Microcredentials in the Bachelor's Degree in Systems, a degree regulated by the State and the Role of the W3C standard in the development of Verifiable Credentials

Abstract

The UNRN Bachelor's Degree in Systems is promoting a project to implement a microcredential system that allows for the digital and verifiable certification of specific skills acquired during training. This initiative responds to labor market demands and aligns with the requirements established by the Ministry of Education, according to Higher Education Law No. 24,521 and Resolution 1558/2021, which define accreditation standards, core content, and graduate profiles based on specific competencies. Microcredentials offer timely and agile certification of these capabilities, providing value to students and graduates before employers and institutions. The project is structured into two components: an Organizational-Regulatory component, which establishes the conditions for approval and operation of the system, and a Technological component, which contemplates the use of Verifiable Credentials (VC) proposed by the W3C. This technology guarantees authenticity, integrity, and portability through cryptographic mechanisms, eliminating intermediaries in validation. In addition, it is proposed to join the MIT Digital Credentials Consortium, which will allow UNRN to join an international network, access best practices and contribute to the development of open standards, positioning the initiative with global projection.