Dr. John O'Connor:

There was a specific question on micro credentials. We have large qualifications like the leaving certificate and bachelor's degrees, but the Irish qualifications system also provides for smaller qualifications, what we might call, non-major qualifications. In some ways, Ireland has been ahead of the pack internationally in having a flexible structure to be able to recognise smaller chunks of learning through the use of what are called micro credentials. There is a lot of interest in these, in particular in terms of their having a responsive, flexible reaction to labour market skills, for example in response to climate change and digitalisation where micro credentials may well be the solution to upskilling or reskilling where a full or major qualification is not the appropriate labour market response in that particular area.

The universities are leading the way here in a particular project on promoting the national framework for micro credentials. These can also be used in further education and training. There is potentially a role here too for micro credentials in school education. Transition year has a lot of very useful learning. Sometimes that learning is not formally recognised or certified. The use of the micro credentials tool to give a formal, portable trusted recognition of learning achieved in transition year could be used for exchange and portability along the path for individuals.

We are well ahead in the game in terms of micro credentials in Ireland, in particular in innovation. The national quality assurance and qualifications system supports the roll-out of that particular response.