73Program objectives

73 Program objectives

(1) The Microcredentials Pilot is specified as a program for the purposes of supporting open access to higher education across Australia, and encouraging higher education providers to engage with industry, under subitem 11(c) and item 13 of the table in subsection 41-10(1) of the Act. (2) The objectives of the Microcredentials Pilot are to: (a) for the purposes of subitem 11(c) of the table in subsection 41-10(1) of the Act: (i) support Table A providers to design microcredential courses that support open access to higher education by increasing course offerings for students to support lifelong learning; (ii) support all providers to deliver microcredential courses that support open access to higher education by increasing course offerings for students to support lifelong learning; (iii) reduce barriers for people in the workforce to access higher education and support open access to higher education by encouraging higher education providers to offer shorter and more accessible forms of learning; (iv) improve understanding of how microcredential courses can be applied in higher education to support workforce needs and how microcredential courses can improve accessibility to higher education for people in the workforce; and (b) for the purposes of item 13 of the table in subsection 41-10(1) of the Act, encourage Table A providers to engage with industry to design shorter forms of learning that address skill shortages in industry.