According to Statista, global online education rates are growing at over 8.5% per annum, and Gen Z are playing a key role in this increase.
Not only are online courses more affordable than full university degrees, but they also offer school graduates flexibility, a faster way to achieve recognition, and access to more targeted information. There’s no longer any need for them to waste time and money studying unrelated subjects in order to learn about the topic they are interested in.
While there are thousands of different online certificate courses available, three in particular are capturing the attention of Gen Z.
Entrepreneurship
In 2022-23, there were over 406,000 new businesses registered in Australia, compared to 336,000 in 2019-20. Gen Z are self-starters. They have big ideas, and they want to make them a reality. Completing an online certificate in Entrepreneurship gives those people the drive to move forward to bring their innovative ideas to life.
A course in entrepreneurship teaches all elements of starting a new business, from concept to reality. It covers things like digital marketing and business planning, offering practical skills and real case studies. Essentially, it equips them with all the background knowledge they need to launch their own business or to join other creative start-ups.
Leadership & Management
Gen Z are ambitious. Once they have a business idea in the works, they also need to manage it, which is part of why this course is increasingly popular. Gen Z also don’t want to wait. They want to skip the graduate jobs and wages and go straight to the top.
An online certificate in Leadership and Management gives them the leadership skills they need to succeed, including strategic planning, team building, and excellent communication. It gives them an idea of what it’s like in the real world, addressing issues like team management and dispute resolution.
Accounting & Bookkeeping
Gen Z love flexibility. They want to work for themselves or keep their options wide open. They value quality of life. They want the freedom to choose work as a freelancer, to work anywhere – for any company, or to have full control over their own business (as entrepreneurs).
An online certificate in Accounting and Bookkeeping gives them this. Accountants are the most in-demand professionals, which means there’s plenty of work available. It also gives them the flexibility to set their own working terms in some cases. This type of course teaches basic accounting principles, payroll processing, taxes – everything they need to be the backbone of a successful company.
There’s no doubt that finding a great job is becoming increasingly difficult. But with programs like those mentioned above, Gen Z have the advantage, and whether they’re entrepreneurs, leaders, or future financial analysts, they can write their future on their own terms.
