearnedaGenAImicro-

96%

credential—and96%believeGenAItrainingbelongsindegreeprograms.Nearly9in10studentswhoearnedaGenAImicro-credentialreportimprovedAIskillsforacademicwork.

ofstudentsbelieveGenAItrainingbelongsindegreeprograms

Meanwhile,92%ofemployerssaythey’dhirealessexperiencedcandidatewithaGenAIcredentialoversomeonemoreexperiencedwithoutone,illustratingGenAI’simpactonhiringdecisions.

Insightsinaction

Highereducation:Embed

GenAImicro-credentialsintoyourcurriculumtoprepare

studentsforthefutureofwork.

Governments:Fundworkforcetrainingprogramsthat

promoteGenAIliteracyandhighlighttheimpactofethicaldevelopmentandusage.

Employers:ProvideGenAI

trainingtoemployees,

especiallyinrolesrelatedtodataanalysis,operations,andbusinessstrategy.

Learners:PrioritizeGenAI

certificatesandspecializations

todifferentiateyourselfinacompetitivelabormarket,asrecruitersincreasinglyvaluecandidateswithGenAIskills.

Blueprint:EquiplearnerswithfoundationalGenAIskills

1.DevelopcomprehensiveAIliteracyprograms:TheseshouldincludenotonlytechnicaltrainingbutalsomodulesonAIethics,dataprivacy,andthesocialimpactofAI,ensuringthatlearnersareequippedtouseAIresponsiblyandeffectively.

2.IntegrateGenAIacrossdisciplines:AIisn’tjustforcomputersciencestudents;itsapplicationsspandisciplines.UniversitiesshouldensurethatAIliteracyisacorecomponentofallacademicprograms,fromthehumanitiestothesciences.

3.Providefacultydevelopmentopportunities:Offerworkshops,

seminars,andresourcestohelpfacultybuildtheirconfidenceandcompetenceinteachingAIconcepts,particularlythoserelatedtoethicsandsocietalimpact.

A

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coursera8

Micro-credentialsleadtorealjoboutcomes:raises,promotions,andconfidence

Eightin10studentswhoearnedmicro-credentialsreportedthatthesecertificationshelpedboosttheirconfidenceintheirskills.Onein3studentssaidmicro-credentialshelpedthemsecureinternshipopportunities.

Entry-levelemployeeswithmicro-credentialsreporttangiblecareerbenefits,

including28%whoreceivedapayincreaseand21%whoearnedapromotion.

AmongthosewithGenAImicro-credentials,70%saytheirproductivityincreased,andover60%developedbetterproblem-solvingskills.Meanwhile,80%ofentry-levelemployeeswithmicro-credentialsfeeltheyenhancetheirday-to-dayjob

performance,reflectingaclearROIforindividualsandorganizationsalike.

80%

ofstudentssaymicro-credentialsboosttheirskillconfidence

Insightsinaction

Highereducation:Showcasealumniwho’veleveragedmicro-credentialsforhighersalariesorfasterpromotionstoattractfuturelearners.

Governments:Prioritizefundingtowardmicro-credentialsinfieldswithskillshortages(e.g.,IT,cybersecurity)tostrengthenlocaleconomies.

Employers:MeasuretheROIofcredentialedemployees,trackingproductivityandretentionassuccessmetrics.

Learners:Useyourcredentialstoimproveskillmastery,standoutinjobinterviews,andnegotiatehighersalaries.

MyCourserajourneyhasimprovedmyskillsandknowledge.

Eachcoursehasprovidedvaluableinsights,shapedmy

perspectiveonindustrytrends,andfosteredcontinuousgrowth.

AfeefNuqmanBin‘Arash

DiplomainITCybersecurity,BACEducationGroup

education

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courseraOverview|Micro-credentials:Thebigpicture9

Micro-credentialshelpindividualsandinstitutionsnavigatechange

Seventy-onepercentofentry-levelemployeesareworriedaboutrapidchangesin

theirindustry.Forthem,micro-credentialsofferasolution:83%saythesecredentialsboosttheirconfidencetoadapttothesechanges.

Employersalsofindvalueinmicro-credentials,whichcanquicklyfillemerging

skillgaps,mitigatetalentshortages,andsupportworkersthroughtechnological

disruption—especiallyasGenAIadoptionaccelerates.Plus,94%believetheyreducefirst-yeartrainingcosts,whichcanhelpmanageindustrychanges

83%

ofemployeesworriedaboutrapidchangesintheirindustrysaymicro-credentialswillhelpthemadapt

moreefficiently.

Micro-Credentials

ImpactReport2024

Seehowmicro-credentials

haveevolvedtoshapetoday’slandscape.

Downloadreport

Insightsinaction

Highereducation:Quicklyadaptcurriculumtooffermicro-credentialsthathelpstudentsbuildemergingskills.

Governments:Partnerwithlocalbusinessestoaddressskilldeficitsinreal

time,incorporatingmicro-credentialsintoworkforcedevelopmentprograms.

Employers:Formalizemicro-credentialpathwaysforrolesundergoingrapidtransformation(e.g.,dataanalysts,productmanagers).

