I haven’t heard of this before, but it seems to be a recent trend: Universities offering curricula separate from their normal undergraduate and graduate programs, aimed at offering working professional short-term, focused “professional programs.” For instance, the UC Berkeley Extension.
While I wouldn’t go so far as to call this an out-and-out scam, I do have to wonder at the value of a program that offers no degree, certification, licensure, and offers open enrollment to anyone with the cash to attend. I do have a bachelor’s degree in something unrelated to my desired career path, and taking one of these programs seems like a mighty easy “quick fix” to re-focus my education background.
Is there a consensus on these types of programs? Can they be genuinely useful or are they merely money-making factories for Universities who ran out of MBAs to sell?
Yes, and in some cases, yes. They’re professional development courses for when you don’t need a degree in something, but need to build knowledge of the topic. The link you provided is actually one that I see as a good example of providing a basic into to concepts. One example is their Essentials of Green Chemistry series. Looking at the titles there, I can see that being excellent for someone who’s managing facilities - either as a new hire or for a place that wants (or must) to shift how they choose the chemicals they use.
You’re not typically going to sign up for these courses without a reason - either strong personal interest or high relevance to your job. They’re not cheap, but they do often lead to a certificate or prepare you for certification exams. Are they money makers for the universities that offer them? I’d almost guarantee they are - in part because they lie outside the degree programs and don’t necessarily have some of the same restrictions as to time in class, assessment and the like. They’re also often paid for straight up by a company that’s sending an employee - no worries about waiting for financial aid to come in or the like.