Murdoch University, a forward-thinking university in Australia, has earned a global reputation for its commitment to excellence in education, research, and community engagement. Since its foundation in 1973, Murdoch has continuously offered students a transformative learning experience that seamlessly blends theoretical knowledge with real-world, practical applications.
In 2022, Murdoch University forged a partnership with Prodigy Learning and Microsoft, aimed at providing students with access to industry-recognised certifications. This initiative, supported by funding from the Australian Government’s National Industry Priority Linkages Fund (NPLIF), enables students to participate in online, self-paced training courses. With ongoing support from academic staff, students earn certifications that validate their specialised knowledge and skills in Microsoft Office applications for productivity, key Azure cloud technologies and a range of Microsoft Professional Certifications. These certifications are valuable credentials, giving students a competitive edge in the workforce.
The Challenge:
Murdoch University recognised the need for stronger industry alignment in its courses to better support the marketplace and the University’s industry engagement objectives. The goal was to ensure the curriculum reflected current industry trends and practices so Murdoch’s students graduate as high calibre graduates for Australia’s employment market.
The Solution:
After careful consideration, Murdoch University determined that offering in-demand, industry certifications was the best approach to ensure students gained up-to-date, relevant skills that employers highly value. In today’s fast-evolving landscape, particularly with the rise of AI, such certifications are more crucial than ever. Prodigy Learning’s four-stage learning pathway was key to this solution. The pathway included:
- Skills assessment
- Video-based, self-paced learning
- Practice tests
- Achieving industry recognised, certification exams.
This structure provided students with a comprehensive, hands-on learning experience, ensuring they were equipped with the skills and certifications that employers demand.
The success of this initiative became evident through positive feedback from students and educators alike. Word-of-mouth recommendations and ongoing tangible feedback demonstrated a strong demand from students, confirming that the partnership and certifications were meeting their needs and expectations.
How It All Began:
In 2022, Murdoch University launched this initiative with a pilot program for Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certifications. With government funding, the University tested the concept by offering a short course combining four MOS courses — PowerPoint, Word, Excel, and Outlook — as part of an enabling pathway for students. This offering aimed to ensure that students gained essential skills before even starting their university journey.
The pilot was a success, with workshops, online resources, and in-person Q&A sessions providing a robust learning experience. Students who completed the program were awarded the certification – a step that marked the beginning of a broader initiative.
Umera Imtinan, a lecturer in Information Technology and a NPILF Project Lead at Murdoch, championed and drove this initiative from its inception.
She said: “By blending practical, real-world tools with academic learning, we’ve not only empowered students with valuable certifications but also paved the way for a broader initiative that bridges education and industry demand.”
Expansion and Growth:
Building on the success of the MOS pilot, Murdoch expanded the certification offerings in 2023 by introducing the ‘MSP200 – Building Enterprise Skills’ unit. This unit, open to the entire university, quickly became a popular option, with over 500 students enrolling each semester. The unit embedded industry certification into its assessment framework, and both students and faculty embraced the opportunity. The success of this course spread quickly, primarily through word-of-mouth, and further expansion soon followed.
Current Success and Future Plans:
By 2024, Murdoch University integrated certification pathways into additional courses, such as ICT298 – IT Certification Pathways. Certifications in this unit included Microsoft Certified Fundamentals and Microsoft Role Based certifications. Initially capped, demand for the unit amongst students grew exponentially, with enrolment numbers doubling. Based on this experience, the School of Information Technology decided to limit enrolment to ensure the program is delivered to the highest quality. Going forward, the program will be offered in two semesters to maintain its standard but still offer it to as many students as possible.
Joseph Stevens, a seasoned expert in IT education with over 12 years of experience at Murdoch University, has pioneered the creation of this revolutionary unit.
“This unit goes beyond awarding industry-recognised certification,” he said. “It empowers students to reflect on their entire learning journey, fostering not only essential technical skills but also enhancing their communication abilities and deepening their self-awareness. It’s a game-changer in how we prepare students for success in the real world.”
Zeyad Khalifa, who now runs and manages industry certification as part of this unit, said: “By integrating certification pathways into courses like ICT298, we have responded to the growing demand for industry-recognised credentials while also ensuring that the quality of the program remains exceptional, offering it across two semesters, with capped student intakes.”
Looking ahead, Murdoch plans to expand certification offerings even further, introducing new programs like the Project Management Institute (PMI) certification, which is highly regarded in the project management industry. Joe, Zeyad and Umera are also evaluating opportunities to incorporate Cisco Certified Support Technician and other networking certifications from the Information Technology Specialist program into the IT curriculum.
These certification pathways are not limited to IT students. Murdoch’s broader strategy includes offering these certifications to students across other disciplines, such as Business, Health, Arts, Humanities, and Law as well as providing professional development opportunities to staff.
Prodigy Learning ICT Account Manager Eimer Henderson welcomed the partnership with Murdoch.
“With its expansion into more units and the introduction of additional certifications, Murdoch is setting a new standard for how universities can prepare students for the workforce — equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and credentials that employers seek in today’s competitive landscape,” she said.
