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Abstract

ou’re looking to impress potential colleagues, then Harvard Professional Development Courses provide a strong advantage.</p><h1 id="fcb6">Oxford Women’s Leadership Development Programme</h1><p id="463c">Women’s Leadership with <a href="https://www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/">Oxford’s Saïd Business School</a> is specifically designed to help break through gender barriers and help grow into leadership roles, however it costs a small fortune. This 6 week, 9–12 hours per week (not including the orientation) self-paced online course will set you back £2200. The modules included are:</p><ul><li>Orientation Module: Welcome to your Online Campus</li><li>Module 1 Accepting yourself as a leader</li><li>Module 2 Understanding your context</li><li>Module 3 Negotiating as a leadership practice</li><li>Module 4 Becoming an influential leader</li><li>Module 5 Developing as a leader: What can help you?</li><li>Module 6 Imagining your future possibilities as a leader</li></ul><p id="a419">Oxford Saïd Business School offers a specific payment plan if needed. Other online professional development courses are also available from leadership, economics, finance, consulting, and much more. I will warn you however the prices are high.</p><h1 id="07e9">MOOC — Massive Open Online Courses</h1><p id="5154">Mooc, also known as <a href="https://www.classcentral.com/help/moocs">‘Massive Open Online Courses’ </a>has become a worldwide game-changer in education. <a href="https://www.edsurge.com/news/2018-08-21-moocs-are-no-longer-massive-and-they-serve-different-audiences-than-first-imagined">MOOC was designed in 2011 by Stanford professors to share their courses online</a>.</p><p id="685c">These are free, top-notch courses from world-wide universities, colleges, and polytechnics. A small fee is charged for a certificate if you decide to go that route, otherwise, it is free, free, free! Although MOOC has slowed down in popularity, it’s still just as credible and just as free.</p><p id="4636">I’m currently enrolled in an Adolescent Mental Health course through a MOOC provider as psychology is my background and I couldn’t be happier.</p><p id="0dd8">Just a few courses you can find through a MOOC provider are:</p><ul><li>Global Politics</li><li>Philanthropy</li><li>Environmental Sustainability</li><li>Psychology</li><li>Leadership</li><li>Lifestyle Medicine</li><li>Computer Science</li><li>Technology</li><li>Virtual Reality</li><li>Architecture</li></ul><p id="d81d">The certification is very credible from several globally renowned schools such as Hong Kong Polytechnic University to the University of Queensland, Australia, and from Harvard to the University of British Columbia.</p><p id="a356">MOOC also offers degree programs, however, they are slightly different and include an application process plus tuition.</p><h1 id="3f61">MOOC Providers</h1><ul><li><a href="https://www.coursera.org/">Coursera</a></li><li><a href="https://www.edx.org/search?tab=program&utm_campaign=mooc-browse-all-cta&utm_medium=landing-page&utm_source=mooc.org">edX</a></li><li><a href="https://www.futurelearn.com/?utm_source=RakutenMarketing&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=3343141:WA+Agency&utm_content=10:1&utm_term=USNetwork&ranMID=44015&ranEAID=VW0I2QEkbtc&ranSiteID=VW0I2QEkbtc-EgMZqDnIGeyLIRvgi2S29w">FutureLearn</a></li><li><a href="https://www.udacity.com/nanodegree?utm_source=gsem_brand&utm_medium=ads_r&utm_campaign=8826748790_c&utm_term=87778505894&utm_keyword=udacity%20courses_e&gclid=Cj0KCQjw6575BRCQARIsAMp-ksNH3TZN0UikuKCTP9yjyVbsZ0ZsyYIg4bjin_FTysDfx3pbuA3Q2LkaAgfuEALw_wcB">Udacity</a></li></ul><p id="3b51">Coursera and edX have a large focus on tech and computer science with many other subjects dispersed throughout. FutureLearn has a unique set of subjects consisting of arts and media, history, healthcare medicine, nature and environment, teaching, and literature. Udacity has a strong focus on artificial intelligence, data science, programming, and cloud computing.</p><figure id="1cf3"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*lVo1GiMsCIW6txuQcLpsjQ.jpeg"><figcaption>

