We are delighted to announce that the next HEInnovate webinar in our 2021 Spring series will take the form of a panel discussion in which our contributors will discuss different approaches to fostering transformation of higher education through microcredentials and collaboration. You can look forward a lively discussion where our panel will share their views on:

• Different approaches to microcredentials, including the definition developed by the European Commission
• The benefits and obstacles of providing microcredentials through collaboration between academia and industry
• The opportunities and challenges in embedding certifications into degree programmes

The hour-long webinar will take place on Thursday, the 20th May 2021 at 5pm CEST. The discussion will be moderated by Rebecca Allinson, a Managing Partner at Technopolis Group and involve four panel members representing policy makers, academia and business: 

• Klara Engels-Perenyi is a Policy Officer at the European Commission. In the higher education policy unit of the Directorate-General for Education, Youth Sport and Culture Klara is responsible for the Bologna Process, for the policy area of quality assurance and the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS). Klara is working currently on the development of a European Approach to micro-credentials. In her presentation she will tell us about the current state of consultations and explain the European Commission’s further planning on this initiative
• Karen Elzey is an Associate Executive Director of Workcred, a non-profit affiliate of the American National Standards Association. Workcred’s mission is to strengthen workforce quality by improving the credentialing system, ensuring its ongoing relevance, and preparing employers, workers, educators, and governments to use it effectively. In this presentation, Karen will discuss the opportunities and challenges of embedding certifications into Bachelor’s degree programmes
• Christian Frield is an edupreneur, senior lecturer, researcher and head of study programme in the intersection of innovation and education. He is project leader of the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Austria, designer of innovation MOOCs & MicroCredentials and coordinator of several EU-wide research projects in that field. In the presentation, he will share his experiences from collaboratively creating new educational formats with industry players in the Knowledge Alliance CORSHIP - Corporate Edupreneurship. 
• Alisson Avila is Co-Founder, Communication & Knowledge Principal at Beta-i, an international collaborative innovation consultancy firm based in Lisbon. Alisson is also an invited lecturer at IPAM / European University in Lisbon and Oporto for Cross-Cultural Insights. Being Beta-i's project leader within Knowledge Alliance Corship - Corporate Edupreneurship, during the webinar Alisson will share his perspectives on higher education's crucial role in applied business transformation, including the education industry itself

Please bring your questions and join us in the discussion.

We look forward to welcoming you at the webinar.