Dr Joseph Stevens, Lecturer in IT and Zeyad Khalifa, Associate Lecturer – School of IT, Murdoch University.

Murdoch University’s School of Information Technology (IT) is proud to highlight a transformative partnership with Prodigy Learning that is equipping students with globally recognised Microsoft Certifications—giving them a competitive edge in today’s digital workforce.

Launched in 2022 with support from the Australian Government’s National Industry Priority Linkages Fund (NPLIF), the initiative embeds Microsoft Office and Azure certifications into the curriculum. Students benefit from a structured, four-stage learning journey: skills assessment, video-based learning, practice testing, and certification—all seamlessly integrated into their academic experience.

In 2024, the program expanded to include additional units such as ICT298 – IT Certification Pathways. This unit offered students the opportunity to pursue Microsoft Certified Fundamentals and Microsoft Role-Based Certifications. Initially capped, the unit saw exponential growth in demand, with enrolments doubling within a short period. To maintain the program’s high standards, the School of IT made the strategic decision to limit enrolments while expanding delivery across two semesters—ensuring quality while increasing access for students.

“This partnership is not just about certifications—it’s about confidence,” said Dr Umera Imtinan, Lecturer in Information Technology and NPILF Project Lead at Murdoch University.

“We’re seeing students take ownership of their learning and graduate with credentials that speak directly to industry needs.”

The program has already seen strong engagement from students, who are leveraging their certifications to secure internships, graduate roles, and freelance opportunities.

Dr Joseph Stevens, Lecturer in Information Technology and designer of the IT Certification Pathways unit said, “The feedback from students has been overwhelmingly positive. They’re telling us these certifications are opening doors—whether it’s internships, graduate roles, or freelance opportunities.”

By embedding certifications into coursework, the School of IT ensures that graduates are not only academically prepared but also professionally credentialed.

Zeyad Khalifa, Associate Lecturer - School of IT and University Preparation Pathways, who now oversees the certification component of the unit, noted that integrating pathways like those in ICT298 has been a strategic response to the rising demand for industry-recognised credentials. “By offering the unit across two semesters with capped enrolments, we’ve been able to maintain the program’s high standards while broadening access for students,” he said.

As the digital economy continues to evolve, Murdoch University remains committed to preparing students for success—not just in the classroom, but in the real world.