COL-CEMCA and TNOU Host Workshop on Micro-Credentials to Enhance Youth Employability

In a strategic move to strengthen digital education and promote employability-focused learning, the Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (COL-CEMCA) and Tamil Nadu Open University (TNOU) successfully conducted a three-day capacity-building workshop titled “Online Content Creation for Micro-Credentials” from 9–11 June 2025 at the TNOU campus in Chennai.

The workshop marked a significant step towards aligning TNOU’s academic offerings with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the National Credit Framework (NCrF), and national digital education priorities. With the participation of over 50 faculty members from diverse disciplines, the event provided hands-on training in instructional design, e-content creation, video production, LMS integration, digital credentialing, and learning analytics.

The inaugural session featured insights from prominent academic leaders, including Professor S. Arumugam, Vice Chancellor of TNOU, who stressed the transformative role of micro-credentials in enhancing learner employability and lifelong learning. The keynote address by Professor K. Narayanasamy, Vice Chancellor, Dr M.G.R. Medical University, reinforced the urgency for agile, modular, and skills-based learning pathways.

Dr B. Shadrach, Director of COL-CEMCA, conducted an engaging virtual session on the “Importance of Micro-credentials in the 21st Century Education”, highlighting the importance of micro-credentials in democratising access to education and bridging industry-academia gaps. Dr H. Srimathi and Dr V. Shanmuganeethi led dynamic sessions as experts, covering pedagogy of engagement, authentic assessments, Moodle-based course design, and video-based learning using tools like OBS Studio, H5P, and Edpuzzle.

The participants actively developed micro-credential course modules tailored for online delivery, showcasing innovative use of multimedia, interactive content, and digital badges. The final day included presentations by the participants and a session on learning analytics to enhance learner engagement and data-informed course design.

The key outcome of the training was that the participants were equipped with the skills of designing and developing micro-credential courses.  Other outcomes included hands-on exposure to open-source tools and platforms like Moodle, OBS Studio, and eXeLearning; emphasis on learner-centric, accessible, and outcome-based digital content; and initiation of micro-credential course prototypes aligned with national standards.

The workshop concluded with a valedictory address by Professor R. Velraj, former Vice Chancellor of Anna University, who praised TNOU’s leadership in embracing digital innovation. In his closing remarks, Dr B. Shadrach lauded TNOU for taking a strategic lead in implementing micro-credentials and emphasised the need for learner-centric approaches in course design.

The initiative underscored TNOU’s commitment to inclusive, flexible, and future-ready education and demonstrated how academic institutions can take bold steps to prepare faculty for the evolving landscape of online and lifelong learning.