Using Micro-Credentials to Promote Effective Teacher Professional Development: A Case Study from Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

This study illuminates the characteristics of micro-credentials, which can effectively meet the needs of working professionals in higher education for teacher professional development and career competence-building. Through examining the PGCert programme offered at XJTLU, we find that micro-credentials can be beneficial to TPD in terms of integrating instruction strategies and technological tools into classroom settings and applying blended learning model to achieve interactiveness in hyflex teaching contexts. However, some issues are also identified with the PGCert programme because teacher-trainees’ differentiatied level of teaching experience and lack of continuous collaboration makes it difficult to customize individualized needs which senior faculty cohort considers more desirable. Based on the findings, recommendations are given that needs analysis shall be conducted prior to TPD training programs and a self-directed learning community could be organized to ensure customization and longlasting values of micro-credentials.