In a modern world where alternative ways of gaining knowledge and skills have become highly accessible – traditional higher education sometimes proves to be archaic. There are cases where universities and colleges are failing to keep up with contemporary ways of acquiring knowledge. Let’s face it; the formalistic idea that success is only attainable by knowing what you want to do for the rest of your life at 18-years, applying for a degree or diploma, and then easily entering the job market through that qualification is quite outdated. Not only does higher education not guarantee success or in some cases even a job, but it is also extremely expensive and can prove to be unattainable for most people.
Financial constraints continue to be a barrier to attaining education. Getting into university or college can be arduous – not only does one need to complete long and sometimes costly application forms, but requirements for matric certificates and other formal documents also exclude the majority of people. Luckily, we are living in self-sufficient times where people have found ways to bypass the financially limiting nature of higher education. One way of doing this is by picking up skills that are forward-facing through Google certifications.
Google Certifications
Google offers various online courses for people to expand their knowledge in high-growth fields. The Training Certificates come with many benefits such as learning at your own pace, gaining skills that are in demand and standing out to potential employers. Additionally, the Certificates require no prior experience. After completing the flexible online training, one gains a Google Professional Certification which could prove to be a very empowering resource.
Below is a list of five free Google Certifications available to anyone who would like to pick up skills. These courses could help with starting and maintaining a business as well as foster development in a desired career. The programmes do not require relevant experience in the industry, are 100% remote learning, and will need under 10 hours of study a week. The full Certificate programmes include quizzes, projects, and assignments.
IT SUPPORT
The IT Certificate enables one to learn the fundamentals of troubleshooting, networking, operating systems, system administration and security.
Jobs that are in demand in IT that you could qualify for after completing the course include database administrator, help desk technician, IT support specialist, systems analyst, network engineer, and IT assistant. According to Business Tech, IT skills are amongst the most sought-after skills in South Africa. This is not surprising considering that most of the world, especially due to the pandemic, relies on technology to run efficiently.
DATA ANALYTICS
Through this programme, you will learn how to develop coveted data analytics skills using spreadsheets and programming languages such as SQL, data management tools such as Tableau Software and statistical computing and graphics software environments such as R.
Data analysts may work as junior data analysts, associate data analysts, marketing analysts, business performance analysts, junior data scientists, finance analysts, operations analysts, and healthcare analysts. In the wake of the demand for data skills, according to Business Intelligence, the South African government is committed to training one million young people in data science by 2030. Beat the queue and start your own training today!
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Discover what it takes to build a successful career in project management and learn about common project management approaches through this training. You will learn about estimating time and budgets, identifying and managing risks and running effective meetings and managing stakeholders. With no relevant experience required, this online programme provides you with skills needed for an entry-level job in project management.
UX DESIGN
This User Experience design course offers knowledge in developing personas and user stories, conducting usability studies, creating wireframes and prototypes and building professional portfolios.
With this Certification, one qualifies for coveted jobs such as project designer, interaction designer, visual designer and user experience designer. UX designers design projects and tools that make technology more user-friendly and accessible.
ANDROID DEVELOPMENT
A Certification in android development helps you fast-track your career in mobile app development. Almost everyone consumes media through their smartphones and mobile apps and android developers reach people through apps and connected devices. This online programme covers the essential steps of developing, testing, and debugging Android apps in Kotlin (a programming language). If you are considering a job as a developer, this programme is suitable for you.
Conclusion
The era of democratized knowledge is here – we are bidding farewell to the requirement that one must follow a traditional path of gaining knowledge in order to succeed. Take the opportunity to upskill yourself from the comfort of your couch today, all you need is a laptop and an appetite for learning!
Amazing. Thanks for this amazing information and opportunity for learning.