CQUniversity has partnered with Stanwell Corporation and ACCIONA Energía to develop STEM skills online learning courses to teach Year 7 to 12 students about the hydrogen industry.
Fuelling a hydrogen future: STEM Skills for Secondary Learning is a free hydrogen-focused online learning program that is endorsed by the Queensland Government.
It is curriculum-aligned for easy classroom integration and focuses on introducing the future workforce to Queensland’s hydrogen and renewable energy sectors.
The learning program is a key action under the Hydrogen Industry Workforce Development Roadmap 2022-2032 that was released in July 2022.
Minister for Training and Skills Development Di Farmer said the expansion of the Gateway to Industry Skills Program (GISP) to include the hydrogen economy will equip Queensland high school students with industry-relevant foundational skills and the tools needed to make a decision about career pathways in the hydrogen sector.
“Hydrogen GISP captures more than 2000 students across 32 Queensland schools over three years. Now we have gone one step further with online opportunities.”
The Queensland Government Workforce Strategy seeks to create a strong and diverse workforce by investing $1.3 billion per year in training and skills services to support this vision.
“In 2022-23, we put in more than $135 million across various small business and skills pathways grants programs to support Queenslanders into good jobs.
“The broad range of grant funding programs and initiatives are estimated to have provided support or assistance to more than 44,600 workers or jobseekers,” said Farmer.
CQUniversity Academic Dr Cal Devney said micro-credentials will now be available for enrolment by Queensland State Secondary students.
These will be non-creditable, however, students will be awarded a digital badge and a Certificate of Completion.
“Secondary students completing the hydrogen-focused micro-credentials may wish to continue their studies through CQUniversity’s Start TAFE Now and Start Uni Now (SUN) courses available to secondary students in Years 11 and 12, including the SUN Fundamentals of Sustainable Energy Course which incorporates hydrogen and renewable energy modules,” said Devney.
Devney stated that the micro-credential for students in Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 will be ACARA aligned to the learning areas of STEM, as well as the General Capabilities and Cross Curriculum priorities in the Australian Curriculum.
Micro-credentials for Years 11 and 12 will be aligned to the QCAA Senior Syllabuses and 21st Century Skills.
ACCIONA Energía General Manager of Brand and Marketing Caroline Bommes said: “Programs like these are a step towards getting the workforce that will be needed for the energy transition and capitalising on our green hydrogen opportunity.
“Our collaboration with CQUniversity on these new courses allows young people to get a foot in the door in a rapidly growing industry,” said Bommes.
The Hydrogen Industry Workforce Development Roadmap 2022-2023 is Australia’s first dedicated workforce development plan for the hydrogen industry.