Options

Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@dtravisphd?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">David Travis</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/adult-studying?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure><h1 id="1ecf">Disney Institute</h1><p id="c11d">Yes, you read that correctly!<a href="https://www.disneyinstitute.com/"> Even Disney offers professional development</a> courses. Their focus is on leadership, employee engagement, quality service, and business excellence. The starting fee is a one-day course at $1750 to a multi-day course at$ 5450. Group courses are also available. These courses are not online, they just happen to be held at the theme parks! Although not sure what the status is during COVID-19.</p><p id="291e">Fun fact; Before the airline upset, <a href="https://www.thestar.com/business/2013/05/27/air_canada_rouge_hopes_to_capture_disney_magic.html">Air Canada flight attendants </a>were sent on a return trip to Disneyworld in Orlando, Florida to take one of these courses. How fun is that!</p><h1 id="5c6e">Microsoft Partner Communities</h1><p id="7a56">There are a ton of <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/itshowcase/webinars">free webinars</a> on Microsoft for those techies who want to learn more, and for those employers who would like the best training for their team. These are on-demand videos with professionals, and each webinar concludes with a questions and answers segment.</p><h1 id="7469">Google Digital Garage</h1><p id="3daf">Imagine learning digital marketing from Google itself. You can find 126 free courses, training, and webinars on various subjects such as digital marketing, business security, and productivity at the workplace.</p><p id="6ff2">Some of the benefits of Google courses:</p><ul><li>Short video lessons and quizzes</li><li>Official Digital Garage certification by Google and IAB Europe</li><li>In-person workshops and coaching sessions</li></ul><h1 id="8233">Udemy</h1><p id="30f4">There are mixed reviews of this learning platform. However, if you’re looking for basic knowledge or an introduction to pretty much any subject in the world, you will find it at <a href="https://www.udemy.com/?utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=udemyads&utm_campaign=Branded__Topic__CA&utm_content=deal4584&utm_term=_._ag_69059660355_._ad_382526549942_._kw_udemy%20online%20courses_._de_c_._dm__._pl__._ti_kwd-298974052075_._li_9001552_._pd__._&matchtype=e&gclid=Cj0KCQjw6575BRCQARIsAMp-ksMzgboBiOy7l5c7tpe-bGijeqYpSVXyk7hueAPxURicvsgaHhh2nwwaAra7EALw_wcB">Udemy</a>. They claim to have 100,000 courses online but be sure to read the reviews. Some courses are better than others. Prices seem to hover between an affordable $16.99 to$ 25.99, with some being free, usually as part of a promotion.</p><p id="008a">I typed in psychology and found Udemy offered 3385 courses just in that subject alone. Udemy also provides photography, journalism, design, lifestyle, health, and teaching just to name a few.</p><p id="474e">Udemy does not focus on certification, it’s more for personal fulfillment.</p><h1 id="5682">LinkedIn Premium Membership</h1><p id="6d74">LinkedIn offers several computer courses such as Word and Excel for free to its premium membership holders. The membership costs $29.99 / month and with this, you can add course certification to your LinkedIn profile. Courses also range from Data Analytics, Python, Excel Market Research Strategies to even learning how to write a compelling blog post.</p><p id="5110">There are many more free online professional development courses out there, it’s just a matter of finding the perfect course for you.</p><p id="b9aa">This is an uncertain time and now is the time to get inspired and focus on self-improvement. We’ve been forced to slow down, stay home, and look close to home for pretty much anything we need. I for one am ecstatic with the opportunity to keep learning for free, and for those who can afford the more expensive options, why not? As you can see, I’m a huge advocate of life-long learning!</p></article></body>

Push Your Boundaries with Continued Learning

Top professional development courses that can improve your career

Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash

Covid-19 has cost us all on a global scale, but that doesn’t mean we can’t continue to grow. Let’s take this unpredictable time to dedicate our time towards professional development and self-improvement, especially from the safety and comfort of home.

I’ve always loved learning, and my career in the airline industry has been grounded, literally. With so much ambiguity looming I decided that now is the perfect time to enroll in online learning to further improve my resume. Nothing boosts self-esteem more than accomplishment and broadening our skill levels.

I believe this is one of the best avenues to not only indicate a willingness to expand my skill acquisition, but it also increases personal assurance. The Digital Marketing Institute mentions several benefits of professional development courses.

Along with the obvious increase in earning potential, it has also been shown to have health benefits. L earning is linked to increased brain cell connectivit y and the reading involved in learning is shown to reduce stress.

Professional Development Courses

Learn@Forbes Certification Courses

Forbes media company has paired up with top-notch educators and executives in the business field to create a plethora of courses. They have been designed for motivated professionals to keep a step ahead of their competition. Courses range from basic accounting to public speaking and from project management, and human resources to ethics of being a CFO.

Motivated learners can study leadership courses, conflict resolution, and business relationship building. Several courses are available through Learn@Forbes Certification Program with a monthly subscription of $25.99 or a one-year subscription at $12.99 per month billed annually.

Self-paced and consisting of real-world cases, these courses are ideal for business professionals within the corporate level, entrepreneurs, and new graduates. The certificates are highly credible and impressive for your resume or to present to your employer. There may be a small fee for the actual certificate over and above the subscription.