Learners:Continuouslyupskill—particularlyifyourfieldisevolvingquickly—andshowadaptabilitywithrecognizedmicro-credentials.

Insightsfromstudentsandemployers

10

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courseraInsightsfromstudentsandemployers|Buildingessentialskillsandjobreadiness11

Buildingessentialskillsandjobreadiness

Employersaroundtheworldincreasinglyseemicro-credentialsasapowerfuladvantagefornewhires

Ninein10believeentry-levelcandidateswithmicro-credentialsdemonstratehigherproficiencyinessentialcompetenciessuchasproblem-solvingandcommunication,whileanother9in10saytheseskillsareimmediatelyapplicableonthejob.

Employerssaymicro-credentialsboostskillproficiency

Question:Employeeswithmicro-credentialsdemonstratehigherproficiencyinessential,industry-relevantskills.(Agreeorstronglyagree)

Global

Asiapacific

Europe

LatinAmericaandthecaribbean

MiddleEastandNorthAfrica

NorthAmerica

Employerssaygraduateswithmicro-credentialspossessskillsthatareimmediatelyapplicabletojobroles

Question:Graduateswithmicro-credentialspossessskillsthatareimmediatelyapplicabletojobroles.(Agreeorstronglyagree)

Global

Asiapacific

Europe

LatinAmericaandthecaribbean

MiddleEastandNorthAfrica

NorthAmerica

TheCourseraintegrationequipsstudentsto

tacklecurrentandfuture

globalchallenges.We’re

developingacurriculum

thatmeetstoday’smarketdemandsandanticipatesfuturetrendstoensure

ourgraduatesremain

competitiveandinnovative.

JorgeBossio

DirectorofDigitalLearningandEducationalInnovation,UniversidadPeruanade

CienciasAplicadas

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courseraInsightsfromstudentsandemployers|Acatalystforemployability12

Acatalystforemployability

Studentsusemicro-credentialstostayahead

Ninety-fourpercentofstudentssaymicro-credentialsacceleratecareer-skill

development,andnearly9in10believethey’llhelpthemsucceedorremain

94%

ofstudentsagreethatmicro-credentialshelpbuildessentialcareerskills

competitiveinachangingworkenvironment.Asgloballabormarketscontinuetoevolve,micro-credentialsofferapractical,flexiblewayforstudentsandemployeestostayahead—quicklybridgingskillgapsanddrivingreal-worldimpact.

Studentsbelievemicro-credentialshelpbuildessentialcareerskills

Question:Towhatextentdoyouagreeordisagreewiththefollowingstatement:“Micro-credentialshelpmebuildessentialcareerskills.”(Agreeorstronglyagree)

Global

Asiapacific

Europe

LatinAmericaandthecaribbean

MiddleEastandNorthAfrica

NorthAmerica

sub-saharanAfrica

Studentsagreethatmicro-credentialswillhelpthemsucceedintheirjob

Question:Towhatextentdoyouagreeordisagreewiththefollowingstatement:

“Onceemployed,earningamicro-credentialwillhelpmesucceedinmyjob.”(Agreeorstronglyagree)

Global

Asiapacific

Europe

LatinAmericaandthecaribbean

MiddleEastandNorthAfrica

NorthAmerica

sub-saharanAfrica

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courseraInsightsfromstudentsandemployers|Thegrowingpopularityofskill-basedhiring13

Thegrowingpopularityofskill-basedhiring

Employersstronglyendorsemicro-credentialsasapowerfuldriverofcareersuccess

Nearlyall(97%)arealreadyusingoractivelyexploringskills-basedhiring—a20-pointjumpsince2023—reflectingasharpupswinginthedemandforverifiable,job-readyskills.6Amongthefewemployersnotcurrentlyusingskills-basedhiring,93%plantoimplementitinthefuture.

Inparallel,96%ofglobalemployerssayamicro-credentialstrengthensacandidate’sapplication,upfrom88%twoyearsago.7Thisgrowingconfidencealsoshowsupinhiringdecisions,with87%ofemployershavinghiredatleastonecandidateholdingamicro-credentialinthepastyear.

Oncampuses,97%ofhigheredleadersofferingmicro-credentialsbelievethese

programsenhancestudents’long-termcareeroutcomes.8Meanwhile,around9in10studentsbelievecredit-bearingandGenAImicro-credentialsimprovejobprospects.

Together,thesetrendsconfirmmicro-credentials’roleasakeydifferentiatorforcandidatesinaskills-firsthiringlandscape.

85%

ofemployersaremorelikelytohireacandidatewithamicro-credentialcomparedtoonewithout

87%

ofemployershiredacandidatewithamicro-credentialinthepastyear

97%

ofemployersarealreadyusingor

activelyexploringskills-basedhiring

96%

agreethatmicro-credentialsstrengthenacandidate’s

jobapplication

Employerdemandfor

skills-basedhiringrequireseducatorstoprioritize

skills-basedlearning.Wemustadaptourcurriculatopreparestudentsforajobmarketwheredesiredqualificationsareshiftingtooquicklyfortraditionaleducationtokeeppace.

FrancescaLockhart

ProfessorandCybersecurityClinicProgramLead

UniversityofTexasatAustin

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coursera