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 1. [Resources ](https://civis.eu/en/resources)
2. CIVIS micro-credentials. Notes for a challenge-based approach (2023)

  CIVIS micro-credentials. Notes for a challenge-based approach (2023)
======================================================================

- Challenged-based approach
- Innovative Pedagogies
- Micro-credentials

- Report

- Academics
- Researchers

 In this report, we want to explore to what extent it would be possible to propose a modular educational offer that would reconcile civic engagement with the acquisition of competencies that allow learners to adapt to a (personal, social, occupational) changing context. In order to do so, it is necessary to take into account both the pedagogical particularities of the micro-credentials and the very vision and structure of CIVIS.

The challenge-based approach is often referred to as a **possible solution to bridge the gap between the Alliance’s civic vocation and a pragmatic side of education aiming at a visible impact on civil society.** It could certainly be a useful tool in the context of lifelong learning. However, it is necessary to unravel the ambiguity of the term, as its lack of clarity often hinders the implementation of concrete activities in CIVIS.

For this reason, t**he report includes a section focusing on three possible interpretations of the “challenge-based approach”,** in order to explore different ways of jointly building micro-credentials considering CIVIS reality.

This is an issue that will require the participation of many voices. The **aim of this report is simply to offer some food for thought that will hopefully facilitate collective reflection on the development of micro-credentials with the CIVIS label.**

This report was prepared by Enrique Santamaría, Innovative Pedagogies Officer at CIVIS.

- [  report-civis-micro-credentials-challenge-based-2023.pdf (PDF, 399 KB)

     ](https://civis.eu/storage/files/report-civis-micro-credentials-challenge-based-2023.pdf)

Other resources
---------------

- ### European Universities alliances: Impact, Insights, and the Road Ahead (April 2026)

    Since the launch of the European Universities initiative in 2019, alliances such as CIVIS have moved well beyond experimentation and are already transforming higher education. That was the clear message from the keynote panel held on 28 April, 2026 in Brussels as part of the CIVIS Units Summit, which brought together representatives from EU institutions, researchers and alliance leaders to take stock of achievements and challenges ahead and discuss with over 70 CIVIS Staff members about the future of alliances.

    - European Degree
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     [ See more ](https://civis.eu/en/resources/european-universities-alliances-impact-insights-and-the-road-ahead-april-2026 "European Universities alliances: Impact, Insights, and the Road Ahead (April 2026)")
- ### Briefing paper: Building a bridge towards Africa and the Mediterranean Region (2021)

    Building partnerships with African and Mediterranean universities outside Europe is an importantstrategic aim of CIVIS and one of its distinct features as a European University alliance (1). By 2022, the end of CIVIS’ “fabric phase”, our alliance seeks to win at least one partner institution in the target regions for each of its established thematic Hubs (2). This implies initiating some first joint pilot projects as well as to prepare and adopt longer-term strategic partnership agreements between CIVIS and partner universities.

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     [ See more ](https://civis.eu/en/resources/briefing-paper-building-a-bridge-towards-africa-and-the-mediterranean-region-2021 "Briefing paper: Building a bridge towards Africa and the Mediterranean Region (2021)")

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