The program is offering more than 20,000 Macca’s employees nationwide the opportunity to transform workplace skills into university credits.
Under the program, employees can earn up to eight verified and transferrable micro-credentials, simply by completing on-the-job learning, face-to-face training and workplace experience in areas like communication, problem-solving and leadership.
UNE is working with Capability.Co to recognise the micro-credential set as the basis for admission for Archways to Opportunity students into the UNE Bachelor of Business.
UNE is one of the few university partners with a national online footprint, and given the distributed workforce for McDonalds staff this is a key advantage for students to fit study around their other commitments.
UNE Vice-Chancellor Professor Chris Moran said that UNE is excited to work with Capability.Co and McDonald’s to break down barriers to university study, and to grow skills and knowledge in regional economies.
“UNE’s nationally leading expertise in inclusive online and flexible university delivery means we can support McDonalds employees in the Archways to Opportunity Program to study while maintaining their careers and family commitments, without requiring them to reshape their lives around traditional university structures,” Professor Moran said.
Deputy Executive Principal Education Futures, Professor Leopold Bayerlein said working with Capability.Co and McDonald’s to establish this program exemplifies UNE’s strategic intention to enable students to earn, live and learn during their time at university.
“This program supports keeping young people in the regions, growing skills and knowledge in regional economies and ensuring that our courses recognise the on-the-job skill and experience that programs such as Archways to Opportunity represent,” he said.
Other partners are the University of Technology Sydney, the new Adelaide University, James Cook University, Curtin University, Charles Darwin University, the University of Tasmania, the University of Canberra, Swinburne University, Torrens University Australia, and specialist training provider, the William Angliss Institute.
