recommended Guidelines
The following guidelines are intended to help organizations develop and deliver high-quality microcredentials.
Design
The design of microcredentials should be carefully tailored to cater to the distinct requirements of both learners and employers. It is imperative that they align with industry standards and equip learners with the precise skills and knowledge essential for workplace success and career advancement. Furthermore, these microcredentials should aid individuals seeking employment by enhancing their qualifications and bolstering their competitiveness in the job market.
Delivery
The delivery of micro-credentials should be entrusted to qualified entities, developed under the guidance of experienced professionals. Learning resources must adhere to sound educational principles, thoughtfully designed to cater to the individual needs of learners effectively. Additionally, these resources should be made accessible in a user-friendly format, ensuring ease of access for learners, regardless of their location.
Assessment
Micro-credentials should undergo fair and valid assessment procedures, closely aligned with the learning outcomes of the program. These assessments must be thoughtfully designed to gauge the learners’ comprehension and proficiency in the course material. Ensuring that assessments, along with all resources, prevent “click-through” and “bot” processes is crucial to guaranteeing genuine learner engagement and authentic evaluation of their knowledge and skills.
Verification
Micro-credentials should be verifiable through a transparent process based on clear criteria. The Micro-credential Council of Canada verifies certificates for our partners.
ADVERTISING GUIDELINES
The Canadian Micro-credential Council Advertising Oversight Division (CMCAOD) is an ad-hoc subcommittee of the Micro-Credential Council of Canada. The committee comprises representatives from different sectors who offer their expertise on an as-needed basis as volunteers. Their voluntary status ensures an unbiased position, and they actively distance themselves from any potential, perceived, or actual conflict of interest.
The Canadian Micro-credential Council Advertising Oversight Division (CMCAOD) has established the following guidelines:
1. Recommendation for Accurate Advertising:
Micro-credential providers should prioritize accuracy, ensuring that all course-related information in their advertisements is precise, up-to-date, and verifiable. This includes comprehensive details about the course syllabus, qualifications and expertise of instructors, and/or content creators, delivery methods, and potential outcomes, such as job prospects, further educational opportunities, and avenues for career advancement.
2. Recommendation for Transparent Advertising:
Advertisers have a responsibility to provide complete disclosure of all essential course information. This includes the course duration, tutorial sessions if offered, and fees if associated with offered tutorials, costs of materials, if any, subscription fees, if any. Clear explanations of prerequisites expected learning outcomes, and assessment methods. By offering this comprehensive information, prospective students can make well-informed decisions and gain a clear understanding of their commitments.
3. Recommendation for Honest Advertising:
Adhering to honesty, advertisements should refrain from distorting or exaggerating facts. Any claims of affiliations, endorsements, or sponsorships should be supported with verifiable evidence. Additionally, the recognition status of the micro-credential should be presented accurately and without misrepresentation.
4. Recommendation for Respectful and Inclusive Advertising:
Advertisers must ensure that their content demonstrates respect for all individuals and remains non-discriminatory, upholding the principles protected under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
5. Recommendation for Fair Competitive Advertising:
Institutions should avoid discrediting or disparaging competitors in their advertisements. Any comparisons made should be factual, promoting a healthy and competitive educational marketplace.
6. Recommendation for Privacy in Advertising:
Testimonials or endorsements should only be included with the explicit consent of the individuals involved. Institutions must rigorously adhere to privacy laws and uphold individuals’ rights.
7. Recommendation for Legal Compliance in Advertising:
Advertisers should strictly adhere to all applicable laws and regulations, including those pertaining to intellectual property rights, defamation, and advertising standards.
8. Recommendation for Enforcement and Reporting to Authorities
In cases of non-compliance with advertising standards, the Canadian Micro-credential Council Advertising Oversight Division (CMCAOD) is empowered to issue official recommendations to the relevant local, provincial, and federal ministers responsible for safeguarding against public manipulation and fraud. These recommendations will detail the nature of the violation and propose appropriate remedial measures.
