Higher Education: The Academic World and Industry Collaborate to Jointly Design Micro-Certifications

A three-day workshop bringing together representatives from academia, industry leaders, and regulators to collaboratively design short learning programs, known as micro-certifications, in response to labor market demands, began on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at Ocean’s Creek Beach Hotel in Balaclava.

The opening ceremony was attended by the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Research, Dr. Kaviraj Sukon, the Commissioner of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Professor Roomeela Mohee, as well as representatives from both the public and private sectors.

The workshop, running until January 30, 2026, is facilitated by three experts from Canada, Ireland, and Australia, who will conduct practical sessions on quality assurance and evaluation to jointly develop micro-certifications.

Addressing the participants, Dr. Kaviraj Sukon reaffirmed the government's recognition of micro-certifications as an accepted learning mode that certifies specific skills and competencies to address the mismatch between supply and demand in the labor market. "Micro-certifications complement traditional degrees, allowing learners to acquire relevant industry expertise in a short time, while enabling employers to identify candidates with job-ready skills," he stated.

According to the minister, micro-certifications will further strengthen the ties between graduates and employers, ensuring that graduates leave higher education institutions with both academic qualifications and recognized professional certifications that are essential in today’s job market.

Referring to recent initiatives, Dr. Kaviraj Sukon mentioned that the higher education law has been amended to recognize micro-certifications in higher education. Consequently, universities will revise their curriculum in 2026 in anticipation of implementing a new curriculum starting in January 2027. He also noted last year’s legislative changes that allow all universities to use the national credit value and transfer system for a uniform credit framework.

For her part, the HEC Commissioner emphasized the importance of this collaborative approach involving leaders from academia and industry to design and deliver micro-certifications in higher education, thereby significantly contributing to enhancing the scalability and sustainability of these programs.

Professor Roomeela Mohee reaffirmed the HEC's commitment to skills-focused education, employability, and lifelong learning. She highlighted that micro-certifications are increasingly recognized globally as a flexible means to upskill, reskill, and support lifelong learning in rapidly evolving sectors. "This workshop aims to ensure that the training offered is reliable, well-designed, and clearly aligned with the skills needed in our economy," she added.

Through this workshop, the HEC aims to ensure that these programs in Mauritius are relevant, credible, and co-developed by academia and industry. One of the main outcomes will be the establishment of six pilot micro-certifications in priority sectors, namely tourism, information technology, finance, artificial intelligence, human resource management, and nursing and health care.