Future-Ready Skills: How Ulster University’s Short Courses and Micro-Credentials Are Powering Northern Ireland’s Workforce

Nick Read, Director of the Business Engagement Unit at Ulster University Business School, explains how micro-credentials and short courses are equipping businesses across Northern Ireland with the skills they need to stay competitive in a rapidly changing economy.

Micro-credentials are fast becoming essential for businesses responding to rapid technological change, shifting market demands, and evolving employee expectations. These focused, industry-aligned qualifications provide organisations with an agile way to plug skills gaps, strengthen capability, and align learning directly with business priorities.

With the World Economic Forum predicting that 39% of workers will see their current skills transformed or replaced within five years, businesses face mounting pressure to future-proof their talent pipelines. Micro-credentials and short courses provide a clear, practical solution, supporting employees to reskill and upskill while signalling an organisation’s investment in professional growth and retention.

Ulster University’s short courses are designed in collaboration with industry, these qualifications deliver targeted, skills-based learning that directly addresses priority areas in Northern Ireland from digital transformation and leadership to data analytics, sustainability, and innovation. For employers, they provide an agile way to respond to skills gaps while aligning learning with organisational objectives. For employees, they represent a clear signal of investment in career development, boosting engagement and retention.

This commitment to development and growth across Northern Ireland is visible, for example the £290 million Derry~Londonderry and Strabane Region City Deal, which was signed in September 2024.  This deal is creating transformational opportunities for growth across new and emerging sector and Ulster University Business School has responded by securing over 300 fully funded places on postgraduate and professional development programmes at its Derry~Londonderry campus—ensuring the region has the skilled workforce required to maximise the benefits of this historic investment.    Courses will provide opportunities to develop skills in areas such as leadership, using data, fintech, AI, project management, sustainability, business analysis as well as stakeholder and client management.

Hunter Apparel, who have embraced short courses to help develop their team said, "We've had the pleasure of participating in several DfE courses, with four of our managers completing three separate programs so far. These courses have proven to be an invaluable resource for developing our management team in Hunter Apparel. Not only have they provided key personal development and learning opportunities, but they’ve also allowed us to build a network of peers from various organisations, fostering the exchange of best practices and shared knowledge. There have also been some fantastic guest speakers that have given a personal reflection of their journey and some priceless advice.  We look forward to more of our managers joining future cohorts, as these programs continue to offer advancement and growth for our team and the company as a whole."

At our Belfast Campus short course such as Digital Transformation, Operational Excellence and Executive Leadership are also making a tangible impact on individuals and organisations. Participants on the Sustainable Leadership short course note the impact it has made for them and their organisation with comments such as

“This programme was a great opportunity to learn and explore new ways to be a force for good within my business. “As a catering business owner, this course helped me shape my thinking around inclusive food practices and sustainable leadership, giving me the confidence to communicate what we’re already doing well.

Ulster University’s short courses and micro-credentials are equipping individuals and organisations with the tools to thrive in a changing economy. They are not just enhancing skills but strengthening business performance and making an impact for individuals and organisations.

If you would like to discuss how short courses and Micro credentials can add value to your business, or if you are interested in other organisational development opportunities, please contact UUBS’s Business Engagement Team at engage@ulster.ac.uk