National Microcredentials Framework 

The Australian, National Microcredentials Framework which was released on 22 March 2022. Considering the framework from the perspective of how this potentially influences non-formal education outcomes there is a spectrum which at one end consumers see no change and at the other end consumers have a lot more information which may or may not change how they engage with non-formal education.

No Change

Non-Formal Education providers who have chosen for a wide variety of reasons not to provide their training within the Australian Qualification Framework will also not engage with the National Microcredentials Framework and may not even be aware of its release because they currently do not engage with formal credentials. As Non-Formal Education providers continue to do their own thing outside of formal frameworks consumers remain either without the knowledge or uncaring about formal frameworks as long as their learning and education needs are met.

Improved Information

The National Microcredential Framework becomes a default standard, replacing the now defunct Australian Standard for Non-Formal Education. Using the required and recommended information statuses within the critical information requirements, providers would be providing consumers with extensive information to evaluate the microcredential that they are considering. Potentially enabling consumers to effectively compare one credential against another or alternatively this could effectively become the small print that is either not engaged with or not understood by consumers.

Credit

Credit available to students after completing microcredentials is a very important component of the required information. The National Microcredentials Framework states:

5.5.1. Where applicable, microcredentials will stipulate industry-recognition, where the microcredential is recognised by a professional body, satisfies or aligns to an industry standard or professional development requirement, or constitutes recognition towards an industry or vendor certification.

5.5.2. Where applicable, microcredentials will stipulate credit-recognition, where the microcredential is recognised by an education institution for the provision of specified or unspecified credit or advanced standing. This stipulation should outline the nature of the credit and the AQF level/s of the qualifications that the microcredential leads to (rather than mapping to the AQF level outcomes). Where the microcredential is recognised for credit only when “stacked” with other microcredentials, this should be clearly stipulated.

This is an important component of microcredentials because it will assist with the recognition of Non-Formal Education towards the achievement of Formal Education outcomes. 

Global Marketplace

As an Australian, National Microcredential Framework, there are a significant number of high quality, online learning opportunities which could be considered as microcredentials which would potentially provide credit into components of the Australian Qualifications Framework, however these learning experiences were developed and maintained in other countries and therefore the applicability of the Australian, National Microcredentials Framework may be limited in the encouragement of stackable learning.