Innovation South Virtual Campus (ISVC) has launched a range of free online courses to help fill digital skills gaps for free.
This ground-breaking project initiated by a group of Colleges and Universities in the Enterprise M3 area aims to transform access to vital work-focused training such as cyber security and digital skills across the region.
The group, including Sparsholt College, BCoT, and Royal Holloway, University of London, working with colleagues from East Surrey College and University of Chichester has developed an online platform to deliver blended vocational online learning to employees. ISVC’s skills-focused, bite-sized training modules of 5-10 hours are designed for individuals living and working in the Enterprise M3 area but accessible to all. Funded by the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Enterprise M3 in collaboration with regional colleges and universities, this range of training modules have been selected by businesses in the region as the most relevant – and are completely free!
This ‘virtual campus’ offers skills-focused range of short programmes, giving individuals the opportunity to learn a new skill and become an expert in a specific field without the need to take a whole qualification at every level. The range of short courses has been chosen based on research that has highlighted digital skills in businesses that may be missing or are highly sought after. This covers key areas such as Digital Marketing, Competitor Analysis, and IT Skills including software development and cyber security. Varying levels of each course are offered to suit each learner’s current skillset and experience.
Suzanne Grant, Deputy Chief Executive at Sparsholt College, has expressed her delight to launch ISVC online learning. She says “Our new short courses have been chosen to provide good insight into the most highly sought-after skills, at varying skill levels. Designed by senior academics, these are courses without the usual funding or qualification hurdles. The LEP has funded the development of these courses and, motivated by the desire to advance the economic performance of our region, has made them available completely free of charge for adults living and working in the EM3 area.”
Employees can create an account, browse the range of courses on offer and be on their way to a whole new world of learning: https://em3.isvc.co.uk/