The Micro-credentials Masterclass 2026
The Micro-credentials Masterclass 2026 brings together education practitioners, policymakers and experts to explore how technology reshapes micro-credentials.
MCMC 2026 focuses on digital tools that supercharge the entire micro-credential ecosystem – from design to delivery, from learner support to labour market relevance.
Join us to discover how emerging technologies change learning quality, recognition, equity, and scalability.
MCMC 2026 themes
Trust in the system - recognition, quality, and assurance
Digital frameworks create strong recognition systems. How do we ensure quality, transparency and trust across borders? Tech-enhanced micro-credentials require fresh approaches. What standards ensure credentials are recognised globally? How can digital infrastructure make recognition more agile without sacrificing rigour? These questions shape how we build trust in evolving credential ecosystems.
Innovation forward – technology reshaping education
When innovation and emerging technologies reshape learning, what becomes possible? How does innovation affect the design, delivery, and recognition of micro-credentials, adaptive learning experiences, and automated assessments? Key challenges are: data privacy, vendor dependencies and quality assurance. How do we ensure technology enhances teaching excellence? Where should we set boundaries?
Credentials for all – equity, access, and the labour market
Technology widens access to micro-credentials, supporting under-represented groups, adult learners and those outside formal education. New models address labour market needs and promote inclusion. Success depends on prioritising accessibility from initial design. How can digital tools genuinely lower obstacles for marginalised learners? Which initiatives bridge the equity gap?
Skills on the move - portable skills and micro-credentials
Verified skills can move across sectors, borders, and learning contexts. Digital credentials, individual learning accounts, and the European Commission’s Skills Portability Initiative support flexible lifelong learning. However, sustainable financing is key. Using public funding and private investment can remove barriers to access and portability. How can we ensure true portability across regions?
Learning pathways in practice – the MC studio
Each theme will feature a micro-credentials practitioners’ studio – a practical entry point for those new to micro-credentials. It offers guidance on building and scaling micro-credentials, choosing the right tools, and navigating key design choices and trade-offs.
Check out our previous masterclasses
MCMC 2026 will be our fourth edition, continuing a tradition that began in 2019.
MCMC 2025 wrapped up in Zagreb at Algebra University on 19-20 March 2025, marking the third edition of our international gathering.
It brought together a community of people working on personalised learning and career pathways: education practitioners, policymakers, stakeholders and experts.
Building on past success, the event covered six key themes:
- Recognition and mobility
- Innovation (AI impacts)
- Social inclusion
- Industry partnerships
- Quality assurance
- Interoperability
Experts from North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia shared what works and what doesn’t.
We couldn’t have done it without our main sponsor Velocert, our host Algebra Bernays University, and our collaborator QualityLink.
“We need a system that is very adaptable and flexible and meets the emerging needs of society, industry and the economy. And I think micro-credentials play a super important role in that process.”
Our past gatherings—from the first Digital Micro-credentials Masterclass to the five-day International Summit in 2023—have each pushed the discussion on micro-credentials in Europe. We’ve explored views from policy, technology, pedagogy, and institutional strategy.
