Microcredentials and visas are on the agenda for the Australian skills summit

The vice-chancellors’ group of the skill summit in Australia have planned for reforms in the field of microcredentials and visas for international students. Universities Australia (UA), the peak body that works as the voice of 39 Australian Universities, has released an agenda recently listing all the planned reforms. The agenda paper says that there is a requirement to produce more workers in the country. The Canberra summit holds a seat for UA for the summit that is to be held on 1 and 2 September to discuss the above-mentioned plan.

In a statement, UA chief executive Catriona Jackson said that “of the almost one million jobs expected to be created over the next five years, more than half will require a university degree”.

“Australian universities have a vital role to play in addressing the nation’s skill shortages, ensuring businesses—big and small—have the workforce they need to fuel our economy, solve the challenges before us and embrace opportunities.”

UA’s agenda includes encouraging “microcredentials” and preserving international students in Australia. Earlier, the Australian Qualifications Framework specified the standards for educational qualifications in the country and microcredentials are still not considered a part of it by the Australian government. 

“We…need to look carefully at how we encourage skilled international students to use their Australian education in Australia once they’ve completed their degree—especially if their skill set aligns with workforce needs,” Jackson said.

Research conducted by UA for its agenda paper suggests that there is a need to offer more effective direct incentives and other university-generated ideas as an urgent national priority to meet the challenges that their economy is facing. This agenda is termed “Brain Regain” which justifies the purpose.

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