The Morrison Government will provide $4.3 million to build and run a one-stop-shop for microcredentials to help students identify educational opportunities.
The marketplace builds on the success of the Government’s microcredential initiative announced as part of its Higher Education Relief Package at Easter. Since the announcement, 54 providers have created 344 short online courses in areas of skills shortage.
The marketplace will provide a nationally consistent platform to compare course outcomes, duration, mode of delivery and credit point value.
Minister for Education Dan Tehan said microcredentials offered Australians the opportunity to learn new skills to help make them become more job-ready.
“Microcredentials address the most common barriers cited by adult workers who are not intending to undertake further formal training or study: time and cost,” Mr Tehan said.
“The microcredential marketplace will be a platform for job-seekers to see what skills they can gain by further study to help them get a new job or to get ahead in their current job.
“The uptake of microcredentials will support our Government’s plan to give Australians the skills they need to be job-ready.
“An educated and highly-skilled workforce will be essential to help power Australia’s post-COVID-19 recovery.”
Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business Michaelia Cash said Commonwealth, state and territory Skills Ministers have committed to fast-tracking consideration of microcredentials in the VET system during 2020.
“The marketplace will provide consistency that gives students and businesses the assurance they need to invest in this new mode of education,” Senator Cash said.
“Microcredentials can work as stand-alone qualifications or complement study being undertaken at the VET or higher education level.”
The creation of a National Microcredential Marketplace is consistent with the recommendations made in the Review of the Australian Qualifications Framework.
