Keyword: «micro-credentials»

The relevance of this study is due to the public demand for cooperation between universities and businesses, which leads to significant changes in the higher education system in the light of recent geopolitical, social and economic conditions. However, at the same time, it is necessary to preserve the continuity of the key elements of higher education, which are assessed by the academic community as paramount in the formation of a sustainable interest of students. The aim of this study is to explore the potential of effective use of micro-credentials (micro-qualifications) in the system of traditional higher education. In this regard, the task list includes: description of possible ways of cooperation between universities and business; study of micro-credentials as one of the promising points of contact between university and business; identification of the main prerequisites that affect the existing paradigm of higher education. In the course of our research, theoretical methods were used (comparative analysis, literature analysis, causal analysis, forecasting), as well as empirical methods (questionnaires, data processing) on the basis of the Volga State Transport University and Samara State Technical University. The signs identified in the course of the study indicate the ongoing gradual evolution of vocational training. Namely, this is reflected in the portfolio of students, in the configuration of the higher education system and in pedagogical methodologies. In this regard, adaptability and personalization of education is realized through micro-credentials, which are implemented taking into account the unique needs and preferences of students, which allows them to accumulate experience in several areas of training and develop a more flexible combination of competences based on the needs of the labor market. Such an activity-oriented approach makes it possible to strategically select micro-credentials that complement each other. The theoretical significance of the research lies in the deepening of knowledge on the problem of finding common ground between the traditional teaching system in universities and the actualization of innovations that define the conceptual transformations of higher education. The practical significance of the research lies in the field of using the obtained data in the working programs of universities, as one of their main components of the educational program, which determines the general structure of the discipline, adapting them to the real needs of business. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the fact that the results obtained allow us to conclude that it is possible to expand the format of teaching in universities by introducing micro-credentials, while maintaining the necessary academicism and fundamentality.