Presentation Panel
Micro-Credentials in Action: Skills, Jobs and the Future of Learning
Date Friday, Dec 5 Time – Room: Köpenick II/III
Micro-credentials are rapidly transforming the connection between education and employment, worldwide. This international panel brings together diverse perspectives, from universities and industry partnerships to open badging initiatives and national frameworks, to show how micro-credentials are moving from pilots to sustainable practice. Speakers will explore governance models, cross-sector collaboration, and strategies for recognition and mobility across contexts. Discover how micro-credentials bridge education and employment, expand opportunities for learners, and strengthen equity and workforce resilience globally.
Gavin Clinch
Head of Online Learning Innovation, Atlantic Technological University (ATU)
Gavin is an alumnus of the Bartlett School of Architecture at University College London. He spent 15 years practicing as an architect before joining Atlantic Technological University (ATU) in 2001 as a lecturer in architecture. During his time at ATU, Gavin played a pivotal role in the development and professional accreditation of various degree and master's architecture programs, while also accumulating extensive experience in online teaching.
Currently, Gavin holds the position of Head of Innovation for Online, Flexible, and Professional Development at ATU, where he leads the 'Higher Education 4.0' Innovation project's Theme and co-leads the Career & Learning Pathways service. His work primarily revolves around innovations in online teaching and learning, exploring emerging technologies like AI, micro-credentials, and other disruptors poised to reshape higher education.
In addition to his roles at ATU, Gavin serves as President of the Irish Learning Technology Association (ILTA), where he contributes to advancing the use of learning technologies in education across Ireland.
Kelvin Bentley
Project Director, National Association of System Heads’ (NASH) Community of Practice on Microcredentials
Dr. Kelvin Bentley has over 25 years of experience serving in various roles as a faculty member, administrator, and consultant within the field of higher education, supporting online learning and other types of academic innovation initiatives. These initiatives have included leading online learning offices and teams and piloting and scaling online tutoring and proctoring in support of online learning programs at 2- and 4-year colleges and universities.
Dr. Bentley currently serves as the University of Texas System's first project manager for Texas Credentials for the Future, a new initiative funded in part by a $1.5 million grant from the Strada Education Foundation, designed to grow and scale access to technical skills for students and alumni across 14 universities and health research institutions. He engages in strategic planning and collaboration with UT System faculty, staff, and administrators across the UT System and partners including Google, Coursera, WorkCred, and Skyepack.
In addition, Dr. Bentley is collaborating with the National Association of Higher Education Systems (NASH) and Google to support a new community of practice that includes faculty, staff, and administrators across 11 community college and university systems designed to help grow and scale their use of Google Career Certificates and AI courses within academic courses and co-curricular pathways.
Nadia Starr
CEO, SAQA
Ms Nadia Starr is the Chief Executive Officer of SAQA. Prior to SAQA, Ms Starr spent 10 years in senior management and non-executive director roles in the public sector, working with education and training policy development, quality assurance, youth skills development, and funding mechanisms. She has previously served as Chief Executive Officer of a high-performing Sector Skills Council.
Ms Starr holds a Bachelor's and a Postgraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Cape Town (UCT) and a Master of Education from the University of Witwatersrand (Wits), along with several occupational certifications.
Ms Starr currently serves as an executive director on the Board of the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) and non-executive director on the National Boards of the Human Resource Development Council of South Africa (HRDC), National Skills Authority (NSA), Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO), Council on Higher Education (CHE), Quality Council for General and Further Education and Training (Umalusi) as well as non -executive director on the International Boards of the Groningen Declaration Network (GDN) and United States Qualifications Framework (USQF). Ms Starr was also elected to serve as Co-President of the African Continental Qualifications Framework (ACQF) Network.
Moderator
Ildiko Mazar
Sector Consulting Manager, NTT Data, Spain
Ildiko has over 25 years of professional experience in the field of open education and e-learning, and she is particularly passionate about informed and transparent knowledge, skill and competence recognition. In the past 5 years Ildiko has been focusing mostly on supporting the development and uptake of innovative solutions in the fields of competence development and digital (micro-)credentialing, more specifically the European Learning Model and European Digital Credentials for Learning. She is member of the CTDL Advisory Board, and one of the 3 Co-Chairs of the W3C Credentials Community Group's VC-EDU task force.
Links
From Concept to Coordination: A Research-Informed Strategy for Micro-Credentials at Atlantic Technological University, Gavin Clinch
This session presents ATU’s research-informed and operationally grounded strategy for micro-credentials, developed through a cross-functional task force and aligned with European frameworks. Participants will gain practical tools and governance models to help move beyond pilot projects toward scalable, sustainable, and evidence-based micro-credential implementation.
The New Pathway to Employment: Weaving Industry Certifications into Higher Education, Kelvin Bentley
This session will focus on efforts within the University of Texas System, as well as several community colleges and universities, that are part of a new community of practice on microcredentials, to integrate industry credentials into courses and co-curricular pathways to improve the career readiness of learners.
Enabling Recognition and Mobility in the South African Context, Nadia Starr
This presentation explores how SAQA, through its NQFMIS, is transforming data into actionable insights, enabling policymakers and policy implementers to track learning pathways, respond to emerging skills demands and improve inclusion into other recognition systems. The presentation will outline current capabilities and future enhancement strategies to make the NQFMIS a more integrated and responsive platform for the future.