Conceptual mapping of microcredentials: theoretical proposal for the development of job skills in higher education graduates

The influence of micro-credentials on motivation, commitment, and task completion has been widely studied; however, there was a lack of information on a useful theoretical proposal for developing job skills in higher education graduates. This study addressed the concept of microcredentials through a theoretical framework specializing in Information and Communication Technologies and pursued four main objectives: to identify the appropriate theoretical foundations for proposing a microcredential design, to distinguish this concept from others such as digital badges and open badges, to describe the conceptual, methodological and procedural characteristics that allowed for the design of a theoretical proposal for microcredentials that promote the employability of psychology graduates, and to identify educational contexts where they could be implemented. To this end, the Conceptual Mapping method was used. The findings revealed that Higher Education Institutions faced difficulties in implementing micro-credential and articulating them with the labor market. Although the perception of employers or students were not evaluated, the study highlights that micro-credentials can bridge the gap between educational competencies and labor demands, as they are innovative tools for improving employability