Mapping the Evolving Landscape of Micro-Credentials: Research Trends, Lifelong Learning, and Employability
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15294/jnfc.v10i2.64449Keywords:
Micro-credentials, Lifelong Learning, Employability, Bibliometric AnalysisAbstract
Micro-credentials have gained increasing attention as flexible forms of learning recognition within the changing landscape of lifelong learning and employability. This study maps the development, conceptual structure, thematic evolution, and international collaboration of micro-credentials research. A bibliometric analysis examined 135 English-language journal articles indexed in Scopus and published between 2015 and 2026. The analysis combined scientific performance indicators with keyword co-occurrence, thematic mapping, thematic evolution, trend topics, and international collaboration analysis. The findings reveal rapid growth in the field, with 77.8% of publications appearing between 2023 and 2026. Micro-credentials, higher education, lifelong learning, and employability emerge as central concepts in the research network. The thematic structure identifies micro-credentials, higher education, and lifelong learning as basic themes, while professional development, accreditation, e-learning, workforce development, equity, and personalized learning represent more developed themes. Temporal patterns also show growing connections between micro-credentials, lifelong learning, and employability, alongside increasing attention to workforce development and equity. International collaboration remains uneven across countries and does not necessarily correspond with publication productivity. Overall, the findings indicate an expanding and increasingly interconnected research landscape in which micro-credentials extend beyond alternative credentialing toward broader discussions of lifelong learning, employability, professional development, and workforce needs. This study systematically maps the field and highlights directions for future research on the long-term outcomes, recognition, quality, and equitable development of micro-credentials.
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