Digital Skills for the Workplace Micro-credential

There are seven intakes of this micro-credential, with start dates in January, March, May, June, July, September and October 2024.

To be eligible to study on this programme, applicants must meet the admission criteria. The high-level entry criteria as approved by NZQA are as follows:

• A level 6 or higher qualification (or equivalent)

• Or equivalent professional experience in a relevant field.

For further information, including how to demonstrate equivalent professional experience, please download our 2023 Student Prospectus or book a chat with Shruti - our Enrolment Manager.

• This programme has a full fees scholarship for all domestic students in 2024.

• The international tuition fee for international students in New Zealand is $1,125.00 (incl. GST)

• The fee for international students outside of New Zealand is NZD$1,087

Unfortunately, students are not eligible to apply for StudyLink Student Loans for micro-credentials.

The Digital Skills for the Workplace Micro-credential (15 credits, level 7), supports the development of practical skills and knowledge to assist businesses to embrace digital advancements to meet changing customer needs.

This course was created to develop key digital skills for people in the workplace - from a single-person side-hustle to a large company. The course provides highly relevant and practical knowledge and skills for people wanting to build confidence and discover new digital tools, with a focus on communication, collaboration and critical thinking.

If you are looking to develop digital skills that you can immediately apply as you learn, then this course is for you.

Applications close one week before the start date of the intake you are applying for. Applications may be accepted on a case-by-case basis after the application close date at the discretion of academyEX. Please contact enrol@academyex.com if applications are closed and you would like to apply.

Just a laptop (or desktop) and a mobile/handheld device both connected to the internet. Your laptop can be a Windows or Mac and your device can be a tablet or smartphone (needs the ability to record video/take photos). If any of your devices are owned by your employer please ensure you have the rights to install software and connect to external devices, and that there are no restrictions on connecting to web links.

Please note: Chromebooks are not suitable for some applications.

We have had people study on this course with a wide range of skill levels. At a minimum, you should be able to use the internet, use an email system (like Gmail or Outlook), use online banking and make an eCommerce purchase and social media platforms (like Facebook or LinkedIn).

It’s okay if you miss one or two classes, we do record the live facilitated zoom sessions and the content covered is added to our learning management system (LMS) so you can review any content you have missed.

It is important to mention that missing a session does mean you miss out on breakout room discussions and group activities which are vital to the development of your skills throughout the course. The responsibility to catch up on missed classes or workshops is up to the individual student.

Online sessions are delivered via Zoom. We also use email and Slack to connect and communicate together. During the course we explore project management tools (e.g. Trello), mind-mapping/brainstorming tools (e.g. Coggle), collaborative whiteboarding tools (e.g. Miro), online design sites (e.g. Canva, Wix) screen casting and video editing tools (e.g. ClipChamp and Loom), data collection and surveying tools (e.g. Google Forms), along with how collaboration can be fostered within the google suite of tools (e.g. Google Sheets, Google Slides, Google Docs, Google Sites).

We think it’s important that you get to apply newly acquired skills and knowledge in real-world settings. To contextualise learning you will complete 2 assignments that revolve around a live problem you want to solve. This could be in your workplace, business, an organisation you’re part of or something that you know could be much easier than the way you are doing it now! Previous students have completed projects around helping their companies go fully digital, setting up a remote-working system so they can work from anywhere, or gaining better visibility of employee scheduling. We’ll work with you over the first few sessions to help you identify what your project could be. The best part is all learning can be applied immediately to your everyday work life.

Digital skills are at the heart of developing a knowledge base that assists you to make good decisions on the best digital solution for your specific situation or need. This might include topics such as how to effectively collaborate online, how to receive customer feedback, how to improve business productivity, or even what social media channel should I use?

Digital tools are the actual tools that enable you to activate the decisions you make. This might be a tool that helps you complete payroll, and process accounts, or a tool that translates languages on your website.

Either way, this course will help you make good decisions, and how to implement them as part of a new strategy to help your business or career grow.

Unfortunately, the Digital Skills for the Workplace micro-credentials cannot be stacked into our larger qualifications eg. Masters qualifications. This is because this micro-credential is approved at Level 7 on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework, and only Level 8 credits can be stacked into our Postgraduate Certificates and Masters degrees. 

This micro-credential is however a great starting point for getting back into study, developing confidence and testing out how study can fit into your schedule!

A micro-credential certifies achievement of a specific and coherent set of skills and/or knowledge. Micro-credentials are created through strong evidence of need by industry, employers, iwi and/or the community. Think of them like a ‘crash course’ on the future – bringing you up to speed on what matters today but also what’s critical for a thriving future. They are designed to be done alongside your busy work and personal life, so you don't have to take time off to study.

Our Micro-credentials give you a recognised NZQA qualification. 

Delivered through a combination of self-directed learning and weekly live online sessions, you’ll practice and apply the knowledge and skills you learn through two practical assessments. Between 7 and 15 weeks, all micro-credentials have a set price and we run regular intakes at set times of the year.

This programme is available to study as an international student either via online distance learning or if you currently reside in New Zealand and your visa conditions allow study. To find out more about studying with academyEX as an international student, and for programme fees, visit our International Students page.

We are very happy to help you to communicate the benefits of studying with academyEX to your employer. If you would like us to provide you with a letter of support or further information, please just ask.

Yes, almost all academyEX learners work full time while studying part time. This programme has been designed to fit in around full time work or family commitments, with weekly online sessions taking place in the late afternoon/early evening. Assessments are designed to be practical and linked to personal aspirations and projects.

If you are concerned about the workload and how you will balance it, please reach out to us and we can chat about how it could work for you.

Micro-credentials are delivered entirely online. Each micro-credential has regular online facilitated classes and self-directed study, that includes viewing videos, completing quizzes and reading relevant papers.

In the lead up to the start of each intake, fully enrolled students will receive onboarding emails from the team, as well as access to platforms that will be used during your study. During the first session, whether online or in-person, the team will talk through what you can expect during the programme and answer any questions. 

International students learning onshore with us will also be required to attend a separate orientation session. Details will be provided during the application process.

Absolutely. We’ve had loads of students do the course alongside family members, friends and colleagues. There are also opportunities to work collaboratively on assessments during the programme and work together on a project of interest. Learning is always better together!

AcademyEX offers a range of scholarships to support people to study and help to minimise barriers to learning. The following scholarships can be applied for, and cover 75% of fees for this micro-credential.

• Tangata Whenua - for learners who identify as Māori

• Pacific Ako - for learners who identify as Pacific

• Taipakeke - for learners who are aged 60 years and over

• Impact Scholarship - for learners who are positively impacting people, society and/or the planet. Please note: The Early Bird discount of 10% off does not apply to our micro-credentials. Find out more, including scholarship terms and conditions, by visiting our Scholarships page.