Through micro-credentials, an individual’s learning after smaller learning units can be documented and recognised, and the European Commission has recently proposed a new initiative to support the quality, transparency, and use of micro-credentials across the EU. This will be done by developing minimum requirements for quality and openness. The intention is to build trust in micro-credentials and facilitate their transferability and recognition across the EU. In addition, the Commission intends to explore the possibility of incorporating micro-credentials into qualification frameworks in dialogue with national qualification authorities, for Sweden’s part, the SeQF, and make it easier for individuals to save and display acquired micro-credentials in the form of digital credentials for employers through Europass.

Micro-credentials allow for the documentation and recognition of an individual’s learning after smaller learning components. Organizations’ competence and competitiveness can also be increased, and documentation of learning, skills, and abilities enables longer-term planning and foresight during changes and new initiatives. The European Commission has recently proposed a new initiative to support the quality, transparency, and use of micro-credentials across the EU. The Competence Passport project aims to develop a Swedish model for this work.

The project is funded by Vinnova and is carried out in collaboration between the Swedish Public Employment Service, the Swedish Agency for Higher Vocational Education, and RISE – Research Institutes of Sweden. There is also close cooperation with the Swedish Council for Higher Education.