BY HERMAN M. LAGON
THINK of a world where access to education could significantly influence the course of individuals and communities. Imagine a global initiative that offers everyone, no matter their economic status, the opportunity to gain important skills and knowledge.
What kind of program would bridge education and employment, especially in under-resourced areas?
Enter the concept of the Free University Microcredential International (UMI) Hybrid Program — a ground-breaking proposal designed to democratize education on an unprecedented scale and to champion social justice by making it accessible and free for all who wish to enhance their employability.
This innovative idea was formulated by a group of forward-thinking individuals, including the author of this column, during the Asian International Mobility for Students (AIMS) Summer Intensive Program held from August 1-8, 2024, at Hiroshima University, Japan. The program, supported by a JASSO scholarship, focused on higher education innovations, peace education, global collaboration, and internationalization.
The “Happy Team” responsible for this proposal consisted of yours truly representing the University of St. La Salle-Bacolod and Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology; Indonesian Khairunisa Trie Suryaningsih from Tsukuba University, Japan, and Universitas Padjadjaran, Indonesia; Thai Korrawan Prakobsai, from Mahidol University, Thailand; Chinese Liu Hanyi, from Hiroshima University, Japan; and Cambodian Va Pharorng from the Institute of Technology of Cambodia.
This team was one of six groups that pitched their higher education ideas at the AIMS Meeting at the Peace Memorial Hall in Hiroshima, attended by about 200 internationalization leaders from higher education institutions across Asia.
The heart of this proposal lies in the concept of micro-credentials. Micro-credentials are bite-sized, specialized certifications, or badges, pivoting on very specific skills or competencies. Unlike a traditional degree, which can take years to complete, micro-credentials are earned over a much shorter period of time, often just a few weeks or months. They are very result-oriented, target-bound, and laser-oriented to give exactly what the employers demand in today’s fast-changing industries. This makes them incredibly valuable in bridging the skills-employment gap that persists across the globe.
Most importantly, micro-credentials are flexible. They can be quickly earned and are usually designed in a way that people can stack them together to earn larger credentials or degrees. This flexibility allows individuals to choose their own educative pathway based on their career goals, allowing them to make easier headway into a competitive job market.
Furthermore, these micro-credential programs hope to be made available online, democratizing learning opportunities for the hitherto unconnected individuals where they happen to live.
Think about the story of Grace, a young single mom from one of the islands in Northern Iloilo. Born to poverty and therefore with limited educational opportunity, the prospects for Grace appeared dim in a region where 75% of the population is affected by skills gaps and 67% faces a skills-employment mismatch.
But in the year 2026, Grace enrolled in the UMI Hybrid Program. She spent the next several years learning entrepreneurial ways, data analytics, and digital marketing — all skills in high demand within her community. By 2030, Grace was a respected professional and in 2032 completed her bachelor’s degree, greatly improving her job opportunities and contributing to the upliftment of her community.
The success story of Grace is a testimonial to the new probability in life that a program like UMI (ocean in Nihonggo) can create. (To be continued)/PN