9. Recommendation for Severe Cases:
In cases of severe violations, CMCAOD reserves the right to recommend to the governing authority the consideration of revoking the institution’s authorization to offer micro-credential courses. Institutions should diligently strive to maintain a clean compliance record to avert such serious consequences.
These recommendations aim to uphold the highest standards of advertising ethics and respect for prospective students’ rights to accurate and transparent course information. They enhance the integrity of the micro-credential sector and foster a trustworthy environment, empowering students to make informed decisions about their educational path.
The Micro Credential Council of Canada operates on a good-faith basis and acts upon fact-based, verified information. Therefore, it is not liable for statements made in the public domain in relation to an entity or individual offering micro-credential courses within Canada.
Report a complaint:
To report a complaint to the Canadian Micro-credential Council Advertising Oversight Division (CMCAOD), please fill out the provided form. You will be directly engaged to validate the information collected, and your protection from liability may not be guaranteed.
Advertising Guidelines
The Canadian Micro-credential Council Advertising Oversight Division (CMCAOD) is an ad-hoc subcommittee of the Micro-Credential Council of Canada. The committee consists of representatives from various sectors that volunteer their expertise on an needed basis, volunteers upload an unbiased position and remove themselves from any potential, perceived or actual conflict of interest.
The Canadian Micro-credential Council Advertising Oversight Division (CMCAOD) has established the following guidelines:
- Recommendation for Accurate Advertising: Micro-credential providers should ensure the precision, up-to-dateness, and verifiability of all course-related information in their advertisements. The information should encompass the course syllabus, qualifications and experience of instructors, method of delivery, and potential outcomes such as job prospects, further educational opportunities, and possibilities for career advancement.
- Recommendation for Transparent Advertising: Advertisers are obligated to fully disclose all essential course information. This entails duration, costs (course fees, materials, potential living expenses), prerequisites, expected learning outcomes, and assessment methods, thereby allowing prospective students to gain a comprehensive understanding of their commitments.
- Recommendation for Honest Advertising: Advertisements should uphold the truth and avoid any distortion or exaggeration of facts. Any claims of affiliations, endorsements, or sponsorships should be substantiated and the recognition status of the micro-credential should be portrayed accurately.
- Recommendation for Respectful and Inclusive Advertising: Advertisers should ensure their content respects all individuals and is non-discriminatory, irrespective of their age, sex, race, religion, or other protected characteristics.
- Recommendation for Fair Competitive Advertising: Institutions should avoid discrediting or disparaging competitors in their advertisements. Any comparisons made should be factual, promoting a healthy and competitive educational marketplace.
- Recommendation for Privacy in Advertising: Testimonials or endorsements should be included only with the explicit consent of the individuals involved. Institutions should strictly respect privacy laws and rights.
- Recommendation for Legal Compliance in Advertising: Advertisers should strictly adhere to all applicable laws and regulations, including those pertaining to intellectual property rights, defamation, and advertising standards.
- Recommendation for Enforcement and Reporting to Authorities: In instances of non-compliance with the advertising standards, the Canadian Micro-credential Council Advertising Oversight Division (CMCAOD) can issue an official recommendation to the local, provincial, and federal ministers responsible for the prevention of public manipulation and/or fraud. These recommendations will highlight the nature of the violation and suggest suitable remedial actions.
- Recommendation for Severe Cases: In instances of severe violations, CMCAOD can recommend to the governing authority that they consider revoking the institution’s right to offer micro-credential courses. Institutions should endeavour to maintain a clean compliance record to prevent such severe outcomes.
These recommendations aim to uphold the highest standards of advertising ethics and respect for prospective students’ rights to accurate and transparent course information. They enhance the integrity of the micro-credential sector and foster a trustworthy environment, empowering students to make informed decisions about their educational path.
The Micro Credential Council of Canada operates on a good-faith basis and acts upon fact-based, verified information. Therefore, it is not liable for statements made in the public domain in relation to an entity or individual offering micro-credential courses within Canada.
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