NOUN, Commonwealth Begin Institutional Framework For Micro-Credentials

The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), in collaboration with the Commonwealth of Learning (COL), has commenced a major institutional initiative to develop a comprehensive policy for micro-credentials.

The initiative aims to enable the university to respond more effectively to emerging skills demands, graduate employability, lifelong learning and the changing landscape of technology-enabled higher education.

The four-day workshop, which began on 5th October and ended yesterday, was part of a Commonwealth-wide project on micro-credentials led by COL.

It was designed to support countries and institutions across the Commonwealth in developing credible, flexible and quality-assured approaches to micro-credential learning.

They worked to develop and consolidate the university’s institutional micro-credential policy and lay the foundation for pilot micro-credential courses.

Opening the workshop, the Vice-Chancellor of NOUN, Professor Uduma Oji Uduma, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Professor Chiedu Mafiana, described the initiative as an important step towards shaping the future of flexible, lifelong and technology-enabled learning at the university.

“Today, we’re not simply opening another workshop. We are taking an important step towards shaping the future of flexible, lifelong and technology-enabled learning in the National Open University of Nigeria,” he said.

He explained that micro-credentials would provide NOUN with an opportunity to expand access, respond rapidly to emerging skills needs, strengthen employability and support lifelong learning.

According to him, the university’s ambition should go beyond offering short courses to establishing a credible micro-credential system grounded in quality, relevance, flexibility, scalability, recognition, and sustainability.

Representing COL, Professor Jane-Frances Agbu, Adviser, Higher Education, said the workshop marked the first phase of the organisation’s engagement with NOUN.

She said the second phase would focus on developing micro-credential courses.

Agbu explained that the NOUN initiative formed part of COL’s broader Commonwealth-wide work on micro-credentials.

The work includes regional consultations, national policy development and institutional pilots aimed at strengthening the connection between policy and practice.

“The value of micro-credentials rests not simply on their short duration or flexibility. The credibility of micro-credentials depends on a well-articulated policy guideline,” Agbu said.

She stressed that micro-credentials had become increasingly important in a rapidly changing world driven by technological advancement, digital transformation, artificial intelligence and evolving employment patterns.

The COL adviser noted that the ability to continuously learn, unlearn and relearn was becoming essential.

She added that micro-credentials could provide practical pathways for upskilling, reskilling, professional development and lifelong learning. The National Universities Commission also reaffirmed its commitment to the initiative.

Dr Fumilayo Morebise, representing the NUC Executive Secretary, Professor Abdullahi Yusuf Ribadu, said the commission was working with COL to advance Nigeria’s national micro-credential agenda.

“The micro-credential has been a major burning issue. And NUC, as a responsive commission, we don’t want Nigeria to lag behind,” Morebise said.