Google launches digital micro-credential courses, free scholarships

A new microcredentialing program from Google has launched to train Australians in digital skills of “high demand” in six months or less, with 10,000 free scholarships to be offered to largely underrepresented groups - women and First Nations Australians – two groups that are “severely underrepresented.

Google’s Career Certificates program is set to deliver online training and industry-recognised microcredentials in IT support, data analytics, project management, digital marketing and e-commerce, and UX design, forming part of the tech giant’s $1 billion, five-year Digital Future initiative.

Career Certificates will be offered through online learning platform Coursera at a cost of $56 per month and have backing from Australia Post, Woolworths, Canva, Optus and IAG, who have agreed to consider graduates from the program for jobs. The courses, which take three to six months to complete, will not only “upskill Australians, but… connect them to jobs in really high-demand areas across the country”.

These are short, flexible micro-credential courses, which use a mix of video assessments, hands on learning and introduce learners to “all the foundational skills” needed – make them “critical from an inclusivity point of view.