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Volume 7, Issue 2 (JUNE ISSUE 2026)
johepal 2026, 7(2): 44-70 |
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Kayabaş B K, Kayabaş İ. (2026). The Integration of Micro-Credentials in Higher Education: A Systematic Review and a Strategic Reset Model. johepal. 7(2), 44-70. doi:10.66224/johepal.7.2.44
URL: http://johepal.com/article-1-1766-en.html
URL: http://johepal.com/article-1-1766-en.html
Abstract: (619 Views)
The rapid digitalization of the labor market has widened the gap between graduate competencies and industry needs, challenging the relevance of traditional higher education degrees. While micro-credentials have emerged as agile solutions to bridge this gap, their integration into formal academic structures remains fragmented and theoretically under-conceptualized. This study aims to analyze the pedagogical, administrative, and legal strategies for integrating micro-credentials into higher education and to identify the barriers hindering this process. A systematic literature review was conducted following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, analyzing 81 articles published between 2015 and 2025 in the Web of Science and Scopus databases. The thematic synthesis reveals that while stackable degree models and blockchain-based verification are the most prominent integration strategies, the ecosystem is plagued by a trust deficit among employers and a lack of standardized quality assurance frameworks. Furthermore, the findings highlight a critical tension between the labor market's demand for flexibility and the university's need for academic rigor. Based on these findings, the study proposes a Strategic Reset Model, a five-dimensional framework designed to guide higher educational institutes in transforming from mere content providers into accredited competency hubs.
Keywords: Micro-Credentials, Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, Certificate Programs, Continuing Education
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2026/02/25 | Accepted: 2026/06/13 | Published: 2026/06/30
Received: 2026/02/25 | Accepted: 2026/06/13 | Published: 2026/06/30
Online Supplement (Appendix) [PDF 1646 KB] (534 Download)
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