Katarina Slavich
27 May 2020: Those who have found themselves out-of-work or with a little extra time on their hands will have the opportunity to bounce back from a tough start to 2020 and upskill for the future by studying an online short course with the University of Canberra.
Applications are now open for four discounted online short courses as part of the Federal Government’s Higher Education Relief Package, aimed at equipping students with new skills that can help them change industry, advance in their current career or set them up for continued studies with the University.
Whether it be exploring health research, delving into studies on the impact of new technologies, understanding school education in Australia, or preparing for a career teaching English, the University’s online short courses are a chance for people to learn something new, without having to commit to full-time study.
The University is offering three Graduate Certificates in Health Research, Information Technology, and TESOL and Foreign Language teaching, as well as an Undergraduate Certificate in Education.
The short courses comprise of four units delivered online and run for a duration of four to six months, starting in either June or August. The courses also incorporate experiential learning by providing practical experience in online work environments and simulations.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President Academic, Professor Geoff Crisp, says it is a great opportunity for both students and the University.
“This is a chance for people in the community who may have reduced hours of work, or who may be out of work due to COVID-19, to upskill,” said Professor Crisp.
“It’s also an opportunity for us, as a university, to transition more of our courses online and change the way we teach.”
University staff worked quickly to develop the online courses to ensure they were engaging for students who are looking to further their study in their own academic field or learn something completely new.
“We use a learning management system which uses virtual classrooms, chat rooms and video conferencing to ensure the transition to the online learning environment is engaging for all students,” said Professor Crisp.
Professor Crisp says the delivery of these online short courses paves an exciting way forward for the University.
“Our staff are now experienced in the online teaching environment, which gives the University the skills to potentially move forward as a blended mode of face-to-face campus-based learning and online interaction.”
More information on the online short courses can be found here.
