What Are the Benefits of a MicroMasters Certification?
Last Updated on September 7, 2021 / Recruitment
Question:
I was recently reviewing a candidate’s resume and I noticed that they had listed a MicroMasters certification under their education for supply chain management. What is a MicroMasters certification and what does it mean for a candidate’s qualification for my open position?
Answer:
A MicroMasters certification is a certificate of completion of an abbreviated online graduate level course from one of many top universities through edX. edX, founded by Harvard University and MIT has been developing massive open online courses since 2012 and has co-developed MicroMasters programs in association with top-brand institutions worldwide such as Columbia University, MIT, RIT and the University of Michigan. All of the MicroMasters programs are sponsored by at least one industry partner such as Microsoft, IBM, GE, Bloomberg and Boeing to name a few.
The MicroMasters certification on a resume means that the candidate has completed a career-focused program backed by a top-tier educator and some of the most respected businesses worldwide. They provide deep learning in a specific career field and are recognized by employers for their real job relevance. A MicroMasters certificate program is designed to be a continued and targeted education to move forward in a specific field of work or it can be the stepping stone to expediting the completion of a Master degree. These MicroMasters programs are being offered in many fields, however there is a strong focus on new technology skills areas like AI, IoT, robotics, and data science.
Anant Agarwal, the CEO of edX, and a professor at MIT, says “Adding MicroMasters to a resume/CV or LinkedIn profile signifies that a learner has gained exposure to a field at a strategic level, giving them the knowledge necessary to advance their career.” Employers are confident that successful students in the MicroMasters programs have the education and training needed to meet their organization’s needs. The MicroMasters programs are supported by employers such as Microsoft because frequentative learning is a way of re-skilling your workforce and contributes to a culture of lifelong learning.
The programs are advantageous to both students and employers. edX lists five specific advantages:
- Career-focused: The programs are validated by top companies.
- Backed by credit: A MicroMasters credential equals 25-50 percent of a Master’s degree – 20-30 ECTS in Europe.
- Speed: Each program is designed to take three to six months.
- Affordable: Program costs range from $800 to $1,400.
- Flexible: Programs are offered online multiple times per year and on-demand. Students proceed at their own pace.
“After earning a MicroMasters certification, learners can immediately apply their new knowledge to further their career, or they can apply to an on-campus program and put their MicroMasters credential toward completing a master’s degree,” Agarwal says.
We will continue to see the addition of MicroMasters certifications on resumes as the number of subjects and universities participating in these programs is expected to continue to rise. MicroMasters certifications can vary depending on the program and university, but what is universal is that they all offer global learners the opportunity to study master’s level courses from top-ranked graduate programs, advance their professional skills, and earn valuable credentials toward their Master’s from top-tier institutions to advance their career.
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