Digital, numeracy and employability skills are among those that are most sought after by employers, and can help you progress in work and boost your job prospects. Digital skills can be anything from using social media and staying safe online to coding, programming or digital marketing.
These are a small selection of free courses to boost your skills from The Open University. Many others are available by exploring OpenLearn.
You might like to visit The Skills Toolkit from the National Careers Service, where you can find many more courses to help you learn new skills or change jobs. Once you’ve finished studying, the National Careers Service can help you decide your next steps.
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Returning to STEM
Learn more to access more details of Returning to STEMThis free badged course, Returning to STEM, offers useful skills and solutions to help you get back into a career in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM).
Level: 3 Advanced
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Everyday maths 1
Learn more to access more details of Everyday maths 1This free course, Everyday maths 1, is designed to bring your learning to life, inspiring you to improve your current maths skills or helping you to remember any areas that you may have forgotten. Working through the examples and interactive activities in this course will help you to, among other things, run a household or make progress in your ...
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Learn to code for data analysis
Learn more to access more details of Learn to code for data analysisThis free course will teach you how to write your own computer programs, one line of code at a time. You'll learn how to access open data, clean and analyse it, and produce visualisations. You will also learn how to write up and share your analyses, privately or publicly.
Level: 1 Introductory
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Introduction to cyber security: stay safe online
Learn more to access more details of Introduction to cyber security: stay safe onlineThis free course, Introduction to cyber security: stay safe online, will help you to understand online security and start to protect your digital life, whether at home or work. You will learn how to recognise the threats that could harm you online and the steps you can take to reduce the chances that they will happen to you.
Level: 1 Introductory
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Introduction to bookkeeping and accounting
Learn more to access more details of Introduction to bookkeeping and accountingLearn about the essential numerical skills required for accounting and bookkeeping. This free course, Introduction to bookkeeping and accounting, explains the fundamental rules of double-entry bookkeeping and how they are used to produce the balance sheet and the profit and loss account.
Level: 1 Introductory
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Discovering computer networks: hands on in the Open Networking Lab
Learn more to access more details of Discovering computer networks: hands on in the Open Networking LabHave you ever wondered how the internet gets into your home, school, college or workplace? How do all the computers, phones, tablets, printers and other devices connect and work together? In this free course, Discovering computer networks: hands on in the Open Networking Lab, you can explore how computer networks operate, discover how data is ...
Level: 1 Introductory
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Numbers, units and arithmetic
Learn more to access more details of Numbers, units and arithmeticDo fractions and decimals make you apprehensive about maths? Do you lack confidence in dealing with numbers? If so, then this free course, Numbers, units and arithmetic, is for you. The course will explain the basics of working with positive and negative numbers and how to multiply and divide with fractions and decimals.
Level: 1 Introductory
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Entrepreneurship – from ideas to reality
Learn more to access more details of Entrepreneurship – from ideas to realityThis free course, Entrepreneurship: from ideas to reality, is about starting and running your own business. Using case studies it will take you through the decisions from generating initial ideas through to deciding what you will do and how to establish your business and grow it. It will guide you through business models, funding options, ...
Level: 2 Intermediate
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Digital skills: succeeding in a digital world
Learn more to access more details of Digital skills: succeeding in a digital worldThis free course, Digital skills: succeeding in a digital world, will develop your confidence and skills for life online, whether study, work or everyday life. It explores a range of digital skills and practices, including digital identity, digital well-being, staying safe and legal, finding and using information and online tools, and dealing ...
Level: 1 Introductory
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Digital thinking tools for better decision making
Learn more to access more details of Digital thinking tools for better decision makingEver since the very beginning of humanity, tools have played a pivotal role in who we are and what we do. Tools for recording, processing and communicating information have a time-honoured history – from the clay tokens used in Mesopotamia to mechanical calculating machines. The invention of the digital computer has boosted the scale, speed and ...
Level: 1 Introductory
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Personal branding for career success
Learn more to access more details of Personal branding for career successThis free course, Personal branding for career success, considers what a personal brand is and whether you currently have one. You’ll look in detail at theories and examples of personal branding, and relevant marketing processes and practices. You’ll identify the values, skills, knowledge and expertise that you want to promote to employers, and ...
Level: 1 Introductory
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Leadership and followership
Learn more to access more details of Leadership and followershipThis free course, Leadership and followership, will help you to explore what makes a good leader, recognise common leadership challenges, and identify the skills you need to develop if you want to enhance your own leadership experience.
Level: 1 Introductory
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Working in diverse teams
Learn more to access more details of Working in diverse teamsThis free badged course, Working in diverse teams, will help you consider your experience of working in teams and the different roles you play in them. It will increase your confidence in marketing this key skill to employers as well improve your ability to perform well in teams you are currently part of.
Level: 1 Introductory
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Exploring career mentoring and coaching
Learn more to access more details of Exploring career mentoring and coachingThis free course, Exploring career mentoring and coaching, will explain what mentors and career coaches do and how a colleague or expert who can ask the right questions, challenge assumptions, and help an individual to find the best solutions for themselves, can make a significant difference in a wide range of situations and contexts.
Level: 1 Introductory
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Effective communication in the workplace
Learn more to access more details of Effective communication in the workplaceThis free course, Effective communication in the workplace, explores the importance of communication as a skill in the workplace. It aims to increase your understanding of communication skills and to help you to consider how your communication could be perceived by others. You'll cover areas such as verbal and non-verbal communication, written ...
Level: 1 Introductory
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Internships and other work experiences
Learn more to access more details of Internships and other work experiencesIn this free course, Internships and other work experiences, you’ll begin by learning more about what an internship is and how it might differ from other forms of work experience. You’ll find out what you can gain personally and professionally, and consider the practicalities of obtaining work experience, from how to choose what’s right for you,...
Level: 1 Introductory
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Hi folks, over 60 years and recently unemployed, the OU is helping to keep me sane and I have just found 3 short courses that I would like to have a go at. Who knows where it will lead.
Hi All- Are there courses in connect to Montessori and dietian courses.
Dear Vijeta,
Thank you for visiting us. Unfortunately, we don't have specific courses related to Montessori but I would suggest checking these ones:
The world of the primary school https://www.open.edu/openlearn/education-development/the-world-the-prima...
Children’s perspectives on play https://www.open.edu/openlearn/education-development/childrens-perspecti...
And these other ones related to diet and healthy lifestyle:
The science of nutrition and healthy eating https://www.open.edu/openlearn/health-sports-psychology/health/the-scien...
Eating to win: activity, diet and weight control https://www.open.edu/openlearn/health-sports-psychology/sport-fitness/ea...
Eating for the environment https://www.open.edu/openlearn/nature-environment/eating-the-environment...
We have many more courses available in our catalogue: https://www.open.edu/openlearn/free-courses/full-catalogue
Kind regards,
OpenLearn