Microcredentials are short, specialized courses that allow people to acquire and certify specific skills without completing an entire degree. They can be taken independently and also accumulated until one of the pathways designed by the University is completed, in what is known as a stackable system. This means that someone can study the microcredential they need for their job now and, later on, add another to expand their specialization without having to start from scratch.
FIVE PATHWAYS TO WORK IN DATA CENTERS
The program is divided into five broad professional profiles. The Data Center Operations (DCO) pathway will be the one most focused on the day-to-day running of these facilities: electrical systems, climate control, energy, security, networks, monitoring and maintenance. According to Javier Fabra, vice president for Digital Strategy and Artificial Intelligence, it will be the reference pathway for those who want to work directly in data center operations.
The second pathway will focus on Semiconductor Technology and Hardware for Data Centers, covering electronics, digital systems, memory, storage, boards and server components. There will also be an integrated operations and hardware pathway, the most comprehensive in the program, combining knowledge of facilities, networks and systems with the ability to diagnose and resolve electronic problems. The University says this is also one of the profiles generating the greatest interest among companies in the sector.
Those seeking training directly linked to the construction of these large facilities will be able to choose the Fiber Optics and Networks Technician for Data Centers pathway. Among other skills, it will teach students how to install, certify and maintain the connections that enable these infrastructures to operate. This training will be one of the priorities because cabling and fiber deployment begin while the buildings are still under construction.
The fifth pathway will focus on Mechatronics and Automation of Data Center Infrastructure, providing training to install, commission and maintain the systems that keep these facilities operational. It will also be directly connected to the construction and commissioning stages of the new centers.
FROM 12 TO 29 CREDITS WITHOUT HAVING TO COMPLETE EVERYTHING AT ONCE
The five pathways will vary in length. The shortest will comprise 12 ECTS credits and the longest will reach 29, while each pathway will consist of between four and 10 microcredentials. In addition, each microcredential will comprise fewer than 15 ECTS credits and can be completed independently.
This means that students will not have to complete all 29 credits at once to benefit from the training. They will be able to choose only the microcredentials that match their professional needs and continue expanding their profile later. Some modules will also be shared between different pathways, so completing one will make it possible to progress more quickly toward another.
“A technician can take the microcredential they need today for their current position and, a year from now, add another that enables them to take on new responsibilities,” Fabra explained. The aim is for the training to be compatible with employment and for each student to progress at their own pace. Companies themselves will be able to use the system to train an entire workforce in a specific skill or combine modules to build a particular profile.
The first microcredentials will focus especially on the construction phase of data centers, where the University believes demand for workers will be most immediate. Those related to operations, maintenance, hardware, automation and other specialties will follow. Prices will be around 200 euros per microcredential, although they will depend on the number of students enrolled, and the schedule and enrollment dates for each course will be published as they are launched.
In addition to being stackable, each microcredential will be issued digitally and verifiable through Europass, allowing it to be added to a professional résumé and certified to employers in the European Union. The University of Zaragoza thus aims to ensure that the growth of data centers in Aragon also translates into job opportunities for workers and students in the region.
