<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>More than 20,000 McDonald's workers will have the opportunity to turn workplace skills into "micro-credentials" for university subjects under a new program which will roll out to stores nationally today.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The fast food giant's Archways into Opportunity program will allow crew coaches and managers to earn up to eight micro-credentials by completing on-the job learning and face-to-face training.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Workers can take the micro-credentials to any university nationwide and apply for recognition of prior learning.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-cnn-poll-worst-disapproval-rating-ever/9de1f1b2-6c22-400e-8e61-f077957599c5" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Trump plummets to a stunning new low</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The credits can go towards a range of degrees including business, commerce, management, HR, technology and IT.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Each micro-credential counts for up to one subject credit in an undergraduate degree.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>McDonald's Australia CEO Joe Chiczewski said the partnership could cut as much as a year off a student's university studies.</span></div></div><div><iframe frameborder="0" height="150px" src="https://omny.fm/shows/ben-fordham-full-show/no-idea-tax-office-says-illegal-smokes-market-is-too-big-to-count-1/embed?style=Cover" width="100%"></iframe></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/fast-food-giants-move-to-save-workers-up-to-20000/c2cd6231-98ac-4f15-abdb-f92d466e5bee" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Today we're excited to announce that training is being recognised across Australia as a university credit," Chiczewski told Sydney radio station 2GB.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The training we give our people in the restaurants, on the job as well as more formal training is being recognised by universities across Australia.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Our people can now save up to $20,000 in fees and up to a year in university studies just through our training."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In a statement, the fast food giant said it has partnered with some of Australia's leading universities to "provide a seamless pathway for our people towards university credits".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>These providers include the University of Technology Sydney, 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 the William Angliss Institute.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The nationwide rollout follows a successful pilot earlier this year with Torrens University, the University of South Australia and Capability Co.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>McDonald's Mount Annan restaurant manager Zaakirah Khan is one of the employees participating in the program.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I'd always planned to go to university but never imagined I'd have the support of McDonald's in creating that opportunity," Khan said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The fast food giant is one of the largest employers of young people with a workforce of 115,000 people across its restaurants and corporate offices.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS 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