LEVERAGING PARTNERSHIPS FOR MICROCREDENTIAL DESIGN IN DIGITAL HEALTH: KEY SUCCESS FACTORS

<p><strong>Aim: </strong>This paper describes the collaborative approaches used to design microcredentials in digital health and cybersecurity. The project was initiated to design and deliver educational products to address specific skills shortages and align outcomes with Australian and International skills and professional competency frameworks.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Approach: </strong>The co-design process was guided by a proven model for educational design, involving interdisciplinary teams and emphasising rapid prototyping to ensure industry relevance and on time delivery. Partnerships with industry and professional associations were built to develop and deploy the microcredentials within a six-month timeframe.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Main Findings and Conclusion: </strong>Key success factors included trust, mutual respect, and effective communication among partners. The co-design process highlighted the benefits of collaboration, the importance of alignment with competency frameworks, and the lessons learned in creating educational products that satisfy learner, academic and industry needs. The paper concludes that co-designing microcredentials with industry and professional associations is an effective approach to delivering educational products that address workforce skills and professional knowledge gaps.</p>