FutureLearn: Affordable, Flexible Learning for All

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Today, there are several online learning platforms. Do you want to explore one of the unique online learning platforms? So, in this post, we will get to know about “FutureLearn” an online learning platform. A platform where you can learn and improve your skills and boost the opportunity to succeed in your life. We will get an introduction to FutureLearn, its history, future, and a lot more. So, without any delay let’s start to know.

Introduction:

FutureLearn is an online learning platform, that offers various online courses, degrees, and programs offered by top-ranked universities in the world. Its motive is to provide high-quality and flexible education which can be accessed by anyone, anytime, anywhere. It has a wide range of courses in the library covering subjects like Business & Management, IT & Computer Science, Law, Politics & Society Nature and Environment, and a lot more.

FutureLearn

History:  

FutureLearn was founded by The Open University (OU, a UK-based institution known for its expertise in distance education) in December 2012. It was started to fulfill the demand of highly growing demand for MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses), with the ambition of providing high quality and flexible distance education that can be accessed by anyone desiring to get skills. A platform that improves the way of learning, and how people learn and upskill with the offering of high-quality, affordable, flexible, accessible, time-saving, and industry-relevant education regardless of location, time, and background.

In order to compete with the pre-existing MOOC platforms like Coursera and edX, FutureLearn started with the vision to combine social learning, digital storytelling, and a user-friendly interface to present its uniqueness in the market.

It successfully collaborated with 12 UK universities to offer its initial courses. The University of Birmingham, the University of Bristol, and King’s College London were some of those universities. To make courses accessible to everyone, it offered totally free of cost courses. One of the unique approaches of this platform was collaborative learning in which learners are encouraged to do group discussions and different activities.

In 2014-2015 it introduced certifications for the learners who have completed the course. It also collaborated with international universities as well as non-academic institutions, such as the British Museum, British Council, and UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization).

In 2017, it started collaborating with leading companies and organizations like Accenture and Microsoft. It also launched micro-credential programs in the same period.

During COVID-19 (2019-2021), it began offering several courses for free, to support learners during the pandemic. This initiative greatly increased the number of enrollments and users. It also increased its partnerships with universities, during this period it collaborated with universities like Monash University, the University of Michigan, and the University of Glasgow.

In 2021-2022, FutureLearn had over 15 million learners all over the world. During this session, it introduced ExpertTracks (a subscription model), progress tracking, gamification, and improved mobile accessibility.

In the end, during 2023-2024, it started courses on trending topics like climate change, AI, and many more. At this time it has partnerships with over 250 universities and institutions.

Courses Available Related To:

FutureLearn’s library contains a wide range of courses. It offers courses related to the following main subjects/fields:

  • Business & Management
  • Creative Arts & Media
  • Healthcare & Medicine
  • History
  • IT & Computer Science
  • Language
  • Law
  • Literature
  • Nature & Environment
  • Politics & Society
  • Psychology & Mental Health
  • Science, Engineering & Math
  • Study Skills
  • Teaching

Key Features:

Since 2013, it has been offering high-quality courses and degree programs. Among many features, some of the key features of FutureLearn are the following:

  • Wide Range of Courses: FutureLearn offers a wide range of courses covering all possible fields of life. Its offerings mainly include AI and machine learning, data science and Business Analytics, IT/Software development, entrepreneurship, Healthcare & Medicine, law, literature, business development, digital marketing, career development, cybersecurity, Science, Engineering & Math, cloud computing, design thinking, social media and branding, marketing and advertising, and many more.
  • Degree Programs: You can also enroll in degree programs like bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the top-ranked universities through this platform.
  • Variety of Course Formats: Learners can learn through a variety of course formats like video lectures, classroom materials, and short classes. Most of the courses are video-based. Instructors may also provide downloadable materials like templates, worksheets, or reading resources to supplement the lessons.
  • Learn In-demand Skills: Learn in-demand skills and core business concepts to enhance your education, start your own business, or secure a better job with our free, accessible digital learning courses.
  • Self-paced Learning: It is the platform that started offering self-paced learning.
  • AI Assistance: Now this platform offers AI assistance which can be helpful for choosing the right course, and inquiring queries related to the courses.
  • Affordability: Courses available on this platform are affordable. It also offers a wide range of free courses, you can enroll in them without any subscriptions.
  • Certificates: You do receive a Certificate of Completion for finishing each course, which can be a valuable addition to your portfolio, resume, or CV.

Conclusion:

In brief, FutureLearn is an online learning platform. Its flexibility, accessibility, and high-quality content can help to improve skills and to achieve learning goals. With high-quality courses (most have free access) you can learn new skills or improve the existing ones. It also offers degrees offered by globally recognized top-rank universities. Its flexibility and quality are attracting learners from all over the world.

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