With the evolving demands of the job market and the rapid change in required skills, obtaining a university degree alone is no longer sufficient. This is where the importance of short specialized courses (Micro-credentials) comes in. These courses offer students the opportunity to learn specific skills in a short period through direct and practical instruction. In Turkey, universities and digital platforms provide valuable opportunities to earn accredited professional certificates in just a few months, giving Arab and international students in Turkey a real edge in employment and career advancement.
What Are Micro-credentials?
Short specialized courses, or micro-credentials, are short-term educational programs focused on a specific skill or subject. They award the learner an accredited certificate after completing an intensive course centered on a specific topic, such as programming or digital marketing. These courses are known for being flexible, practical, and oriented toward the job market. UNESCO highlights that short courses reduce the length of traditional educational programs and increase learning flexibility, making them suitable for learners seeking to acquire new skills quickly.
Benefits of Short Specialized Courses
Short specialized courses help develop practical skills quickly and with less effort compared to long-term studies. International research has shown that the majority of students prefer programs that include short courses. In one study, 75% of students preferred enrolling in a university program that offers short professional certificates. These courses also offer personalized and flexible learning, allowing learners to select content from different providers and progress at their own pace. This helps bridge the constantly shifting skill gaps in the job market, enabling learners to gain hands-on experience that enhances employment opportunities within just a few months.
Short Courses at Turkish Universities
Turkish universities have responded to labor market needs by integrating short certificate programs into their offerings. For example, Istanbul Technical University developed a system to register extracurricular activities, where students who participate in professional training or workshops receive special certificates called “MikroKredi.” This system can be accessed through the following link: https://mikrokredi.itu.edu.tr/anasayfa.
Continuing education centers such as İTÜSEM also offer intensive professional certification programs lasting just a few months. For example, the Micro-MBA program at Istanbul Technical University lasts for 96 hours (about 3 months) and is delivered online. Despite being relatively new, these programs have gained support from the Turkish Council of Higher Education (YÖK), which has in recent years promoted digital learning and open education. This support provides an institutional framework for integrating short certificates into Turkey’s academic system.
Turkish Digital Platforms and International Partnerships
In addition to universities, many digital platforms offer both global and local short courses. Turkish universities have partnered with international platforms; for instance, Koç University partnered with Coursera to translate global courses into Turkish, making international educational tools accessible to Turkish students in their native language. There is also the BTK Akademi platform, a government initiative that provides free online technical training in areas such as programming and cybersecurity, with certificates awarded upon completion.
The Udemy platform, meanwhile, offers a vast library of courses across different fields and has millions of learners worldwide. In 2022, it reported over 52 million users. Most courses are in English, with some translated or subtitled in Arabic or Turkish. Additionally, many courses are offered directly in Arabic or Turkish, making them a suitable option for international and Arab students in Turkey looking to acquire new skills.
Invest 3 Months for a Better Future
Micro-credential programs typically require relatively short periods—just a few weeks or months—but offer long-term benefits. For instance, participants in an intensive 3-month program can acquire new skills and earn a recognized certificate that enhances their résumé. An example is the Micro-MBA program at Istanbul Technical University, supported by its Continuing Education Center, which grants a certified professional certificate upon completing 96 hours of instruction.
These certificates enable their holders to stand out in the job market and increase their chances of securing higher-paying jobs. Since these programs are often designed in collaboration with companies and industry sectors, they offer content that ensures the skills acquired match the needs of the modern labor market.
Read Also: Top Programming Languages and Tools Every Student Should Learn
In conclusion, micro-credentials in Turkey offer a valuable opportunity for Arab and international students to rapidly enhance their professional skills. By investing just 3 months in a specialized course, a learner can earn a recognized certificate that adds significant value to their profile—whether through local universities or global and local platforms like BTK Akademi, Coursera, and Udemy. These courses open up new horizons for career development and lifelong learning in Turkey.
Read Also: