All of our courses are free and you can start them when you want, studying at your own pace.
Business leadership and management
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Managing and managing people
Learn more to access more details of Managing and managing peopleThis free course, Managing and managing people, will introduce you to the world of management. We will be looking at a range of topics, including what managers do, what skills they require, and how you can develop as a manager.
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Understanding operations management
Learn more to access more details of Understanding operations managementOperations management is one of the central functions of all organisations. This free course, Understanding operations management, will provide you with a basic framework for understanding this function, whether producing goods or services or in the private, public or voluntary sectors. In addition, this OpenLearn course discusses the role of ...
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Introduction to operations management
Learn more to access more details of Introduction to operations managementThis free course, Introduction to operations management, will introduce you to the role of operations management in organisations, and gives you the opportunity to understand what an operations manager does. It looks at how the role might influence the short- and long-term success of the organisation. It is important to develop a clear ...
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Integrated safety, health and environmental management: An introduction
Learn more to access more details of Integrated safety, health and environmental management: An introductionLife is full of risk. In this free course, Integrated safety, health and environmental management: An introduction, 'risk' describes the probability and consequences of harm or, at worst, disaster. Risk management involves many stakeholders and integrated management systems help to ensure that safety, quality, environmental and business risks ...
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Making decisions
Learn more to access more details of Making decisionsDo you hate making decisions? Does the ability of others to make snap decisions really frustrate you? This free course will help you understand some of the processes involved in decision making. Attention to the psychology of decision making and the social context in which decisions are made can improve your understanding of others and yourself.
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Commercial awareness
Learn more to access more details of Commercial awarenessBoost your commercial awareness with this free short course. Explore your organisation’s purpose, understand your role within it, and learn how different perspectives can enhance the value you create.
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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 ...
Business challenges and risks
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Leadership challenges in turbulent times
Learn more to access more details of Leadership challenges in turbulent timesWelcome to Leadership challenges in turbulent times, a free course offered by the Open University. We are excited to join you on your journey to explore leadership in the turbulent times that we live in.
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Understanding and managing risk
Learn more to access more details of Understanding and managing riskThis free course, Understanding and managing risk, provides an introduction to financial risk management. The processes of risk identification, risk measurement and risk management are explored. The course then goes on to examine reputational risk and operational risk. It concludes with an examination of the subject of behavioural finance and ...
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Risk management
Learn more to access more details of Risk managementRecent decades have seen an array of news stories where risk management failings have undermined an organisation and dented the credibility of its management. These failings have led to the demise of some companies – for example Lehman Brothers, World-Com and Enron. Worse than this, in many instances the failings have resulted in deaths and ...
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Difference and challenge in teams
Learn more to access more details of Difference and challenge in teamsThis free course looks at how teams ‘travel’ together on a journey of development. Those journeys are hardly ever smooth. The course encourages you to recognise difference and challenge amongst individuals in the team who are pulling in different directions. It will help you identify where such challenges can be embraced for the benefit of your ...
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Can you manage a supply chain?
Take part now to access more details of Can you manage a supply chain?Test your skills of running a supply chain. Can you complete the ordering process, without ending up with too much stock? Your profits and reputation are at stake!
Business marketing and communications
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Business communication: writing a SWOT analysis
Learn more to access more details of Business communication: writing a SWOT analysisThis free course, Business communication: writing a SWOT analysis, is designed to develop your writing skills for business. You will be taken step by step through the process of writing a SWOT analysis, with clear advice on selecting key information from a case study text, making concise notes, choosing an appropriate structure and using ...
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Effective communication in the workplace
Learn more to access more details of Effective communication in the workplaceImprove your workplace relationships and boost your professional impact with this free course on effective communication. Discover how to express yourself clearly, understand others better, and adapt your communication skills for a range of situations, from everyday conversations to the digital workplaces of the future.
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Marketing communications as a strategic function
Learn more to access more details of Marketing communications as a strategic functionMarketing communications help to define an organisation's relationship with its customers. This free course, Marketing communications as a strategic function, emphasises the strategic importance of such communication and its long-term effect on consumers. Communication models can act as a predictive guide, but in the end it is important to ...
