CANBERRA, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Australian universities will offer more than 20 micro-credential short courses in a bid to fill skill gaps across the country.
Minister for Education Jason Clare announced 18.5 million Australian dollars (12.4 million U.S. dollars) in funding on Sunday to develop 28 courses to help workers skill up in industries with talent shortages.
Courses funded under the first round of the scheme will include nuclear science, teaching, cyber security, net zero engineering and food science.
Eighteen universities have signed up to offer the courses.
Clare said that micro-credentials are short, focused courses in a specific area of study, designed to teach and upskill learners with targeted, job-relevant skills.
"Micro-credentials can help Australians upskill and reskill to prepare for the jobs of the future," he said in a media release.
"This pilot means more Australians can get the skills in areas we need, such as teaching, nursing, and engineering."
According to data released by the National Skills Commission in October, the number of occupations in Australia facing skills shortages almost doubled from 153 in 2021 to 286 in 2022.
It identified nurses, software programmers, construction managers and aged, disabled and child carers as the most in-demand workers.
A second round of funding planned within 12 months will allow more universities to participate in the scheme. ■