Four online courses developed by the University of Leeds are part of a new platform launched today by the Department for Education.
Working in partnership with FutureLearn and the Institute of Coding, the courses developed by the Digital Education Service at the University are flexible, interactive and inclusive, and focus on how to succeed in the digital workplace.
They are available, along with nine other courses, on the Government’s website. The new platform is called 'The Skills Toolkit’.
“We have long recognised the need to support individuals to develop digital skills to meet the societal and economic global challenges facing us."
Professor Neil Morris, Dean of Digital Education at the University of Leeds said:
“We have long recognised the need to support individuals to develop digital skills to meet the societal and economic global challenges facing us, and our courses on this new platform provide opportunities to gain new knowledge and transferable skills.
“We are very proud that they have been chosen by the Department for Education and are confident that they will bring a huge amount of benefit to those who access them.”
The courses are:
- Create a Professional Online Presence
- How to Create Great Online Content
- Presenting Your Work with Impact
- Thriving in the Digital Workplace
Simon Nelson, CEO of FutureLearn said:
“At FutureLearn our mission has always been to transform access to education and we are proud to be working with the Department for Education to deliver on that shared vision.
“We hope that the free digital skills courses included within the Skills Toolkit, which were built in partnership with Accenture, the Institute of Coding, and the University of Leeds, will bring practical and accessible support to people across the country.”
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said the free courses on the platform “will help those whose jobs have been affected by the [Covid-19] outbreak, and people looking to boost their skills while they are staying at home, protecting the NHS and saving lives."
He said: “I want businesses to encourage their furloughed employees to use The Skills Toolkit to improve their knowledge, build their confidence and support their mental health so they have skills they need to succeed after the coronavirus outbreak.”
For further information, please contact Prue Griffiths in the University of Leeds press office via p.griffiths@leeds.ac.uk.