AUSTRALIA | McDonald's has announced that its Archways to Opportunity programme will now be a nationwide initiative.
McDonald’s Australia has launched the national rollout of ‘Archways to Opportunity’, an innovative new program offering more than 20,000 employees nationwide the opportunity to transform workplace skills into university credits with some of Australia’s leading universities.
McDonald’s Crew Coaches and Managers can now earn up to eight verified and transferable micro-credentials, simply by completing on-the-job learning, face-to-face training and workplace experience in areas like communication, problem-solving and leadership.
They can then take these micro-credentials to any university nationwide and apply for recognition of prior learning that could give them credit toward a university degree in courses including Business, Commerce, Management, HR, Technology and IT.
Each micro-credential counts for up to one subject credit in an undergraduate degree. Stacked together, they can also ladder up to direct entry into a Master of Business Administration.
Excitingly, we have partnered with some of Australia’s leading universities to provide a seamless pathway for our people towards university credits. This includes the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Torrens University Australia, the new Adelaide University, James Cook University, Curtin University, Charles Darwin University, the University of Tasmania, the University of Canberra, the University of New England, Swinburne University and specialist training provider, the William Angliss Institute.
In some cases, this offers savings of more than AUD 20,000 in fees and could shave up to one year off the total study time required to complete a bachelor’s degree.
McDonald's is the first organisation in Australia to have its internal training and on-the-job experience, certified and recognised by multiple universities nationwide. This means thousands of Macca’s employees now have the opportunity to earn university-recognised micro-credentials on the job, with no additional study required.
The nationwide rollout of Archways to Opportunity follows a successful pilot earlier this year with Capability.Co, Torrens University and the University of South Australia.
“Macca’s has always been famous for our exceptional skills and training programs, and we proudly invest millions of dollars every year into helping our people grow their skills and capabilities,” McDonald’s Australia’s CEO, Joe Chiczewski, said.
“Archways to Opportunity is the next evolution of that commitment and shows our people that the skills and training they build at Macca’s are real, valuable, and recognised beyond our restaurants. That’s not just exciting. It’s world-class.”
He said to be able to work, earn a wage and have training and experience count towards tertiary education is an incredible opportunity, a powerful career advantage, and an investment McDonald’s was proud to lead.
“UTS welcomes this opportunity to partner with McDonald’s Australia on what is an incredible step forward in providing employer-led pathways to higher education,” said
Dr Alana Piper, Deputy Vice Chancellor (External Engagement and Partnerships), from the University of Technology Sydney.
“At Capability.Co, we want to ensure that everyone has open access to quality education and fulfilling careers, no matter their background. Archways to Opportunity exemplifies what’s possible when we recognise the real skills people develop every day at work. Together with McDonald’s, we’re opening the door to lifelong learning, career mobility, and greater equity in education,” said Kate Britt, CEO, Capability.Co said.
Zaakirah Khan, Restaurant Manager at McDonald’s Mount Annan, was excited to receive the micro-credentials in recognition of her prior learning through McDonald’s training programs.
“I’d always planned to go to university,” said Kahn.
“But never imagined I’d have the support of McDonald’s in creating that opportunity. Now I’m able to take that next step, and it’s incredible to know that everything I’ve learned at Macca’s is giving me a head start. I can also continue to fit my shifts at Macca’s around study, which is a bonus.”
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