Testing micro-credentials in the automotive sector, with AutoCredify
The AutoCredify project (Accelerating automotive green and digital skills with micro-credentials), coordinated by Fondazione Giacomo Brodolini, has entered a new phase, moving from research, mapping and co-design to the testing of micro-credential approaches in the automotive sector in Finland, Portugal and Spain.
Bringing together partners from six European countries (Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Portugal and Spain), the project aims to anticipate future skill needs in the automotive sector and develop flexible, trusted micro-credential solutions to support the green and digital transitions.
During its first phase, the partnership built a strong evidence base on how the green and digital transitions are reshaping skills needs in the automotive maintenance and repair sector.
At the same time, partners carried out an extensive review of existing micro-credential and training practices. A total of 112 practices were mapped across the pilot countries and internationally, complemented by in-depth case studies and analysis of national VET and micro-credential frameworks.
"This evidence highlighted several important challenges to the wider use of micro-credentials, including the need for stronger quality assurance, credible assessment, greater stackability, digital verification and closer links between formal VET and industry-led training" explained Liga Baltina, Head of the Labour Market and Skills Research Unit at FGB, and Giancarlo Dente, Coordinator of the Policy Evaluation & Human Capital Area, who lead the project for Fondazione Brodolini.
The findings were subsequently discussed and validated with employers, VET providers, public authorities, social partners and other stakeholders, feeding into the design of learning pathways and the micro-credential solutions that will now be tested.
With the pilot phase now underway, the project will put these approaches into practice in different VET-system contexts, generating evidence on how micro-credentials can support flexible and targeted upskilling and reskilling for automotive workers. The pilots will also test the project’s digital infrastructure, which connects the Skills Hub with the issuance and verification of portable digital micro-credentials.
The second transnational project meeting will be hosted in Rome by FGB on 17–18 November 2026, providing an opportunity to review progress, coordinate the pilots and discuss the next steps towards refining and scaling the AutoCredify approach.
Alongside the partnership meeting, FGB will host a dedicated exchange with Italian stakeholders. During the session, good practices and lessons gathered through AutoCredify will be shared and discussed, as well as the main challenges identified by partners in developing effective micro-credential ecosystems.
The meeting will also allow participants to compare the project’s experience with the Italian context and explore how micro-credentials could complement existing national approaches and incentives for continuing training, upskilling and reskilling.
