<< Background >>The MICRO QUEST project is established and planned in front of a dramatic change in demand within the VET sector in Europe. Not only but also triggered and fostered by the Covid 19 pandemic effects on economies and labour markets and within the megatrend of digitalisation, learning and permanent adaptation of qualifications and competences has become a must. This, however, leads to changes in demand regarding vocational education and training required: because of an always shorter lifespan of knowledge, learners are massively requesting shorter, quicker, more flexible and at the same time high quality, recognisable, accumulable qualifications and training. Longer qualifications and training programmes have experienced a reduction of interest by learners over the last years and especially during a time where personal face to face training is not always possible and has been widely replaced by digital learning offers, webinars etc. there is a strong need for new and innovative VET offers. The European Commission has introduced and started a consultation and discussion process around an approach that is able to satisfy this new demand: micro-credentials. Smaller learning pieces but offered in a high quality and also able to be recognised and accumulated to a larger and longer qualification if needed by learners should become the future approach in VET. There are, however, a number of challenges hidden in this new innovative approach in VET, questions around quality assurance, mutual trust when awarding or recognising micro-credentials etc. need further thoughts and competences on the level of VET providers about how to define, offer, provide, award, recognise micro-credentials need to be developed - this creates the background of the MICRO QUEST project.<< Objectives >>For a broad implementation and use of micro-credentials in VET as new approach to offer individual and tailored learning chunks for an always more dynamic and flexible group of learners in VET it is important to research and discuss crucial questions such as: -How are micro-credentials defined in (non-)formal VET? -How can units for micro-credentials be extracted and offered by a non-formal VET provider in Europe?-Which possibilities and tools are available for quality assurance and providing mutual trust and recognition of micro-credentials provided by different VET institutions?-How can single micro-credentials be collected and fed into a larger non formal training programme for learners?-How can especially digital learning content lead to micro-credentials (e.g. MOOCs, online and distance learning)?-What is the concrete benefit for learners and VET providers when using the micro-credential approach? All these questions shall be approached, answered and supported by concrete quality tools with the help of the MICRO QUEST project.With the number of activities planned and implemented in the project and with the help of the 4 concrete project results which are going to be developed within the partnership, VET providers, VET learners and also VET policy makers should develop their competences and knowledge on the level of micro-credentials and start introducing and using this approach in their VET offer.<< Implementation >>In front of the overall project aim of the MICRO QUEST project which is the investigation and research as well as the development of an approach for identification and quality assurance of micro-credentials in VET in Europe, the project partnership has defined four main activity streams which are forming the basis for the expected project results:1) Implementation of an investigation research to identify the concrete needs and requirements of the target group (VET providers) regarding the use of micro-credentials for their training offers as well as to identify suitable quality assurance approaches which are meeting the requirements of micro-credentials and can be used for quality assurance during the definition and awarding of micro-credentials by VET providers (e.g. EQAVET, ISO, TQM etc).2) Development of a guideline for VET providers: if micro-credentials should be used on a broad and comparable level within Europe, the VET providers would need an easy and clear guideline, how they can deduct and define micro-credentials in their learning offer (with a special focus also on online learning offers such as MOOCs, webinars, online coaching).3) Development of a training workshop concept for (non)-formal VET providers: besides the written guidelines we find it important that representatives of VET providers, external experts in VET etc. get a practical training on e.g. how to deduct and define a micro-credentials from the training programme offered, requirements for awarding of micro-credentials, quality assurance approaches for micro-credentials, mutual recognition of micro-credentials.4) Development of a network of (non)-formal VET providers for micro-credentials in Europe: for its success we believe that we would immediately need to establish a broad network of potential VET providers who are on one hand providing micro-credentials in different sectors and learning topics and on the other hand are also willing to accept and trust other VET providers who have awarded micro-credentials. The members of this network will be non-formal VET providers who have all committed to the same ways of quality assurance and mutual trust. Their offer of micro-credentials will be displayed in an online platform ready to be used by potential VET learners.<< Results >>In front of these four activity streams, the results expected for the MICRO QUEST project are:R1: Investigation research - micro-credentials in VET (needs, demands and quality assurance)R2: Guideline for non-formal VET providersR3: Training workshop concept for (non)-formal VET providers R4: Network platform of VET providers for micro-credentials in EuropeAll results will be available in all partner country languages which are EN, DE, ES, SI and are accessible for download via the project website. Further outcomes and results are:1) Project website and information materials: included in the project management and implementation grant, the project will develop a dedicated project website with core information about the project and download possibility for all materials developed, the website will also host the link to the online network of VET providers and micro-credentials2) Sharing and promotion strategy: A comprehensive results sharing and promotion strategy will be developed and implemented for all partner organisations3) Quality management handbook and reports: the assurance of a high product and process quality is an important factor for the success of the project. One partner organisation will be especially responsible for the quality management in the project.4) Multiplier Events: in each partner country 1 multiplier event will be organised to present the project results to a wide group of potential users and multipliers