The idea of unbundling the degrees is not new. Universities shunned the idea of taking apart the degree and selling it in parts. It is offensive to the notion of education as a total experience. But the rising cost and the utility of a degree is giving this idea a new life. Instead of a 4 year college degree, one can opt to design a portfolio of job related skills through micro-credentials. They are cheaper and takes less time. Some proponents call this the just-in-time curriculum. MOCCs are offering small or micro qualifications which are employers endorsed, and in some cases credit bearing.
Employers are talking about it. So have the regulators. Now the universities are beginning to take notice of the alternatives and the potential threat to its golden goose - the degree. They are more open to recognizing the MCs creating pathways to degrees. Universities have started work with MC providers to offer credit bearing courses. Still a small concession. They are not innovating their service product - they degrees. Will the universities rethink the degree as modular parts which can be offered and taken for its unit value without the credential? Will universities reimagine the century old degree? Google has threaten to unleash its MCs focusing on in-demand job skills at lower cost. The MC market is still an unregulated market. Its attracting many new entrants. Education investment groups are starting to place their bets too.
In Malaysia, the national QA agency has issued a guideline to enable universities to micro-credentialize their degrees widening access to other sections of the population without risking accreditation. New Zealand QA is regulating MCs as formal qualifications. Australia has committed itself to encourage better recognition of MCs and creating pathways to academic qualifications within the AQF. MCs create endless options for lifelong learning of the working population. Diploma, degrees, masters and PhDs do not hold attraction to all. Even employers are beginning to look beyond degrees to job skills. So must the universities. To exploit the future, universities must shake off their "trained incapacity".
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