Heriot-Watt launches ‘Professional Academy’ to address the skills gap in evolving industries
Heriot-Watt University has launched its Professional Academy, a comprehensive online learning platform which will be offering over 50 university-credited courses designed specifically for busy professionals seeking to upskill rapidly in their current roles.
The innovative platform addresses the growing demand for flexible, accessible professional development in an increasingly competitive job market.
The Professional Academy represents a significant departure from traditional continuing professional development (CPD) offerings, providing stackable courses that can be completed in your own time. Students benefit from Heriot-Watt's 30 years of distance and online learning expertise and can access postgraduate-level courses immediately without an undergraduate degree.
These aren't just courses – they’re smart career investments.
Professionals are increasingly turning to CPD to stay competitive, adapt to change, and advance their careers with forward-thinking employers are enabling this growth. The CPD Standards Office’s latest whitepaper, “CPD Research Project 2023-2024” found 90% of respondents reported career development as a direct result of their engagement in CPD activities.
The Heriot-Watt Professional Academy's approach reflects extensive market research identifying key skills gaps across multiple sectors. It will launch with courses spanning:
● The Edinburgh Business School MBA including Financial Decision Making, Strategic Marketing, and Big Data Analytics for Business
● Business and Organisational Psychology covering Leadership Development, Organisational Change, and Workplace Design
● Specialist Areas including Real Estate Development, Sustainable Investment, and the pioneering Carbon Dioxide Removal course
The curriculum addresses multiple professional development scenarios, from mid-career professionals building towards management roles through courses available on the MBA to senior executives seeking specific expertise in areas like sustainability. This targeted approach differentiates the offering from broader online learning platforms by focusing specifically on career-relevant, university-level content.
The Professional Academy's strategic focus on modular, stackable learning addresses a fundamental challenge in professional development: enabling busy professionals to build qualifications incrementally whilst immediately applying new skills in their roles. The platform has, as a result, adopted a tiered structure designed to meet different professional development needs with individual courses and professional certificates for rapid upskilling today with clear pathways to build towards full degree qualifications tomorrow, faster and at a lower overall cost.
The curriculum has also been carefully crafted through partnerships with leading industry organisations. The real estate programme has been developed in collaboration with one of the world's largest property services companies, whilst the sustainable investment course was created in partnership with Arkadiko, a prominent sustainable finance firm. Supply chain management courses have been developed with the Kühne Foundation linked to the Kühne+Nagel Group, ensuring content remains directly applicable to current industry practices and standards.
Russell Brooks, CEO of Heriot-Watt Online, commented: "Our Professional Academy bridges the gap between academic rigour and practical application. These aren't just courses – they’re smart career investments. Learners can choose courses that meet immediate professional needs, while also building credit towards a future MSc or MBA. It’s a flexible, stackable approach that delivers real-time impact and long-term value.
“We’re prioritising accessibility through flexible enrolment and open access registration. Students from all over the world can now access the platform and this transformative approach to continuous professional development.”
The Professional Academy’s development responds to research indicating that professionals increasingly seek flexible, modular learning that fits around existing commitments whilst delivering immediate workplace value for professionals looking to advance within their current fields or rapidly acquire skills in emerging areas.
For corporate clients, the platform offers bespoke delivery options including preferential group rates, dedicated account management, and the opportunity for academic experts to deliver presentations at company events, making it ideal for global organisations seeking consistent, high-quality professional development.