She said it was a no-brainer to make the course free for eligible Kiwis for the rest of the year as New Zealanders help each other get through the impacts of the pandemic.
"It goes without saying, 2020 will be a year we will never forget," she said.
"By June it was abundantly clear that organisations and individuals who had invested in the development of digital systems, processes and the associated knowledge and skills were able to move relatively seamlessly into a virtual world."
Valintine said learning those skills and would take businesses forward and through the impact of Covid-19.
Digital Skills for the Workplace is a NZQA accredited, seven-week part-time course, conducted entirely online over Zoom.
The course has two versions - one for individuals and one for small businesses - and is a level 7 qualification, worth 15 credits.
Valintine said it was designed to address the skills gap in New Zealand that exists after the majority of New Zealanders complete education in their mid-20s, and often don't learn again.
"Our micro-credential in Digital Skills for the Workplace was developed specifically to provide practical, hands-on solutions for people wanting to learn the skills they need to succeed in their role or in their business.
"We also wanted to ensure that at a time when many training budgets have been reduced that tuition fees would not be a barrier to skills."
Valintine said the course would suit plenty of New Zealanders wanting to upskill including those starting up a small business, people wanting to improve knowledge in their current role and those about to enter or re-enter the competitive job market.
To enrol for the October intake for the Workplace course click here.
