The project developed a micro-credential (certificate program) for sustainability, innovation, and business start-ups in the construction, real estate, and building industry under the name “Micro-Credential Sustainable and Inclusive Construction” (SIC). The micro-credential can be completed in addition to a master’s degree (MSc., MA, MBA). The aim of this micro-credential is to develop business ideas and plans that address sustainability issues in the construction sector and to counter the ever-increasing shortage of skilled workers.
Through the micro-credential, students learn about topics such as sustainable construction, but they also learn about innovative teaching concepts for design thinking and business model development. The interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary nature of the teams in the courses also help to develop and improve the students’ soft skills. The project partners are Science & Startups, Smart Living & Health Center e.V., and the startup Greenfusion.
The SIC is open to all students of Freie Universität, Humboldt Universität, and Technische Universität Berlin. It awards 24 ECTS (credit points according to the European Credit Transfer System), which can be earned through two courses at TU Berlin and an internship at a partner organization. The SIC micro-credential was offered for the first time in winter semester 2023/24. Students can complete the “Design Thinking” course for 6 ECTS in the winter semester and the “Venture Campus” course on business model development for 12 ECTS in the summer semester. They will then complete an internship at the partner organizations and submit a project report and reflective paper to earn the remaining 6 ECTS. The micro-credential can be completed within one year.
The project was presented at the DAAD conference “Moving Targets Digitalization 2022: Digital Modules as Building Blocks for International Micro-Credentials” by Jan Kratzer, Paul Wolf, and Nora Kempmann.
On 29 August 2023, a large-scale event was held to mark the introduction of the micro-credential. Further project partnerships were advertised and contacts were established with many interested companies. The micro-credential was also presented at the Berlin Climate Day. It is planned to establish the SIC micro-credential as a degree program of the Berlin University Alliance in 2024 and, alongside other micro-credentials, as a component of the teaching strategy of FU, HU, and TU Berlin as part of the joint Entrepreneurship Center Science & Startups.
The “Sustainable and Inclusive Construction” micro-credential sets the course for a contemporary inter- and transdisciplinary learning and teaching structure and promotes independent and entrepreneurial thinking in equal measure.
