Mikrocredentials

MikroCredentials is a term used to describe modular, verifiable digital credentials that certify discrete skills, competencies, or achievements earned through short courses, micro-learning modules, or on-the-job tasks. Designed to be stackable, these credentials can be combined to represent broader qualifications or career pathways while remaining focused on specific learning outcomes.

Typically, a MikroCredential is issued by an educational institution, employer, professional association, or learning platform. It is stored and presented through a digital wallet or credential repository. The underlying data structure follows widely adopted standards such as the W3C Verifiable Credentials and Open Badges, enabling cryptographic signing, authenticity verification, and, in some implementations, revocation when the credential becomes invalid or outdated.

The standard workflow involves an issuer creating a credential with a unique identifier, issue date, and subject data that describes the skill or achievement. The holder stores the credential and can share proofs with verifiers, who check the issuer’s signature and the credential’s status. Privacy-preserving features, such as selective disclosure, may allow holders to reveal only relevant parts of a credential.

Adoption spans higher education, corporate training, and professional development, with use cases including programming skill badges, language proficiency micro-certificates, or project management competencies. Benefits include portfolio portability, granular recognition of skills, and flexible learning pathways. Challenges include interoperability across systems, credential fatigue, issuer burden, and ensuring quality and validity of micro-credentials.