Tehan says they are a pivot for transformed economy

Education Minister Dan Tehan is pleased that universities are stepping-up to offer discounted price, HECS supported, six-month courses for people who want to use COVID-19 unemployment to upskill in “national priority areas” (health, IT, education and the like).

“These micro-credentials address immediate need to keep our workforce engaged and adding long-term career value,” Mr Tehan says.

As of Friday, there were 64 short courses from 11 universities. The largest offerings are from Southern Cross U (13), Uni Notre Dame Australia (11) and Western Sydney U (10).

There’s more reason for Mr Tehan being pleased with the courses and the universities offering them; “not only do these micro-credentials address immediate needs to keep our workforce engaged and adding long-term career value, they present the opportunity on the back of the pandemic for universities to lead globally with a pivot towards a new shape of higher education for a transformed economy.”

Gosh, is that a hint of things to come.