The COVID-19 pandemic forced educators to think of new ways to deliver instruction and meet the changing needs of their community.
In 2021, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education partnered with business leaders to launch Upskill OK, an online program where learners can earn microcredentials and digital badges. Initially designed to help workers pivot to new fields in the wake of layoffs and economic uncertainty, the project has grown to involve 26 campuses and 180-plus industry partners offering nearly 700 programs to a broad audience.
The pioneering workforce program leverages open educational resources (OER) and collaborative practices as professors and business leaders develop customized curriculum. Upskill OK has had a positive impact on the labor market and breaks new ground in the way students can access education and how learning is assessed.
“It’s a tremendous resource,” said Anna Dunn, associate vice chancellor of innovation for the regents. “It’s about creating a workforce that is skilled and meets industry demands. It all started with industry and identifying how we could narrow the skill gap within our state.”
Oklahoma adopted a statewide policy defining microcredentials and the regents allotted $1.8 million for the initiative from its general fund in 2022, which it has continued to fund every year since. Grants are awarded to community colleges and universities throughout the state to create short-term, post-secondary microcredentials. They equip students with specific career-critical skills, competencies, and knowledge that can be transferred to the workplace.
Microcredentials in Oklahoma are offered in a range of fields from drone piloting to oil drilling to teacher education. Students can use a search function on the Upskill OK website to browse programs that match their interests and needs. Fees vary by institution and scholarships are available.
Some content is openly licensed so faculty and learners can find courses that are accessible with free learning materials. With the model, short-course curriculum can be localized and updated in response to feedback from students and requests from industry. Leveraging OER made it possible for the state to develop microcredentials more rapidly and accelerate expansion and access to a broader audience.
“We really want to focus on high touch or essential skills that can be transferable from employer to employer,” Dunn said. “Employers are continuing to say they want employees to understand critical thinking skills – that’s a competency that’s repeated in all the microcredentials we have.”
There are non-credit options and the chance to build up to 9 academic credits online with participating institutions. While first targeted at adult learners looking to be reskilled, the platform has attracted traditional students who want a flexible schedule and work toward a degree.
The project provided an opportunity for industry to share its knowledge with educators and develop programs relevant for today’s marketplace. Information from career technical education advisory boards and career wage labor data also helped identify gaps to drive where to expand micro-credentials.
At Oklahoma City Community College, some faculty initially were concerned that micro-credentials would compete with the community college’s degree programs and certificates, said Mickey Jack, vice president of academic affairs at Oklahoma. Once it was explained that a microcredential was simply a specific skill that targets a workforce gap, faculty came on board.
OCCC has developed 56 with the most demand for programs in economics, nursing, and accounting. It also partnered with a bank and eight local fire department to provide customized training for existing employees to enhance their skills on the job.
Upskill OK has been a benefit to existing students and is attracting a new audience.
For students who are degree seeking, Jack said, obtaining a microcredential can equip them with a skill that allows them to get an entry level position in their field as they continue on their degree pathway.
The platform also appeals to people who never felt that they had a place in higher education because they either lacked the financial resources or time to get a traditional degree. “This is a great way for people to test the water,” Jack said. “They can take a couple of classes, earn a micro-credential, get a job in the field, and if they are interested go back to finish a certificate or degree.”
To date, OCCC has awarded over 19,000 micro-credentials and given students $170,000 in scholarships to cover tuition.
“There’s a lot of attention on microcredentialing right now, specifically on career technology education,” Dunn said. “I definitely don’t believe that we have even hit the peak. If anything, I believe we’re just kind of starting the journey.”