Flinders University has a strategic priority to deliver innovative curriculum with real-world impact. The recent design and launch of two microcredentials by the College of Business, Government and Law is a great example of this in action.

This initiative resulted from close collaboration between the Curriculum Impact Portfolio, led by Professor Chris Brebner, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Curriculum Impact, Dean of Business, Associate Professor Angie Shafei and the Vice-President and Executive Dean of the College of Business, Government and Law, Professor Michael Gilding. It showcases teamwork across the University as well as our commitment to offering co-designed industry courses that respond to employer needs and strengthen industry engagement.

With the support of the Australian Government’s Microcredentials Pilot in Higher Education, Associate Professor Angie Shafei and her team secured a competitive government grant to launch two cutting-edge microcredentials:

• Professional Certificate in Data Analytics and Business Intelligence
• Professional Certificate in Developing and Leading Virtual Healthcare Services

The microcredentials were co-designed with key partners including SA Health, through the Young Professionals Group, the Nursing and Midwifery Office and the Department of Human Services (DHS), ensuring the content directly addressed current workforce needs and created clear pathways into higher education for working professionals.

This milestone was recently celebrated with a Microcredential Morning Tea which recognised the collaboration between the College, the Curriculum Impact Portfolio, students and industry partners. The initiative was also made possible through the academic leadership of Dr Peivand Bastani, Dr Ehsan Abedin, Mark Brommeyer and Dr Bruno Pereira, with support from Anna Mihaylov.

The Microcredential Morning Tea was held at the City Campus to bring together current students, industry partners and Flinders Leadership. Speeches delivered at the event by Dean of Business, Associate Professor Angie Shafei, Vice-President and Executive Dean of the College of Business, Government and Law, Professor Michael Gilding and Professor Chris Brebner, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Curriculum Impact, highlighted the initiative’s alignment with College and University strategy around industry engagement and impact.

With 44 professionals from SA Health and DHS forming the inaugural cohort, the microcredentials reflect Flinders’ support for lifelong learning and workforce development. Credit-bearing short courses like these, have offered these students accessible pathways into postgraduate study and demonstrate the power of collaboration between higher education and industry.

This is just the beginning. The initiative highlights that the future of education is built on collaboration and creating flexible, impactful and accessible learning with industry at its heart.