Free courses
Produced by The Open University, a world leader in open and distance learning, all OpenLearn courses are free to study. We offer nearly 1000 free courses across 9 different subject areas. Our courses are available to start right away.
- All topics
free course icon
level 3: advanced icon
Money & Business
Managing virtual project teams
Many projects are now ‘virtual’, i.e. some or all of the team are located remotely and may be working in different time zones. The project manager needs all the traditional soft skills, and more. This free course, Managing virtual project teams, looks at knowledge and techniques which underpin team selection and then consider the additional ...
free course icon
level 3: advanced icon
Money & Business
Project governance and Project Management Office (PMO)
Whether a project is large or small, innovative or similar to other projects, governance and administrative support will be needed. The type of governance, and level of support, will vary considerably between projects of different types and complexity. This course, Project governance and Project Management Office (PMO), considers project ...
free course icon
level 3: advanced icon
Money & Business
Employment relations and employee engagement
This free course, Employment relations and employee engagement, looks at raising levels of employee engagement, which is the latest in a long line of managerial strategies aimed at releasing employee ‘discretionary effort’ and aligning employee interests more closely with managerial goals, on the assumption that this will in turn boost ...
free course icon
level 3: advanced icon
Money & Business
Understanding different research perspectives
This free course, Understanding different research perspectives, explores the development of the research process looking at the different perspectives from which an issue or phenomenon can be investigated; and highlights the main methodologies that can be used to investigate a business issue. By looking at different perspectives/approaches to ...
free course icon
level 1: introductory icon
Money & Business
Difference and challenge in teams
This 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 ...
free course icon
level 3: advanced icon
Money & Business
Discovering development management
Discovering development management is a free course that sets out to build up the basic capacities for managing the multiple challenges of development – any development. It rests on the assumption that management is a political and ethical process, a matter of the use of power to bring about desired goals in contexts characterised by conflicts ...
free course icon
level 3: advanced icon
Health, Sports & Psychology
Lead and manage change in health and social care
Change is everywhere in health and social care work and can evoke a variety of emotions, from excitement and eager anticipation, to fear and outright hostility. In this free course, How to manage change in health and social care, you will explore the role of managers in the change process and the skills required for managing and leading change ...
free course icon
level 2: intermediate icon
Education & Development
Careers education and guidance (Chinese)
本免费课程是“职业生涯教育与指导”课程的中文翻译版本，英文原版也在本网站中提供。 This free course is the Chinese version of Careers education and guidance which is also available in English.
free course icon
level 3: advanced icon
Money & Business
Project management: the start of the project journey
This free course, Project management: The start of the project journey, introduces projects, what they are, how they come about, responses to problems and planning. It explores the role of key players including the project manager, feasibility studies, decision making and project life cycles.
free course icon
level 1: introductory icon
Money & Business
Rural entrepreneurship in Wales
What are the important issues to consider when starting up or running a small business in a rural environment? This free course, Rural entrepreneurship in Wales, will introduce you to some concepts and models that will help you work out what you want to do with your business idea and to consider the impact of living in a rural location.
free course icon
level 3: advanced icon
Money & Business
Enacting European Citizenship (ENACT)
The term 'European citizenship' triggers an immediate association with the European Union, its member states, and people who are citizens of those states. This free course, Enacting European Citizenship (ENACT), develops another way of thinking about European citizenship whereby European citizenship need not be granted by the state, limited to ...
free course icon
level 3: advanced icon
Money & Business
Entrepreneurial impressions – reflection
In this free course, Entrepreneurial impressions - reflection, you will be encouraged to unpack your own experiences of, and perceptions about, entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship. You will also take a look at the relevant research evidence on entrepreneurial personality and on the role of informal ties with family and friends. There are still ...