Harvard Extension School Professional Development Courses

Harvard Continuing Studies has non-credit professional development courses to increase skills in management. Although these courses are relatively pricey ranging from between $1250 to over $2800, the Harvard name on your professional certificate is bound to catch an employer’s attention.

Course topics range from business negotiation to marketing, and from leadership to strategy and communication. If you’re looking to impress potential colleagues, then Harvard Professional Development Courses provide a strong advantage.

Oxford Women’s Leadership Development Programme

Women’s Leadership with Oxford’s Saïd Business School is specifically designed to help break through gender barriers and help grow into leadership roles, however it costs a small fortune. This 6 week, 9–12 hours per week (not including the orientation) self-paced online course will set you back £2200. The modules included are:

Orientation Module: Welcome to your Online Campus
Module 1 Accepting yourself as a leader
Module 2 Understanding your context
Module 3 Negotiating as a leadership practice
Module 4 Becoming an influential leader
Module 5 Developing as a leader: What can help you?
Module 6 Imagining your future possibilities as a leader

Oxford Saïd Business School offers a specific payment plan if needed. Other online professional development courses are also available from leadership, economics, finance, consulting, and much more. I will warn you however the prices are high.

MOOC — Massive Open Online Courses

Mooc, also known as ‘Massive Open Online Courses’ has become a worldwide game-changer in education. MOOC was designed in 2011 by Stanford professors to share their courses online.

These are free, top-notch courses from world-wide universities, colleges, and polytechnics. A small fee is charged for a certificate if you decide to go that route, otherwise, it is free, free, free! Although MOOC has slowed down in popularity, it’s still just as credible and just as free.

I’m currently enrolled in an Adolescent Mental Health course through a MOOC provider as psychology is my background and I couldn’t be happier.

Just a few courses you can find through a MOOC provider are:

Global Politics
Philanthropy
Environmental Sustainability
Psychology
Leadership
Lifestyle Medicine
Computer Science
Technology
Virtual Reality
Architecture

The certification is very credible from several globally renowned schools such as Hong Kong Polytechnic University to the University of Queensland, Australia, and from Harvard to the University of British Columbia.

MOOC also offers degree programs, however, they are slightly different and include an application process plus tuition.

MOOC Providers

Coursera and edX have a large focus on tech and computer science with many other subjects dispersed throughout. FutureLearn has a unique set of subjects consisting of arts and media, history, healthcare medicine, nature and environment, teaching, and literature. Udacity has a strong focus on artificial intelligence, data science, programming, and cloud computing.

Disney Institute

Yes, you read that correctly! Even Disney offers professional development courses. Their focus is on leadership, employee engagement, quality service, and business excellence. The starting fee is a one-day course at $1750 to a multi-day course at $5450. Group courses are also available. These courses are not online, they just happen to be held at the theme parks! Although not sure what the status is during COVID-19.

Fun fact; Before the airline upset, Air Canada flight attendants were sent on a return trip to Disneyworld in Orlando, Florida to take one of these courses. How fun is that!

Microsoft Partner Communities

There are a ton of free webinars on Microsoft for those techies who want to learn more, and for those employers who would like the best training for their team. These are on-demand videos with professionals, and each webinar concludes with a questions and answers segment.

Google Digital Garage

Imagine learning digital marketing from Google itself. You can find 126 free courses, training, and webinars on various subjects such as digital marketing, business security, and productivity at the workplace.

Some of the benefits of Google courses:

Short video lessons and quizzes
Official Digital Garage certification by Google and IAB Europe
In-person workshops and coaching sessions

Udemy

There are mixed reviews of this learning platform. However, if you’re looking for basic knowledge or an introduction to pretty much any subject in the world, you will find it at Udemy. They claim to have 100,000 courses online but be sure to read the reviews. Some courses are better than others. Prices seem to hover between an affordable $16.99 to $25.99, with some being free, usually as part of a promotion.

I typed in psychology and found Udemy offered 3385 courses just in that subject alone. Udemy also provides photography, journalism, design, lifestyle, health, and teaching just to name a few.

Udemy does not focus on certification, it’s more for personal fulfillment.

LinkedIn Premium Membership

LinkedIn offers several computer courses such as Word and Excel for free to its premium membership holders. The membership costs $29.99 / month and with this, you can add course certification to your LinkedIn profile. Courses also range from Data Analytics, Python, Excel Market Research Strategies to even learning how to write a compelling blog post.

There are many more free online professional development courses out there, it’s just a matter of finding the perfect course for you.

This is an uncertain time and now is the time to get inspired and focus on self-improvement. We’ve been forced to slow down, stay home, and look close to home for pretty much anything we need. I for one am ecstatic with the opportunity to keep learning for free, and for those who can afford the more expensive options, why not? As you can see, I’m a huge advocate of life-long learning!