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Marketing in the 21st Century
Learn more to access more details of Marketing in the 21st CenturyThis free course, Marketing in the 21st century, offers a managerial perspective on how to deliver more effective marketing in an organisation, regardless of whether it is based in the private, public or non-profit sector. This is achieved through a variety of learning techniques, including case studies, videos, activities and group discussions....
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Personal branding for career success
Learn more to access more details of Personal branding for career successStand out for the right reasons with this free course on personal branding. Learn how to identify your strengths, showcase your skills authentically, and use the right tools to build a professional image that attracts opportunities - whether you’re advancing in your current role or seeking something new.
Business accounting
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Fundamentals of accounting
Learn more to access more details of Fundamentals of accountingLearn about the essential numerical and double-entry skills required for accounting. This free course, Fundamentals of accounting, will explain the fundamental purpose and role of accounting as well as the double-entry rules that are the foundation of all financial records and reports in any modern business.
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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.
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Challenges in advanced management accounting
Learn more to access more details of Challenges in advanced management accountingThis free course, Challenges in advanced management accounting, focuses on strategic management accounting and selected concepts and techniques. It will help you to successfully navigate mid- to long-term challenges to creating sustainable organisations. This OpenLearn course requires a prior understanding of basic management accounting approaches.
Business innovation and diversification
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Making creativity and innovation happen
Learn more to access more details of Making creativity and innovation happenUnlock your creative potential with this free course on creativity and innovation. Explore how individual creativity develops, how organisations can foster innovation, and discover strategies to tackle challenges and do things better and differently.
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Sustainable innovations in enterprises
Learn more to access more details of Sustainable innovations in enterprisesThis free online course, Sustainable innovations in enterprises, introduces you to the importance of sustainable innovations, the role it plays in commercial and social enterprises and the importance to society. It explores cases of sustainable innovations in specialist areas – arts and humanities; science, technology and engineering; health & ...
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Entrepreneurship – from ideas to reality
Learn more to access more details of Entrepreneurship – from ideas to realityTurn your business ideas into reality with this free course on entrepreneurship. Explore practical steps for starting and growing a business, from developing ideas and choosing a business model to funding, location, and assessing your own skills and risk approach — all illustrated with real-life case studies.
Working in the voluntary sector
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Introducing the voluntary sector
Learn more to access more details of Introducing the voluntary sectorThis free course, Introducing the voluntary sector, will guide you through some of the distinctive features and values of the voluntary sector, how organisations are funded and involve volunteers and other ‘stakeholders’ in their work. It will also provide you with knowledge and skills you can apply to your own work or volunteering as well as ...
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Working in the voluntary sector
Learn more to access more details of Working in the voluntary sectorThis free online course, Working in the voluntary sector, will introduce you to some of the main activities carried out by volunteers and staff, will give you some background on how different organisations work and will provide you with knowledge and skills you can apply to your own work or volunteering, as well as to your every day life.
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Collaborative leadership in voluntary organisations
Learn more to access more details of Collaborative leadership in voluntary organisationsThis free course, Collaborative leadership in voluntary organisations, will help you to reflect on and develop collaborative leadership practices that will make a difference. The course is aimed at people who work within voluntary organisations as paid staff or as volunteers or for people who work regularly with voluntary organisations, such as ...
Some of our courses are badged, helping you to improve your employability skills. These courses offer you the chance to gain a digital badge, allowing you to share evidence of your achievement.
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Gain a badge and further your career
Read now to access more details of Gain a badge and further your careerDid you know that The Open University offers a range of free badged courses on OpenLearn all geared towards helping you with employability and your career?
Level: 1 Introductory
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Business Bursts: Failure
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Business Bursts: Marketing
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Business Bursts: Supply chain
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Level: 1 Introductory
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30 years of SME research highlights impact of the ‘digital revolution’
Read now to access more details of 30 years of SME research highlights impact of the ‘digital revolution’The Quarterly Survey of Small Business in Britain highlights the changes affecting SMEs in the past 30 years.
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