The Learn & Work Ecosystem Library is partnering with the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) to support its member colleges and universities exploring or launching short-term credentials. Through this collaboration, HLC endeavors to provide its Credential Lab Innovation Center resources for colleges, universities, and other educational providers to develop high-quality short-term credential programs and to foster effective partnerships among higher education institutions, providers, states, employers, and industries.

The HLC Credential Innovation Lab is an innovation hub helping higher education institutions and learners navigate short-term postsecondary credentials. Its work focuses in two areas:

(1) Quality Assurance & Endorsement: A voluntary framework that reviews and endorses short-term credential providers offering education and training aligned with labor market needs.

(2) Innovation Center: Programming and resources that help institutions and providers design high-quality short-term credentials and build effective partnerships across higher education, employers, states, and industry.

In fall 2025, the Lab launched a pilot learning, practice, and action cohort for institutions early in their microcredential exploration. Participants engaged in a webinar series, participated in coaching sessions, and developed a Credential Innovation action plan.

The partnership with the Learn & Work Ecosystem Library connects the cohort to a trusted, research-based information source to support their planning and implementation.