VET News

Marketplace for Online Microcredentials

The government has announced that $4.3 million will be provided to build and run a one-stop-shop marketplace for microcredentials.  The marketplace will provide a nationally consistent platform to compare course outcomes, duration, mode of delivery and credit point value.

The announcement comes on the back of the Higher Education Relief Package which was announced at Easter time this year.  Since then, 54 providers have created 344 short online courses in areas of skills shortage.

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. 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,” Mr Tehan said.

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.

For more information, you can view the original announcement.

Date posted Jun 25, 2020