UC Vice-Chancellor Bill Shorten has championed greater collaboration between the two sectors. Photos: Ian Bushnell.
Canberra Institute of Technology students will be able to gain direct entry to a bachelor degree at the University of Canberra in seven subject areas under a new deal between the two higher education institutions.
CIT and UC are calling it a nation-leading initiative that will provide more choice and flexibility for students wanting to move between vocational and university education.
The deal provides guaranteed pathways to enable CIT graduates from the past five years to receive direct entry and up to one year of recognised credit into seven UC degrees. They span high-demand areas such as nursing, early childhood education, leadership and management, graphic design, government, accounting and
project management.
The announcement follows months of work between UC and CIT pathway specialists to map qualifications and confirm credit alignment. The two institutions last year signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen collaboration, streamline credit transfer, and expand educational opportunities.
The first tranche of courses will now be promoted to prospective students and industry as part of the two institutions’ joint commitment to building a seamless tertiary education system for the ACT.
UC Vice-Chancellor Bill Shorten and CIT CEO Margot McNeill have championed the idea of harmonisation between the two sectors and lifelong learning.
Mr Shorten said the UC-CIT guaranteed pathways suite put the best interests of students first and was a long-overdue step towards tertiary harmonisation.
“These pathways will change the course of students’ careers, save them thousands of dollars in student debt and streamline their progression into higher education through the recognition of their prior learning through CIT, where a high-calibre diploma will secure their pathway to a quality degree,” he said.
CIT CEO Dr Margot McNeill: Guaranteed pathways create clear routes to university.
Mr Shorten said UC was a university where practical experience met academic opportunity for skilled professionals and qualified tradespeople to advance their careers.
He said the new pathways advanced UC’s priorities in its Reconnected strategic plan to champion tertiary harmonisation, lifelong learning, and access to university for adult learners, while helping to meet Canberra’s workforce demands and boost workplace productivity.
“UC understands that adult learners are seeking supportive, flexible, community-based and quality education that meets their needs and supports their career ambitions,” Mr Shorten said.
“We want people to see UC as their natural learning choice – whether they’re continuing their education, returning after time away, or pursuing the next step in their career or business journey.”
Dr McNeill said the guaranteed pathways created clear, accessible routes for students who began their learning journey with CIT to continue to university study with confidence.
“This initiative demonstrates our shared commitment to a harmonised tertiary system, one that values practical skills and academic learning equally and recognises the skills students bring from CIT to higher education,” Dr McNeill said.
Skills and Training Minister Michael Pettersson said the guaranteed pathways gave students greater choice in their study options and the confidence there would be opportunities to learn throughout their career.
Mr Pettersson said the TAFE and university sectors needed to meet the needs of learners by being flexible to their education journey.
“CIT and UC have long demonstrated the benefits of a more connected and flexible tertiary system,” he said.
“This announcement further develops the exciting pathways open to Canberrans through this partnership.”
The seven guaranteed pathways are:
- Nursing – Diploma of Nursing to Bachelor of Nursing
- Government – Diploma of Government to Bachelor of Government
- Project Management – Diploma of Project Management to Bachelor of Project Management
- Early Childhood Education – Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care to Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (Birth–5) or Bachelor of Early Childhood and Primary Education
- Leadership and Management – Diploma of Leadership and Management to Bachelor of Business
- Graphic Design – Diploma of Graphic Design to Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication Design)
- Accounting – Diploma of Accounting to Bachelor of Business
