Faculty of Design Awards Its First Micro-credentials
On Monday, 28 September 2026, we celebrated a very special milestone at the Faculty of Design – we awarded micro-credentials for the very first time. They were presented to participants who successfully completed the one-year Spatial Design 1 programme offered by our Academy of Lifelong Learning.
At first, this may sound rather formal, but the story behind it is actually very simple and lovely: throughout the year, the participants gained new knowledge, learned from our lecturers, put their ideas into practice and successfully completed the programme. They now also have an official credential recognising all the time and effort they invested.
We sincerely congratulate the first recipients of our micro-credentials on successfully completing the programme, acquiring new knowledge and taking an important step on their creative journey. Above all, we hope that the experience was positive and, most importantly, useful.
As this was the first time we awarded micro-credentials, we would also like to take this opportunity to explain them in a little more detail, using the Spatial Design 1 course as an example – because many people are still unfamiliar with what micro-credentials actually are. 🙂
What exactly is a micro-credential?
To put it very simply: a micro-credential is an official record of the successful completion of a shorter learning programme.
A micro-credential is not the same as a so-called macro-credential, such as a degree, and does not represent the completion of a formal level of study. It does, however, confirm that an individual has completed education or training in a particular field, fulfilled the required obligations and acquired specific knowledge and skills.
For participants, it provides a useful and clear record of everything they have completed during the programme. They can include the micro-credential in their CV, present it to an employer or client, or add it to their portfolio of knowledge, skills and experience.
This form of education is intended precisely to allow us to continue learning later in life – whether we wish to change career paths, build on the knowledge we already use in our work, develop a long-standing interest without having to enrol in a full degree programme, or simply learn something new. After all, it really is never too late to gain new knowledge.
Micro-credentials are becoming an increasingly important part of lifelong learning in Slovenia and across Europe, as they provide shorter, more flexible and more targeted opportunities for acquiring knowledge.
The Faculty of Design awards micro-credentials in accordance with its adopted regulations, which are available in the Acts and Regulations section of our website.
What do participants learn in the Spatial Design 1 programme?
Spatial Design 1 is a one-year course intended for anyone interested in interior spaces who would like to learn how to plan, arrange and present them more effectively.
The programme provides a well-rounded introduction to the world of spatial design. Lectures are combined with practical exercises throughout the course, allowing participants not only to learn the theory but also to put their new knowledge into practice as they progress. Some participants also use this one-year course to gain the knowledge they need before studying with us – for example, at master’s level – if their previous degree was completed in a different field.
Among other things, participants learn:
- how to arrange and furnish residential spaces thoughtfully,
- how to prepare a basic plan and understand the rules of technical drawing,
- which dimensions and proportions make a space comfortable to use,
- how to select materials for furniture, floors, walls and ceilings,
- how colours influence our well-being and the appearance of a space,
- how to plan natural and artificial lighting,
- how to draw a space in perspective,
- the basics of working with AutoCAD,
- how to consider sustainability, natural materials and quality of living in the design process.
As this is a course rather than a multi-year degree programme, participants explore the key topics in a more condensed and practice-oriented format. Through exercises and project work, they develop their sense of space and learn how to gradually turn an initial idea into a thoughtful design solution.
The programme is led by Senior Lecturer Petra Kocjančič, in collaboration with lecturers from the Faculty of Design.
We are therefore truly proud that micro-credentials now allow us to officially recognise the knowledge acquired through our shorter educational programmes. We are even more delighted that people of different ages, professions and backgrounds come together at our faculty, united by curiosity, creativity and a desire to learn something new.
Once again, our warmest congratulations to the first recipients of our micro-credentials – may this mark the beginning of many new ideas, projects and creative journeys!
