EU Member States agreed on a common approach to design and use micro-credentials in a coherent way allowing their citizens to take advantage of personalised learning opportunities and career pathways.

Micro-credentials are the record of the learning outcomes that a learner has acquired following a small volume of learning.

The Council of the European Union adopted the proposal for a Council Recommendation on a European approach to micro-credentials for lifelong learning and employability on 16 June 2022.

The European Union faces a policy challenge where a growing number of people need to update their knowledge, skills and competences, particularly in light of the changes to the labour market that have resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of micro-credentials used in Europe rose but their value and understanding is not always clear, the range of providers is broad and the quality, transparency and uptake of micro-credentials between and within countries, sectors and jobs raise question.

The Recommendation aims to enable people to acquire the knowledge, skills and competences they need to thrive in a changing labour market and society. The Recommendation will support the providers of micro-credentials to be prepared, particularly to enhance the transparency and flexibility of the offer as well as to foster inclusiveness and equal opportunities.

The Recommendation allows for the establishment of a common European approach and to apply a common EU definition, EU standards and key principles for the design and use of micro-credentials. The Recommendation contains standard elements to describe a micro-credential as well as guidance to develop an ecosystem for micro-credentials.

The Recommendation is within the framework of the European Skills Agenda, which was published in July 2020, and the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan (March 2021), which includes reference to micro-credentials and individual learning accounts.