The development of micro-majors education originated in the early 21st century. It has benefited from the innovative efforts of prestigious universities such as Stanford University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, as well as the widespread application of modern internet and information technology.

Micro-Majors education differs from the previous top-down education system, adopting a fully socialized, inclusive, and liberalized educational development model. Fundamentally, the core of this educational model is to serve the personalized, free, and equal growth needs. It breaks through the rigidified existing interest structures and learning patterns, which holds significant meaning for advancing human civilization.

The educational system of the past presented seemingly very clear educational goals to students, providing them with definite learning directions and self-improvement targets. However, such an educational system was designed based on past, existing, and inherent experiences, forming a predetermined educational framework. Consequently, students were passively required to accept the pre-designed learning content. As a result, students gradually lost their ability and consciousness to think independently and explore their own futures. When confronted with the realization of their life ideals and goals, they would find that many problems were unprecedented, and thus seeking solutions for the present and future within the past framework posed a great challenge. In other words, what seemed to be clear educational goals were actually vague and uncertain for students.

The micro-majors education system essentially adopts a development path from society to the authorities, from bottom to top, and from the market to textbooks. This happens to be a crucial area currently lacking in the global education system. When the existing education system possesses education that moves from one direction to another, there must also exist an educational model that moves in the opposite direction; otherwise, the education system is incomplete. When the education system is incomplete, the knowledge, skills, and ideas cultivated are also flawed, which undoubtedly poses a significant obstacle to human progress. Fortunately, in the 21st century today, numerous excellent universities, teachers, and students have jointly explored a new path for educational development, which will have a tremendous impact on the future progress of the global education system.

Concurrently, in the midst of global educational system transformation today, the focus of education is shifting. The spirit, purpose, and understanding of education are evolving along with the enrichment of human progress needs and the intensification of people’s pursuit of the meaning of life. Consequently, the generation mechanism of educational specialties is also undergoing development and change. In the past, educational specialties were designed by humans, but in the future, educational specialties will essentially no longer be designed based on existing experience and cognition; rather, more educational specialties will gradually develop, form, and integrate over time. The development path of micro-credentials adopts a development model that differs from the traditional holistic-to-particular structure of educational specialties, employing a particular-to-holistic development model instead.

This model innovation stems from the increased openness of artificial intelligence (AI) knowledge systems, advancements in intelligent and efficient computing technologies and cognitive sciences, and the imperative for humans, as learners of knowledge, to strive to become masters of knowledge. This poses a significant challenge to human education in the era of global AI development. Only by embracing this challenge can we ensure that education remains rooted in intelligent life forms rather than placing human activities beneath the intelligent life forms endowed by AI. Beyond driving the transformation of traditional educational systems, another crucial mission of micro-credential research, education, and innovation is to better cope with the advent of the AI era.

Whether it is the revolutionary reconstruction of traditional educational systems or the inevitable reform of educational systems in the AI era, committing to the exploration and development of micro-credentials will undoubtedly become a significant choice for global educational reform and development.