With AI Transforming Workforces, Two Major Education Players Unite To Boost Digital Capabilities

• Two powerhouses in education - Academy Xi and Open Colleges – unlock national access to cutting-edge digital training, helping equip Australia’s workforce for an AI-driven economy 
• With Australia facing a deepening skills crisis, Open Colleges is undertaking a major strategic pivot from its 125 year VET heritage to equip Australians with future ready capabilities 
• Academy Xi, recently named by TIME as one of the World’s Top EdTech Rising Stars of 2025, will offer courses through Open Colleges in high-demand areas such as Cybersecurity, Data Analytics and Visualisation, and Applied Artificial Intelligence

21 April, 2026 - Two leaders in Australian education have joined forces to help close the nation’s widening technology skills gaps, with Open Colleges and Academy Xi announcing a new strategic partnership.

The partnership brings Academy Xi’s industry leading short courses in areas like AI, robotics, machine learning and digital transformation, onto the Open Colleges platform, boosting access to high demand tech skills across Australia.

The move marks a major strategic shift for Open Colleges, a 125-year-old institution best known as one of Australia’s largest online vocational training providers. With rapid technological change reshaping every sector, the organisation says the traditional VET model cannot, on its own, meet the speed and scale of skills now required across the economy.

Addressing Australia’s Critical Skills Shortage

Australia is facing one of the most significant workforce transitions in its history.

• More than half of Australian workers say their digital skills are insufficient for their current role – and AI skills are the biggest gap (Deloitte, 2025)
• Australia needs 312,000 additional tech workers by 2030, but produces only 7000 IT graduates annually (ACS, 2024)
• The Future Skills Organisation warns Australia faces a shortfall of 61,000+ digital jobs by 2030

By combining Academy Xi’s deep digital expertise – recognised globally after being named one of TIME’s World’s Top EdTech Rising Stars of 2025 – with the national scale of Open Colleges, the partnership aims to build a stronger, more adept training pipeline for Australia’s workforce.

As part of the Ripple Group, which also includes Alffie - Australia’s leading online employment services training provider, Open Colleges is extending the Group’s mission to deliver learner centred, future focused education across every stage of the workforce journey – from job seekers to career changers to organisations needing future-fit teams.

Will Calvert, CEO of Open Colleges and Ripple Group, said the partnership represents a major milestone for the organisation’s growth:

“Australia’s workforce is undergoing its most significant transformation in a generation, and people need access to skills that keep pace with that change.

This partnership signals a bold new direction for Open Colleges, expanding beyond traditional VET to connect Australians with the digital and emerging tech capabilities they urgently need. By combining Academy Xi’s digital expertise with the national footprint of Open Colleges and Alffie, we’re building a truly connected ecosystem that supports learners, job seekers and the wider workforce at every stage of their journey.”

Cyril Gabriel, CEO of Academy Xi, said the collaboration aligns perfectly with Academy Xi’s mission to build Australia’s digital capability:

“Partnering with Open Colleges and Alffie is a huge opportunity to accelerate impact - combining reach, innovation and applied learning to deliver real outcomes in the age of AI.

We’re proud to bring our globally recognised capability in emerging technologies to this partnership and strengthen Australia’s digital readiness.”

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For media enquiries:

Email: media@opencolleges.edu.au 

Phone: +61424 538 902

About Open Colleges

Open Colleges is one of Australia’s leading providers of online vocational education, committed to helping Australians achieve their career goals through accessible, flexible learning. Over the past decade, Open Colleges has supported more than 450,000 students in launching, changing or advancing their careers. Offering a wide range of nationally recognised and non-accredited courses across health, early childhood education, business, trades, technology and design, Open Colleges enables students to study anywhere, anytime, and in a way that fits around their lives. Backed by a dedicated team passionate about high-quality online education, Open Colleges continues to set the benchmark for delivering engaging, industry-aligned training to learners across the country.

About Academy Xi

Academy Xi is one of Australia’s leading digital and technology skills providers, specialising in AI, machine learning, design, data and digital transformation. With a strong presence in B2B and government training, Academy Xi partners with organisations to build the digital capabilities their workforces need to thrive.