Related strategic goal 
Shorter Form Credentials (SFCs) are rapidly becoming business as usual in the higher education landscape. At UQ, they will underpin our commitment to flexible learning opportunities, life-long learning and meet our students’ changing education needs and future demands for credentialed learning.
The project aims to provide a One-UQ approach to SFCs including a policy and procedure, a student administration system through SI-net, a marketing and branding framework, and platforms for delivery and support for both academic and professional staff. SFCs are not new to UQ, but changes in technology and demand mean that we need to deliver them in a more holistic and strategic way.
What are Shorter Form Credentials?
A SFC is a distinct unit of study with academically assessed learning outcomes, generally offered outside an award program, and usually completed in a short time frame (i.e. months rather than years). SFCs may be structured as a single module (e.g. a MOOC that incorporates or is complemented by rigorous academic assessment) or as a suite of combined modules resulting in a larger credential (e.g. a MicroMasters®) or a pathway to one of our programs.
SFCs may be designed for upskilling, recognition of prior learning, entry pathways, and/or to provide students with a point of differentiation. They are transferrable, recognised globally, and flexible in that they can be taken outside our standard timetable. In an age where upskilling/reskilling will be necessary in order to take on jobs that don’t yet exist, SFCs will be essential.
Project details
Timeline
Working Party
| Member | Role |
|---|---|
|
Professor Lydia Kavanagh (Chair) |
Academic Project Lead, Deputy Associate Dean (Academic), Faculty of Science and Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology |
|
Dr Stacey Beaumont |
Lecturer, Business School |
|
A/Professor Peter Cabot |
Chair, School Teaching & Learning Advisory Committee, School of Pharmacy |
|
Mr Mark Erickson |
Academic Registrar, Academic Services Division |
|
Professor Andrew Fairbairn |
Head of Discipline (Archaeology), School of Social Science |
|
Professor Greg Hainge |
Professor, School of Languages & Cultures (Project 1 Lead, PA2) |
|
Professor Jonathan Hill |
Professor, School of Veterinary Science |
|
A/Professor Tim Kastelle |
Director of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Business School |
|
Ms Angela Lawton |
Project Officer (T&L Initiatives), Institute for Teaching and Learning Innovation |
|
Professor Margaret Mayfield |
Head of School, School of Biological Science |
|
Professor Nick Shaw |
Associate Dean (Academic), Faculty of Medicine |
|
Ms Mina Singh |
Academic Services Division Business Projects |
|
Dr Amberyn Thomas |
Director, Learning and Research Services, UQ Library |
|
Dr Dino Willox |
Director, Student Employability |
|
Dr Greg Winslett |
Deputy Director (Digital Learning), Institute for Teaching and Learning Innovation |
|
Ms Erica Menzies |
Secretariat, Institute for Teaching and Learning Innovation |
Key benefits
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Maintain national and international market positioning
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Potential to widen student base, and maintain better connections with alumni
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Potential to increase revenue