IEEE Micro-Credentials

Our partnership with IEEE, the largest engineering nonprofit in the world, allows students to earn industry-recognized stackable micro-credentials on various laboratory instruments and equipment. Importantly, the students can earn these credentials in small blocks, such that they are “stackable.” Completion enables students to place IEEE badges on their LinkedIn profiles and their resumes.

The Cleanroom Gateway program emphasizes short introductions and demonstrations, followed by participants using equipment under supervision. These sessions are not designed to create expertise but instead represent an initial exposure.  As a result, most micro-credentials  are labeled as an “Introduction to X” (for fabrication step X).

Industry experts agree that the ability to independently follow cleanroom safety and protocols is key to further training via follow-on internships and apprenticeships and, ultimately, employment. Hence, our modules on safety and protocols are more extensive and the associated micro-credentials are labeled as “Fundamentals of Y.” They require higher levels of instruction, formal quizzes, and extensive observation to ensure a safe environment for everyone.