Ten Ways to S.K.I.L.L.: Strengthening Knowledge Through Industry-Linked Learning in Higher Education

During a recent Virtual Masterclass titled Strategies for Integrating Micro-Credentials into Curriculum, I had the privilege of joining Lancie Affonso from the College of Charleston to explore how industry-recognized microcredentials can enhance course outcomes. Lancie shared examples of how microcredentials can bridge the gap between academic theory and professional practice while meeting students’ diverse interests and career goals.

For instance, in his Data Visualization and Storytelling Honors course, students selected microcredentials aligned with their interests, ranging from analytics to cybersecurity to sustainability. This flexibility not only encouraged peer learning but also motivated students to deeply engage with the material, which allowed them to rapidly acquire targeted skills while achieving overall course learning objectives.

In his Cybersecurity course, Lancie integrated Google’s Cybersecurity professional certificate into both online and face-to-face formats. In the latter, he adopted a flipped classroom model based on student feedback, leveraging the certificate’s up-to-date content for improved engagement and preparation. He discussed how students benefited from participating in the professional certificate community and how alumni noted that students with this certification stood out in the job market.

With technology advancing quickly and workforce demands evolving, innovation is not just a luxury; it is a responsibility. Industry-linked learning, a subset of work-integrated learning intentionally supported by microcredentials, is a powerful tool for fostering adaptable, job-ready graduates. Briefly, I want to highlight Ten Ways to S.K.I.L.L., or ways to think about Strengthening Knowledge through Industry-Linked Learning.

1. Aligning Microcredentials with Course Outcomes: An Introduction to Sociology course could incorporate Foundations of User Experience (UX) Design from Google’s UX Design Professional Certificate as a way for learners to understand social behavior in the context of design. Students could analyze the cultural and social impacts of digital platforms, engaging with both sociological theories and practical UX principles.
2. Embedding Microcredentials as Supplemental or Core Learning: In a Health Sciences course on patient care, faculty could offer learners the option to complete the Analyze Data to Answer Questions course from Google’s Data Analytics Professional Certificate as a supplemental activity to help analyze real-world healthcare data. The course could also be used as a core component of a data analysis module to help learners understand how data analytics can inform patient care decisions and healthcare management.
3. Engaging Learners with Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Principles: In an English Literature course learners could complete the Multimedia Content Creation course from Adobe’s Content Creator Professional Certificate to produce a multimedia project, like a video analysis of a novel or poem. This would allow them to combine literary analysis with creative skills while providing flexibility in how they demonstrate their understanding of the text.
4. Leveraging Role-Based Organization: In a Business Administration program, faculty could integrate courses from IBM Business Intelligence (BI) Analyst and Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst professional certificate into management and analytics classes. By aligning these role-specific microcredentials with the skills required for data-driven decision-making, learners develop expertise in tools like data visualization and dashboard creation, directly preparing them for real-world business data analysis tasks.
5. Integrating Micro-Internships: In a Marketing class, learners could complete the Meta Social Media Marketing Professional Certificate, and then apply their knowledge by working on a real-world marketing campaign for a local business. The course plus the microcredential provides foundational knowledge, while the micro-internship offers practical experience.
6. Implementing Project-Based Learning with Microcredentials: For Psychology majors studying organizational behavior, the Introduction to Scrum Master Profession from IBM’s IT Project Manager Professional Certificate could be included as part of a team project. Learners could manage a simulated organizational change, applying both psychological principles and project management skills.
7. Using Microcredentials to Bridge Disciplines: A Criminal Justice course could integrate the Foundations of Cybersecurity course from Google’s Cybersecurity Professional Certificate credential to help learners understand the role of cybersecurity in preventing cybercrime. Learners could use case studies to evaluate the impact of cyber laws and regulations.
8. Mapping a Microcredential Integration Plan: An Economic History course could pilot the Principles of Real Estate course from the Keller Williams Real Estate Agent Certificate to explore historical market trends and their broader implications. Based on the results, the full certificate could be mapped across courses like historical research methods or urban history to create an interdisciplinary pathway.
9. Developing Assessment Strategies: In a Business Ethics course, learners could complete the Sales and CRM Overview course in the Salesforce Sales Operations Professional Certificate and present a case study applying ethical decision-making frameworks while using CRM tools. Grading could focus on both technical competency and ethical analysis.
10. Exploring a Student-Centric Approach: In a STEM course focused on innovation, faculty could offer the AWS Cloud Technology Consultant Professional Certificate as an optional component or for internship credit. This would give students interested in cloud computing the flexibility to earn the microcredential while engaging with the course content.

Utilizing microcredentials to S.K.I.L.L. (Strengthening Knowledge through Industry-Linked Learning), can provide learners with industry-recognized skills that complement their degrees. Microcredentials offer a way for those who want to be lifetime earners to boost their earning potential while developing lifelong learners who can adapt to a constantly changing job market.

I recently completed my 20th professional certificate through Coursera in my journey to better understand industry-linked learning. This process has been more than just acquiring certifications; it has been an opportunity to dive deep into industry content, challenge my own perspectives on learning design and explore how higher education can better connect academic theory with practical, professional skills. Looking ahead, I am eager to help colleges and universities expand the integration of industry-learning into academic courses, conduct research to measure impacts on student outcomes and engage in meaningful conversations about the evolving role of microcredentials in higher education.

Elizabeth Robertson Hornsby is a Coursera Contributor and Adjunct Professor at Southern University at New Orleans. Coursera was launched in 2012 by two Stanford Computer Science professors, Andrew Ng and Daphne Koller, with a mission to provide universal access to world-class learning. It is now one of the largest online learning platforms in the world, with 162 million registered learners as of September 30, 2024. Coursera partners with over 350 leading university and industry partners to offer a broad catalog of content and credentials, including courses, Specializations, Professional Certificates, Guided Projects, and bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Institutions around the world use Coursera to upskill and reskill their students, employees, and citizens in fields such as data science, technology, and business. Coursera became a Delaware public benefit corporation and a B Corp in February 2021.