The University of Canberra will offer three education courses under the Microcredentials Pilot in Higher Education program. Photo: File.
Education Minister Jason Clare has announced the Commonwealth will provide $18.5 million to support 28 microcredential courses in 18 universities, including three at the University of Canberra.
The announcement follows the government’s call in November last year for applications into the first round of its Microcredentials Pilot in Higher Education program. The 28 courses were selected from more than 90 applications submitted in two rounds late last year and earlier this year.
The microcredentials must have met specific criteria and be sourced from a higher education award as defined in the Tertiary Education Quality Standards Agency Act 2011.
Microcredentials are described as small courses in specific areas of study designed to upskill or reskill workers in a short timeframe. The government says microcredentials offer students more flexibility to mix and match studies across the higher education sector to enable them to find a new job or get ahead in their current field.
It says they also have the potential to expand university and industry collaboration, and improve the higher education sector’s ability to respond to industry needs.
“Microcredentials can help Australians upskill and reskill to prepare for the jobs of the future,” Minister Clare said in an 11 June statement. “This pilot means more Australians can get the skills in areas we need, such as teaching, nursing, and engineering.”
The pilot program is part of the government’s wider efforts to grow interest in microcredentials, including the MicroCred Seeker platform launched last December. MicroCred features 425 microcredential courses from 56 registered providers, including more than 80 technology, engineering and IT courses.
The initial funding will support the development of courses across IT, engineering, science, health and education in conjunction with the universities. It should be sufficient to deliver the courses for up to 4000 students by 2026.
The University of Canberra was selected to provide three Professional Certificate in Education courses, comprising:
- Adaptive Educational Leadership which will allow primary and secondary teachers to build their leadership capacity, skills and knowledge.
- Science of Learning which will provide primary and secondary teachers with the expertise to embed explicit instructions into learning programs that will enhance student learning and outcomes.
- Middle School Leadership which will provide guidance to support the specific skills needs and build leadership capacity of middle school teachers.
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