Micro-credentials have an important role to play in equipping the workforce of tomorrow, especially when it comes to fulfilling Australia’s energy obligations.
Micro-credentials are a modern solution to age-old problems. They allow busy professionals to enhance their skills without pausing their careers, and enable industries to quickly fill knowledge gaps and tackle future challenges.
Michelle Marsden, Senior Manager of Micro-Credentials at Engineering Education Australia (EEA), said small opportunities to upskill are “lacking”.
“We have formal qualifications, but we need more micro-courses that enable organisations and individuals to access targeted topics based on their needs,” she told create. “Micro-credentials are flexible and adaptable, allowing an organisation to reskill or upskill for a particular project, for example.”
For time-strapped engineers, they offer practical benefits, she added.
“You can access these mini courses on your own terms 24/7 – if you’re on the train on the way to work or during downtime amid projects.”
Two of EEA’s most popular micro-credential courses, Risk Management and the Ethical Practice of Engineering, are integrated into its Emerging Engineers Leaders Program, she said.
“These courses have enabled people to understand some of the broader concepts and gain workplace recognition.”
Filling the gaps
In the coming years, Australia will face significant demand for engineers, with a projected shortfall over the short- to long-term, according to Engineers Australia. Facing such a challenge, Australia must ensure its engineers are as highly skilled as possible.
Head of EEA Joel Evans said micro-credentials are a valuable solution gaining increasing recognition across various industries.
“They enable individuals to demonstrate their competencies to an industry standard and identify gaps where they may need further training,” he said. “They also help organisations upskill their workforce, identify specific talent for specific roles, and address knowledge gaps, ultimately boosting employee engagement and retention.
“And as Australia moves towards a net zero future, these targeted skills become all the more critical, revealing significant holes in our knowledge.”
Focus on hydrogen
An understanding of hydrogen engineering is crucial for Australia to meet its clean energy goals, with current talent shortages potentially hindering the transition to net zero.
“Hydrogen is a rapidly developing industry,” Marsden explained. “There is a skill shortage, and we are looking to help fill those gaps and prepare people for the future.”
Michael Pereira, Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering and Deputy Director of Hycel, Deakin University’s hydrogen technology hub, said existing engineers need urgent upskilling in the area.
“We need to make this transition as quickly as possible.”
EEA and Deakin University are launching a suite of hydrogen energy micro-credentials to upskill engineers and support the transition.
Expected by June 2025, Deakin will create the learning content and EEA will develop competency assessments benchmarked to industry standards.
The initiative, funded by the Australian Government’s Local Jobs Program, features four 10-hour micro-credentials, with the subject matter based on extensive research and interviews with professional engineers:
- Handling Hydrogen for Engineers
- Hydrogen Fuel Cell Operation (using hydrogen to generate electricity), Safety and Maintenance
- Hydrogen Electrolysers (using electricity to generate hydrogen)
- Hydrogen in the Built Environment
There is also a webinar focused on social responsibility for engineers in the context of the clean energy transition.
Open to all
While the hydrogen micro-courses are open to all, they specifically target engineers, project managers, and team members from sectors such as energy, transport, engineering, planning and government.
For professional engineers, these micro-credentials contribute to the required 50 hours of relevant education per year.
Pereira said the courses are aimed at both industry professionals and those “simply curious” about transitioning to net zero.
“We need to bring in as many people as possible. This course is especially beneficial for managers without a technical background, allowing them to become familiar with hydrogen in a digestible way.
“This partnership between Deakin and EEA is really valuable.”
Learners in control
Pereira believes micro-credentials are an easy way to advance Australia’s hydrogen industry.
“They’re easier to take on than enrolling in a new postgraduate course, which is a much bigger commitment. If you’re motivated, you can complete one of these micro-credentials in a couple of weeks.”
Micro-courses empower professionals to direct their own careers and professional learning, he added. “People are able to have a more bespoke approach to their learning where they can pick what’s important to them. It’s about placing the learner in the driver’s seat.”
Marsden agreed that micro-credentials are becoming increasingly common and popular.
“Organisations are really starting to incorporate them into recruitment, retention and development,” she said. “They’re a smart way to upskill and reskill. They allow you to choose your own adventure.”
Be the first to know. Contact the EEA’s micro-credentials team to be notified when the hydrogen training suite is available by emailing microcredentials@eea.org.au.