I am very much in favour of university graduates undertaking a Graduate Certificate in either a related field, or alternatively, a totally unrelated field if they are seeking to totally change career direction.

For only four units, a Graduate Certificate provides an introduction to the field as the foundation units such as critical thinking, deductive reasoning and reflection are already grounded in under-graduate qualifications. There are no real reasons for undertaking a second Bachelor’s Degree as they usually require twenty four units and the commitment is usually too great for career orientated individuals.

Once the Graduate Certificate is completed, a further four units is required for a Graduate Diploma and the best part is with the growth of eLearning platforms, there is no need to lose time off work and the learning is better embedded through immediate practice. Online discussions, group work through virtual teams and online tutorials build competence through non-traditional means. Whilst you don’t engage in face-to-face discussions, virtual discussions are peer reviewed and referenced.

Naturally, some qualifications are better suited to online learning with leadership, business administration, management, human resources, occupational health and safety, and training and development qualifications are business related courses available online. If you add a Graduate Certificate to a trade qualification then a technical skill-set is enhanced with business and management knowledge. I have always maintained that a business degree supplements technical skills; you actually have to be able to produce a product or service, the business degree enhances technical skills.