Micro-Credentialing & Up-Skilling

South Island Prosperity Partnership is pleased to have been selected as the Vancouver Island community partner for the summer 2020 Digital Marketing Bootcamp, a micro-credential program delivered by Alacrity Canada and funded by the Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development and Competitiveness and the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training.

The importance of micro-credentialing emerged as a key theme from SIPP’s ​Rising Economy Taskforce​. The Taskforce and its committees — a multi-stakeholder group of 120-plus South Island sector leaders — was convened by SIPP in April, 2020 to coordinate a strong response to the urgent economic crisis created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2020 micro-credentialing bootcamp was based on a similar pilot project created by Alacrity in mid-2019. Almost 45 people participated in the pilot, with a job placement rate of 85%. The bootcamp provided individuals with a foundation in digital marketing, including search engine optimization (SEO), analytics, and content production, readying participants to work in a range of digital marketing positions. These skills also benefit small- and medium-sized businesses that are expanding their sales strategies to include a larger online presence.

Micro-credentialing is one of the “hot rising ideas in the education space,” according to Forbes magazine. Micro-credentials are certification-style qualifications that people gain by studying in very specific areas. Typically, micro-credential courses provide learners with certifications or badges when complete.