Deakin's free courses to help Victorian small businesses adapt and thrive

Deakin's seven micro-courses also come with free digital upgrades until 30 June, and are accessible through the recently launched Upskill My Business portal, part of the Victorian Government's $1.7 billion Economic Survival Package supporting Victorian businesses and workers during and after the impacts of the coronavirus crisis.

Course information and assistance can be found at the Upskill My Business website at upskill.business.vic.gov.au, or by calling the Business Victoria hotline on 13 22 15.

"We're pleased to partner with the State Government on this initiative to provide our valuable upskilling expertise to the workforce and students across the state," Deakin's Director of Global Courses, Associate Professor Colin Higgins said.

"We are expecting strong demand, particularly from impacted small businesses, many of whom can benefit in the short, medium and long-term due to the skillsets we are providing through Upskill My Business; and due to our renowned support, which our University students have ranked number one in Victoria for overall student experience for four straight years."

Deakin's seven micro-courses, together with a digital upgrade, allow users unlimited course access, peer reviews, tests, quizzes, videos and a Certificate of Achievement to prove success (if eligible).

Deakin's Director of Global Courses, Associate Professor Colin Higgins said all the courses on offer blend the thinking to stretch learners with practical tools for immediate application to a wide range of business. "The courses are short and punchy with six of the seven free micro-courses designed to take six hours to complete and the remaining course taking 12 hours," Associate Professor Higgins said.

The courses are:

- Professional Resilience: Building Skills to Thrive at Work
- Competitive Advantage: Using Information to Build Business Success
- Business Problems and Software Solutions
- Investigating Innovation
- Leading Strategic Innovation: How to lead with purpose
- What is Leadership?
- Leading Culturally-Diverse Teams in the Workplace

Several of the micro-courses are offered through Deakin's Business School, a global leader, with its online MBA ranked in the world’s top 20, and accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

AACSB accreditation is recognised worldwide and is awarded to business schools that meet strict standards of quality, academic and professional excellence.