University at Buffalo (UB)
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Innovation and Entrepreneurship Essentials Micro-Credential
The Innovation and Entrepreneurship Essentials micro-credential equips you with hands-on experience and career-ready skills in critical thinking, creativity, growth mindset, and leadership.
Through UB’s Startup and Innovation Collaboratory, you will engage with experts, tackle real-world challenges, explore immersive learning, and gain the confidence to innovate, lead, and make a lasting impact in any field.
Who is eligible?
- UB Students
- Undergraduate
- Graduate
Requirements
Students will need to complete four modules and a final capstone summarizing the experience to earn the micro-credential. The four modules are focused on the following intellectual areas: Growth Mindset, Creativity, Critical Thinking, and Leadership. UB CoLab is providing both a synchronous and an asynchronous method for students to complete the four modules required. Requirements for completion are further divided by undergraduate and graduate level.
Students wishing to complete the micro-credential will be enrolled in a UB Learns course which will contain the details for completing the micro-credential and will record the students activities.
Undergraduate
- Completion of all Innovation Skill Workshop Modules via any combination of synchronous or asynchronous options.
- Completion of a presentation slide on their (or comprehension of the four innovation skills covered by the modules. It will have sections for each innovation skill, what they learned, and how they intend to apply that learning to their careers. Students are to upload a recording of themselves presenting this slide (max 5 minutes).
- Presentation Slide with Narration will serve as an artifact to upload for the Digital Badge.
Graduate
- Completion of all Innovation Skill Workshop Modules via any combination of synchronous or asynchronous options.
- Completion of a Presentation slide highlights their understanding of the four innovation skills covered by the modules. It will have sections for each innovation skill, what they learned, and how they intend to apply that learning to their careers. Students will upload a recording of themselves presenting this slide (max 5 minutes).
- Conduct 3 information interviews of professionals in their field/area to help expand their network. Rubric with details attached as UB CoLab MC Rubric Document.
- Complete a Pathways Document, which will highlight the results of these interviews and outline how they plan to apply the knowledge learned from the interviews and completed modules to their future career goals. Rubric with details attached as UB CoLab MC Rubric Document.
- Graduate students may upload either Pathways Document or the Presentation Slide as an artifact for the Digital Badge. **Note: Graduate students must still complete both assignments to earn the micro-credential, even if only one artifact is attached to the digital badge.
Smaller than a minor, certificate, or degree, micro credentials allow you to meet your personalized learning needs by gaining knowledge and skills in areas that are relevant to your academic or professional goals. Micro-credentials equip you with digital badges that showcase your achievements and all the skills you have acquired (or all it took to get there).
When you complete a micro-credential program, you will earn a digital badge or a series of digital badges. A digital badge is a clickable icon that houses information, including the issuing institution, the date earned, the criteria required to earn the badge and evidence showing you have met that criteria.
Digital badges are dynamic credentials that you own, so you can decide how you want to use them. You can add your digital badges to your social media profiles, digital résumé, e-portfolio and more.
UB digital badges are issued through Acclaim, allowing you to display your skills and accomplishments to employers, colleagues and peers. For questions, contact the UB Office of Micro-Credentials at micro@buffalo.edu or 716-645-1357.
Apply to the Micro-Credential
Applications from interested students will be reviewed and enrolled in the UB Learns course on a rolling basis.
