In today’s fast-paced world, continuous learning and upskilling have become essential for professionals looking to stay competitive in their respective fields. With the rise of online learning platforms, acquiring new skills and knowledge has never been easier. In this article, we will explore some of the top online learning sites that offer high-quality and free courses, as well as training programs from major players in the tech industry like Google, Meta, and LinkedIn.
1. Maformation:
Maformation, a part of the Hellowork group and the publisher of BDM, is a comprehensive platform that lists numerous courses for professionals in various domains such as office skills, communication, graphic design, IT, marketing, social media, and web development. Whether you are looking to enhance your current skills or explore new career paths, Maformation offers a wide range of courses to help you achieve your goals. Most of these courses are eligible for funding through your Personal Training Account (CPF), with a new requirement of a 100€ co-payment starting in 2024.
2. OpenClassrooms:
OpenClassrooms is a top-notch educational resource offering 600 online courses in various fields including web development, cybersecurity, data science, office skills, design, project management, marketing, and communication. One of the standout features of OpenClassrooms is the personalized mentorship provided throughout your learning journey. Additionally, the platform offers around fifty online diploma courses in popular professions like IT technician, WordPress developer, product manager, UX designer, and marketing project manager, all of which can be financed through CPF.
3. Khan Academy:
Khan Academy is a well-known platform that provides access to numerous high-quality free online courses, with a strong focus on the „Computer Science“ category for web professionals. Whether you want to learn programming languages like JavaScript or HTML/CSS, Khan Academy offers a wealth of resources to help you specialize in this field.
4. Coursera:
Coursera boasts a vast catalog of free online courses designed to help you develop new skills, master tools, and deepen your expertise in various domains. Partnering with top universities, Coursera offers comprehensive and accessible courses in fields such as web development, cybersecurity, blockchain, deep learning, languages, Excel, Canva, and more.
5. France Université Numérique:
France Université Numérique (FUN) has established itself as a leading platform for free online training in web-related professions. With partnerships with several French universities and higher education institutions, FUN offers a diverse range of free courses in multiple languages through a MOOC format. From communication and media to law, IT and programming, languages, digital technology, entrepreneurship, and innovation, FUN covers a wide array of subjects to cater to different interests and career goals.
6. Udacity:
Udacity offers hundreds of free courses on various digital-related topics such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, product design, data science, web development, Android, iOS, A/B testing, virtual reality, and Google Sheets. The courses are categorized by level and duration, allowing you to choose based on your proficiency and time availability.
7. Edx:
Edx brings together courses from prestigious universities like MIT, Harvard, Berkeley, Boston, Cambridge, as well as tech giants like Google, AWS, and IBM. With a focus on helping you acquire new skills, strengthen your expertise, or pivot your career, Edx offers a wide range of free online courses in multiple languages. Upon completion, you can obtain a certification to showcase your achievements.
8. Saylor Academy:
Saylor Academy is a valuable resource for finding free online courses open to all learners. With comprehensive courses in communication, IT, English, business, political science, professional development, mathematics, and more, Saylor Academy provides a pathway to gaining certifications through final exams at the end of each program.
9. Udemy:
Udemy is a popular platform offering paid courses to help you initiate or enhance your knowledge in various subjects such as design, marketing, web development, IT, business, and personal development. With over 220,000 online courses and new content added monthly, Udemy caters to a wide range of interests and skill levels.
10. Class Central:
Class Central serves as an aggregator for free online courses from platforms like Coursera, Edx, Udemy, France Université Numérique, Udacity, Saylor Academy, and OpenClassrooms. With over 200,000 courses available in more than 8,700 subjects including data science, programming, IT, information security, art, design, and personal development, Class Central offers a comprehensive learning experience for individuals seeking to expand their knowledge.
11. LeetCode:
LeetCode is a platform offering both free and paid courses exclusively for web and mobile developers. Whether you want to improve your skills, broaden your knowledge, or prepare for technical interviews, LeetCode supports 14 programming languages commonly used in the market. Engage in weekly contests to win rewards, or hone your programming skills by solving technical problems.
12. Unity Learn:
Unity Learn provides guided and free learning paths for individuals of all levels to master interactive development software. With a focus on 2D, 3D, graphics, visual effects, and user interface design, Unity Learn offers a fun learning experience with badges to earn and live sessions to interact with experts and creators for valuable insights and tips.
13. Google for Professionals:
Google’s training program aims to assist professionals in their digital transformation journey by mastering the tools offered by the tech giant. Whether you want to learn coding, cybersecurity, design, AI, web marketing, or productivity, Google for Professionals provides valuable resources to enhance your expertise or kickstart your entrepreneurial endeavors. While the content may be basic, it serves as a great introduction to Google’s ecosystem and its possibilities, with in-person digital workshops also available.
14. Meta Blueprint:
Meta Blueprint offers in-depth training programs focusing on advertising tools within the Meta suite, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger. By completing these courses, you will be equipped to leverage the various features offered by the Meta Business platform. The extensive course catalog features quick, free, and accessible sessions with certifications upon completion.
15. LinkedIn Learning:
LinkedIn Learning is an online learning platform that offers video courses led by experts for professionals looking to enhance their skills in business, technology, and creativity. By leveraging your profile data, LinkedIn Learning suggests tailored online courses to help you progress in your career and take on more responsibilities. While the subscription is paid, you can enjoy a free trial for a month to explore the platform’s offerings.
In conclusion, the abundance of online learning platforms mentioned above provides a wealth of opportunities for professionals to expand their knowledge, acquire new skills, and advance their careers. Whether you are looking to upskill in a specific area, explore a new field, or prepare for career transitions, these platforms offer a diverse range of courses to cater to your learning needs. Take advantage of these resources to stay ahead in the ever-evolving digital landscape and unlock new opportunities for personal and professional growth.