Are you an avid learner who is looking to upskill? If so, you will be pleased to know that there are a multitude of options available for upskilling! For starters, these include completing online university courses, tertiary degrees and other higher education qualifications. Of course, there is also the option of self-education and independent research. Alternatively, you can also elect to upskill using your personal network resources, or even professional mentoring services.

So, to learn more about the upskilling options available to you in Australia, just keep reading!

Online University Courses, Tertiary Degrees and Higher Education Qualifications

If you’re looking to upskill in Australia, you can complete, for example, a business course online. Some of the online business courses you could choose to complete could include:

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

When studying a Master of Business Administration or MBA, you will not only be able to upskill and diversify your skillset, you will also develop strong managerial and leadership capabilities. As well as this, you will learn how to understand both global and local business needs, and also, become well-prepared to navigate the ever-evolving and changing nature of the international business landscape.

MBA degrees are known for being one of the more versatile degrees, especially for those who have aspirations of entrepreneurship. This has made it an exceedingly popular educational path with both new business startup hopefuls and business veterans that want to upskill and stay competitive in an ever-changing market.

Graduate Diploma in Business

A Graduate Diploma in Business will essentially teach you the same skills, knowledge and business acumen as a Master of Business Administration (MBA). However, the main difference is the number of units required to complete this qualification. While an MBA requires the completion of 8 core units, with a Graduate Diploma in Business, you only need to complete 4. This is perfect for those who are already in the business world, or those who wish for a more consolidated learning experience.

Graduate Certificate in Business

An entry point into the world of business qualifications, when combined with the Graduate Diploma in Business, the Graduate Certificate in Business is a pathway to the completion of an MBA. By undertaking 4 study units during your Graduate Certificate course, you can complement this with another 4 Graduate Diploma units - hence making up the 8 study units required to attain a Master of Business Administration or MBA qualification.

Regardless of which specific business course you feel is best for you, all will provide a robust learning experience that is sure to offer a considerable amount of value in the Australian job market. So, if you’re interested, explore the various course outlines available, and see which one best matches with your goals as a learner.

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Self-Education, Self-taught Upskilling, and Independent Research

Just ask any self-taught billionaire, and they’ll tell you that you don’t always need a formal education, university or college degree, or tertiary qualification to be successful in your career! Sometimes, all you need is to do some independent research, self-education, and self-taught upskilling of your own. There are many examples of this being true. Some of the highest-paid and most successful individuals who have famously claimed that you don’t need a formal university or college degree to make your fortune include:

• Bill Gates

  Arguably the most famous self-made billionaire, Bill Gates is a fantastic example of a highly successful business entrepreneur who did not complete a formal qualification or degree. Importantly, while Bill Gates did enrol in Law at Harvard, he dropped out in his Junior year to start up what is now the most used computer software program in the world, Microsoft.

• Richard Branson

  Another great example is the high-flying businessman and entrepreneur, Richard Branson, who dropped out of high school at the young age of just 16 years old! Richard Branson’s Virgin empire started as a record label, and now monopolises a multitude of industries - including travel, digital communication, and hospitality, to name a few!

• Mark Zuckerberg

  A college dropout, Mark Zuckerberg is known for having founded the world’s now biggest social media platform, Facebook. As a result, he has now grown his estimated net worth to approximately USD 67 billion.

• Steve Jobs

  Another tech giant, Steve Jobs is the CEO and founder of Apple and Pixar. Importantly, Steve Jobs did not graduate from university or college either but instead dropped out to start up his now illustrious and internationally acclaimed Apple empire from his friend’s garage.

• Kim Kardashian

  Of course, this list would not be complete without the representation of a highly successful female business entrepreneur. Kim Kardashian rose to fame despite never earning her college degree and now has a multi-billion dollar empire of skincare, cosmetics, and fragrances.

None of this is to say that a university degree isn’t exceedingly valuable. Rather, it goes to show that opportunities regarding your field are not and should not just be limited to what you can acquire from formal higher education. This is especially true in our next, and final point:

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Networking and Mentorship

Last, do not disregard the importance of drawing from the experience and knowledge of your network. By seeking a professional mentor, for instance, you can benefit from their expert guidance, and also, draw from the capabilities they have acquired throughout their own business journey to help you upskill. You can find a mentor by seeking out individuals in your network who have wisdom to impart. This can be in the form of an academic mentor, or even a business mentor, if you prefer.

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Aspiring to upskill in Australia? The good news is, there are many options available to you. You could, for example, choose from many different online courses, tertiary degrees, and university qualifications. Alternatively, you could just educate yourself! Indeed, the self-taught method has been tried and tested by many successful entrepreneurs. Additionally, drawing from the knowledge and experience of a mentor can also help you upskill. The best thing is, by using all these methods, upskilling in Australia or anywhere else is very achievable.

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