In recent years, micro-credentials have been used often in the labor market to enhance specific skills. However, could they address the digital and green skill gaps to reduce gender discrimination in the labor market? If so, how?
‘’Gender equality always matters, but even more so in going green”, according to the first speaker, Sylvia Liuti, Gender Equality Expert and Italian National Board Coordinator, EfVET. Liuti presented a study of the University of Urbino in five Italian companies, which carries out the ability of women - leaders to manage the company’s transition toward sustainability. Women promote and implement environmental and social practices through several characteristics intrinsic to their nature, such as the ability to emphasize and listen. However, even today, women are less employed in strategic roles due to social stereotypes.
‘’We should tackle gender inequality from kindergarten’’, stated Liisa Metsola, Development Director of Invalidisäätiö, Finland. Metsola presented the challenges of continuous learning in Finland by mentioning the several potential benefits, that micro-credentials offer to individuals with learning difficulties. Micro-credentials are digitally accessible, have low cost, do not require a tremendous amount of time, target a group of people with specific needs, and increase the motivation and self-confidence of the learner.
A European approach to micro-credentials and the example of Catalonia
Nowadays, over 90% of jobs require digital skills, yet only 54% of the adults in Europe have basic digital skills. Therefore, ‘’lifelong upskilling and reskilling need to become the norm’’, noted Isabel Arroyo, Policy Officer, European Commission’s DG EMPL, VET Unit.
Arroyo pointed out that the European Union is promoting lifelong learning, as the targets for 2030 are high. According to the European Union's expectations, by 2030, 60% of the adult population will participate in education each year, and 80% of Europeans will have at least basic digital skills. Micro-credentials require a small volume of learning, and they are shared and portable at the same time.
‘’Micro-credential is a recognition of skill and for some people is the only recognition from the system they’ve ever had’’, Arroyo concluded.
The fourth speaker of the workshop referred to the case of Catalonia. Even though the number of green jobs in Catalοnia is relatively high compared to the rest of Spain, only 28% in the green employment sector are held by women, said Òscar Palazón from the Regional Ministry of Education – Government of Catalonia. Palazón mentioned the Catalan education ministry's initiatives to reduce the gender gap in the labor market.
‘’No matter how much effort the ministration does to break this gender gap, the most important thing is orientation, guidance, and counseling’’, he stated.
The presentations were followed by a discussion with the audience, where the importance of family, educational institutions, regional practices, micro-credentials, and culture was mentioned in achieving gender equality. All in all, the adoption of both bottom-up and top-down approaches may be the key element in decreasing the gender gap.
Written by Dimitris Spitseris
Edited by Nina Bo Wagner
