The Universidad Francisco de Vitoria (UFV) participated in the sectoral meeting on microcredentials organized by the Forum of Spanish Universities in European Universities (Foro UEUE), held on July 13 and 14 at the University of Cantabria. The meeting brought together more than forty specialists from Spanish universities that are part of European alliances to advance the design of joint microcredentials that promote lifelong learning and address new needs for professional training and continuing education.
The UFV delegation consisted of Chelo Pérez, Director of Internationalization Strategy, and Vicente Noguerales, Consultant for Academic Management and Entrepreneurship, who participated in the working sessions alongside representatives from the major European university consortia in which Spanish universities are involved.
ACE2EU's Experience in Developing European Microcredentials
Francisco de Vitoria University’s participation is part of its membership in the European alliance ACE2EU, an initiative that promotes international cooperation among universities to foster new models of higher education, educational innovation, and academic mobility.
During the conference, participants discussed the development of official joint micro-credentials, a short and flexible training format that the European Commission and the Council of the European Union consider strategic for promoting lifelong learning, improving employability, and facilitating the continuous updating of skills.
At the various working groups, participants shared experiences from European partnerships such as ACE2EU (Universidad Francisco de Vitoria), INGENIUM (Universidad de Oviedo), EUNICE (Universidad de Cantabria), EU-CONEXUS (Universidad Católica de Valencia), ARQUS (Universidad de Granada), CIVIS (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid), Transform4EU (Universidad de Alicante), and EELISA (Universidad Politécnica de Madrid).
A Shared Challenge for European Universities
Throughout the sessions, participants addressed some of the main challenges facing European universities in designing and implementing joint international microcredentials. Among these challenges, the following stood out: the harmonization of various national academic regulations; mechanisms for recognition among institutions; the accreditation of these programs by the business community; and the funding models needed to ensure their sustainability.
The meeting was opened by Conchi López, rector of the University of Cantabria; Gabriel Moncalián, vice rector for University Transformation at the University of Cantabria; and Ramón Vilanova, vice rector for Academic Affairs and Quality at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, the institution responsible for the microcredentials sectoral group of the EU-UE Forum.
During the inauguration, the role of microcredentials as a tool for promoting lifelong learning was highlighted. In this regard, it was emphasized that this type of training is well-suited to the current socioeconomic context, which is characterized by the need to continuously update knowledge and skills throughout one’s professional life.
UFV's Commitment to Continuing Education and Internationalization
Francisco de Vitoria University’s participation in this forum reinforces its commitment to internationalization and to the development of innovative educational models that meet the demands of a constantly changing society. Through the ACE2EU partnership, UFV continues to collaborate with European universities to promote initiatives that foster a more flexible education, connected to the professional world and aligned with the objectives of the European Higher Education Area.
