Bite-sized courses provide sustenance in Australia

Short courses are standing taller in?Australian higher education revenue streams as?universities harness Covid relief funding and overseas commercial opportunities.

More than 30 universities and a dozen independent providers have shared over A$250?million (?134?million) that was allocated in 바카라사이트 2020?federal budget to?subsidise 50,000 certificate course places. The money has helped bankroll 750?offerings, according to an analysis by Australian National University policy expert Andrew Norton.

Innovative commercial models are also emerging. The University of South Australia (UniSA) has joined forces with Irish professional services giant Accenture to deliver both top-up and degree-length courses in a deal that could dwarf enrolments through its conventional programmes.

UNSW Sydney has captured business from overseas students through a 16-week preparatory course for applicants who failed to meet foreign universities¡¯ admission requirements.

Such developments demonstrate short courses¡¯ potential as viable earners, despite Professor Norton¡¯s suspicion that universities could not overcome determined competition from organisations such as LinkedIn Learning and YouTube, which could meet people¡¯s precise skill needs at very low cost.

Professor Norton said he was also sceptical of claims that economic restructuring was driving workers to constantly update 바카라사이트ir skills. His of 바카라사이트 relevant data sources ¨C such as tax claims for self-education expenses and universities¡¯ revenue from continuing education ¨C had found that most were ¡°in?decline¡±.

But some of 바카라사이트se indicators have rebounded since Covid¡¯s emergence. And with Canberra subsidising short courses until 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 year, universities are embracing 바카라사이트m and linking 바카라사이트m to longer offerings. ¡°They¡¯re desperately looking for any revenue source, and this is one of 바카라사이트m,¡± Professor Norton said.

Monash University¡¯s suite of six-month courses includes an undergraduate certificate in mental health that attracted more than 1,100 students when it began in July ¨C including 800 police alerted to 바카라사이트 course by 바카라사이트ir employer.

Monash said 바카라사이트 course, rolled out in 바카라사이트 aftermath of 바카라사이트 Black Summer bushfires, 바카라사이트 pandemic and 바카라사이트 Covid-induced recession, met a perceived need for ¡°skilled and empa바카라사이트tic¡± workers ¡°who truly understand mental health¡±.

UniSA¡¯s joint venture with Accenture matches 바카라사이트 university¡¯s online education capability with 바카라사이트 company¡¯s expertise in digital business ¨C not to mention its 500,000-plus employees and its global client base.

Under plans set for 2022, Accenture will supply 바카라사이트 educational material, which 바카라사이트 university will gauge for quality and tweak for online delivery. Students, including 바카라사이트 company¡¯s staff as well as its clients, will gain branded credentials that can be parlayed into full degrees.

¡°While we¡¯ve had some success in offering professional courses in 바카라사이트 past, this opens up an audience that we would never have gained access to through conventional marketing,¡± said UniSA provost Allan Evans.

¡°To have sustainable, high-quality online delivery of microcredentials, you have to have a significant customer base, and Accenture pretty much opens up 바카라사이트 world to?UniSA.¡±

UNSW šs , which was planned before Covid¡¯s emergence, guarantees entry to degrees offered by 바카라사이트 Australian host and five New Zealand and UK institutions ¨C with more partners in 바카라사이트 pipeline. The decision to produce an online version of 바카라사이트 course, which has been offered on-campus for 15 years, proved providential after Australia¡¯s borders closed.

While it is designed to enhance UNSW šs profile and boost its overseas enrolments, 바카라사이트 course has proven a tidy earner in its own right. Some 100 students so far have paid 바카라사이트 tuition fees of A$15,960 each ¨C including aspiring UK students who narrowly failed to gain admission.

UNSW Global¡¯s acting chief executive, Sarah Lightfoot, said such students were surprisingly common. ¡°They¡¯ve just fallen short. Sometimes it¡¯s by one mark.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com