Coursera Report: 95% of Indian higher education leaders agree micro-credentials create job-ready graduates

New Delhi  : India is leading the global shift toward skill-based education, with 95% of higher education leaders in the country agreeing that micro-credentials strengthen students’ career outcomes, according to Coursera’s Micro-Credentials Impact Report 2024 – India Edition. Over half (52%) of Indian institutions offering micro-credentials now provide them for academic credit, and nearly all (94%) plan to do so within the next five years. This trend is supported by the National Credit Framework (NCrF) under India’s National Education Policy (NEP), which enables students to earn transferable credits for both academic studies and skill-based learning.

Based on insights from a survey of over 180 higher education leaders in India, part of a global study of 1,000+ leaders across 850+ institutions, the report highlights the transformative impact of micro-credentials. These credentials are key to enhancing student satisfaction, strengthening institutional reputation, and driving enrollment and retention. Notably, 88% of Indian leaders—exceeding the global average of 75%—believe students are more likely to enroll in programs offering academic credit for industry-recognized credentials. Additionally, 9 in 10 Indian leaders agree that micro-credentials improve student engagement and satisfaction while positioning their institutions as innovators in higher education.

Coursera’s Learner Outcome Report 2023 also underscored the benefits of micro-credentials, revealing that 21% of Indian learners secured new jobs, and 32% reported salary increases after completing entry-level Professional Certificates. Across India, universities like Vishwakarma University (Pune), Kumaraguru School of Innovation (Coimbatore), IMS Ghaziabad, and the Model Institute of Engineering and Technology (Jammu) are supplementing traditional degree programs with industry-specific micro-credentials to produce job-ready graduates and enhance the professional growth of both alumni and faculty.

At Vishwakarma University, students across majors can earn 4 academic credits for completing recommended Professional Certificates such as IBM Full Stack Software Developer, Google Data Analytics, and AWS Fundamentals. “Offering micro-credentials alongside traditional programs allows us to prepare students for emerging career opportunities. These certifications enable our students to graduate with both academic knowledge and practical skills that employers value most,” said Bharat Agarwal, President, Vishwakarma University.

“Feedback from students, employers, and higher education institutions highlights the growing importance of micro-credentials in aligning university education with employer needs and fostering strong employment outcomes,” said Raghav Gupta, Managing Director, India and Asia Pacific, Coursera. “The National Credit Framework (NCrF) accelerates the adoption of these pathways by promoting credit recognition, opening more opportunities for learners to pursue skills-based careers. India’s vision to become the skill capital of the world hinges on building a future-ready workforce through this unified approach that bridges education and skill development.”

The research also suggests that some educational leaders are finding it difficult to embrace new approaches to learning through micro-credentials. Primary barriers to successful integration of micro-credentials include:

Uncertainty about the quality of micro-credentials (26%)
Resistance from faculty due to shift from traditional methods (24%)
Difficulties integrating micro-credentials with existing curriculum (15%)

“To fully realize the potential of micro-credentials in India, collaboration is key. We’re working closely with regulators and our industry partners to address quality concerns by securing credit recommendations. At the same time, institutions must engage faculty to seamlessly integrate these programs into existing curricula,” added Raghav.

Earlier this year, ten Professional Certificates from Google and IBM achieved National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) alignment exclusively on Coursera. To download the full report and explore the key findings, click here. To learn more about the NSQF credit recommendation, click here.

Methodology

These findings are from Coursera’s 2024 Micro-Credentials Impact Report. This is based on a Coursera survey of over 1,000 higher education leaders, including 180+ from India, representing 850+ institutions across 89 countries. The survey reveals the transformative impact of micro-credentials and their growing role in enhancing curricula on campuses. The sample covered six major regions: North America, Asia Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe, Middle East and North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa.