This page contains Free and Accredited 2023 – 2024 online courses with Qualifications Certificates offered from Educational Institutions, Universities and Colleges in South Africa. Courses also come with printable certificates of completion.
The digital age has revolutionized the way we learn and access educational resources. One significant development has been the emergence of free online courses, which provide individuals with the opportunity to expand their knowledge and skills at their own pace and from the comfort of their homes. This article explores the usefulness of free online courses, how they work, and the potential for securing employment through completing these courses in South Africa. Furthermore, we will discuss accredited 2023-2024 online courses with qualification certificates offered by educational institutions, universities, and colleges in the country.
What are Free Online Courses?
Free online courses, also known as Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), are educational programs delivered over the internet, accessible to anyone with an internet connection. They are designed to provide learners with a flexible and convenient learning experience, covering a wide range of subjects and disciplines. These courses can be offered by prestigious universities, colleges, and educational institutions, often featuring expert instructors and multimedia resources to facilitate learning. While some courses are entirely free, others may require a fee for accessing additional resources or obtaining a certificate of completion.
The Value of Free Online Courses
- Accessibility and Flexibility: Free online courses allow learners to access educational content from anywhere, at any time, and at their own pace. This flexibility makes learning more accessible to individuals with varying schedules, commitments, and geographical locations.
- Diverse Range of Subjects: Online courses cover a wide array of subjects, from computer science and business management to art and psychology, catering to diverse interests and career aspirations.
- Skill Development: These courses enable learners to acquire new skills or expand on existing ones, potentially making them more attractive to potential employers or paving the way for career advancement.
- Networking Opportunities: Online courses often provide discussion forums and interactive platforms, where learners can connect with peers and experts from around the world, fostering networking and collaboration.
- Cost-effective Learning: As many online courses are free or relatively affordable, they offer a cost-effective way for individuals to pursue their educational and professional goals.
Employment Prospects Through Free Online Courses in South Africa
While completing a free online course may not guarantee immediate employment, it can enhance one’s resume and skillset, increasing the likelihood of securing a job. Employers in South Africa are increasingly recognizing the value of online learning, particularly when courses are accredited and offer qualification certificates. Such courses indicate that the learner has acquired specific knowledge and skills relevant to their industry or profession.
List of Free online 2024 courses (accredited) with printable certificates in South Africa
Free IT Courses for South Africans
- Google Data Analytics Free Online Course
- Google Digital Marketing & E-commerce Professional Certificate Free Online Course
- Google IT Support Professional Certificate Free Online Course
- Google Project Management: Professional Certificate Free Online Course
- Google UX Design Professional Certificate Free Online Course
- Google IT Automation with Python Professional Certificate Free Online Course
- Crash Course on Python Free Online Course
- Cloud Architect Professional Certificate Free Online Course
- Foundations of Project Management Free Online Course
- Introduction to Git and GitHub Free Online Course
List of free courses offered at Wits University in 2024:
Browse free online courses in a variety of subjects. Wits University courses found below can be audited free or students can choose to receive a verified certificate for a small fee. Select a course to learn more.
- Research Methods: An Engineering Approach (Online Course). Learn how to successfully design your research and understand the underlying principles of postgraduate research from an engineering perspective….Apply Here
- Introduction to Stewart’s Model of Physiological Acid-Base Chemistry (Online Course). Aimed at physicians, ICU nurses and others working in acute care, this course provides an introduction to Peter Stewart’s model of clinical acid-base chemistry….Apply Here
- System Dynamics for Health Sciences (Online Course): Learn to use system dynamics to better understand complex medical issues and interventions….Apply Here
- Results-Based Project Management: Monitoring and Evaluation (Online Course): Learn how to use a results-based approach to design and manage public sector programs that deliver tangible benefits and optimize the use of resources….Apply Here
- Mining for Development: The Taxation Linkage (Online Course): Tax revenues are likely to be the core benefit of mineral extraction for host States. To promote mining for development, States must design mineral fiscal regimes that consider the interests of a wide range of stakeholders. Their choices have major implications for public finance, development and sustainability. This course will help policy makers, managers in private sector companies, and activists understand these choices and their implications.More about this course…Apply Here
List of Free Courses Offered at University of Cape Town
Medicine and the Arts: Humanising Healthcare at University of Cape Town (Online Course)
In this six-weeks free online course, you will learn how medicine, medical anthropology, and creative arts intersect. Through topics like Mind, Art and Play; The Heart of the Matter: A Matter of the Heart; At the Edge: Madness and Medicine and others, you will be exposed to the emerging field of medical humanities and what the concept of whole-person care is all about. The programme runs for six weeks….Apply here
Becoming a changemaker: Introduction to Social Innovation (Online Course)
This free 6 week course is for anyone who wants to make a difference. Whether you are already familiar with the field of social innovation or social entrepreneurship, working for an organization that wants to increase its social impact, or just starting out, this course will take you on a journey of exploring the complex problems that surround us and how to start thinking about solutions….Apply here
Climate Change Mitigation in Developing Countries (Online Course)
This course challenges you to consider how one might lift societies out of poverty while also mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. We explore the inherent complexity of developing country governments wanting to grow their economies in a climate friendly way. You will be introduced to an approach with which to address this challenge. The approach consists of a facilitated process whereby academic researchers and high-level influential actors within society co-produce knowledge. You will track this process in four Latin American countries – Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru, and South Africa. You will hear from various professionals about their contexts and the different challenges and opportunities the process includes….Apply Here
Research for Impact (Online Course)
In this course, you will learn more about the Research for Impact approach – a set of principles and practices that will help you to make your research more impactful. Traditionally, the goals and outcomes of research projects were to contribute knowledge and communicate this knowledge through academic publications and journal articles. But If we truly want our research to have an impact, we need to do research differently. Research that influences change in policy, practice, behaviour and attitudes….Apply Here
Building Fintech Startups in Emerging Markets (Online Course)
Starting a small business in an emerging market can be very rewarding. Many of entrepreneurship opportunities in emerging markets arise out of necessity, or the drive to solve a real need or a social problem. Thus emerging markets often offer huge opportunities for disruptive innovation. Entrepreneurship has contributed to economic growth and been able to respond to social problems, helping some communities prosper. With the rise of fintech, financial solutions using technologies such as the cloud, blockchain and machine learning have by-passed or partnered with established financial institutions to serve new markets…Apply Here
More free courses from South African Universities are available HERE
