New funding has been provided for a ‘microcredential’ higher education pilot scheme. 

The Albanese Government has provided $18.5 million for a Microcredentials Pilot in Higher Education, which it says will help fill skills gaps to meet the needs of employers and industry.

Microcredentials are small courses in a specific area of study designed to upskill and reskill workers in short timeframes.

The Microcredentials Pilot program will support the design and delivery of shorter forms of learning in the higher education sector, targeting areas of national priority such as teaching, engineering, health, and technology.

Microcredentials offer students increased 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.

They also have the potential to expand university and industry collaboration and improve the higher education sector’s ability to respond to industry needs.

Funding will be available to institutions to develop a microcredential in an area of national priority.

In the first round of the pilot, universities will be able to apply for a share of $2 million to help develop microcredentials in partnership with industry.

Universities will also be able to apply for $2 million in funding to deliver the microcredentials that they have developed.

In the second round, commencing next year, an expanded group of learning institutions will be able to access funds to support the delivery of microcredentials, including those developed as part of the first round.

Funding of $16.5 million will be available for the delivery of microcredentials to up to 4,000 students through to 2026.

More details are accessible here.