About why it is worth developing and what problems we may encounter

The world of the Internet is a place full of information, but I think every one of us knows how pernicious and worthless it can be to spend time there. In an age of rapidly spreading misinformation, half-truths, lies and rumors, the internet has become a medium where we can easily access everything at once. After all, after scrolling through several channels on social media, we find that despite the huge amount of content, we didn't really remember anything. The time that was supposed to be a moment of relaxation turned out to be wasted time. Worse, our mind did not rest at all; we fed the dopamine system, but we became tired, without valuable knowledge and without qualitative rest. And yet we care about both development and relaxation.

Another difficulty arises when we try to do something about it consciously, that is, to learn and develop on our own through the Internet. The virtual world offers a whole range of possibilities: courses from influencers, ebooks, expert videos, webinars... At first glance, it seems that all you have to do is choose. The problem is, what to choose correctly. What has value? How not to get carried away?

And finally, the last hurdle: budget. Courses, trainings, mentoring - all this often costs quite a lot. Of course, if you already have a specific goal or specified ambitions, it is worth investing in something of the highest quality. But if we just want to try something new, and finances do not allow us to, it is worth looking around for free opportunities. And although the word “free” is often associated with a lack of quality, nothing more wrong. Both on the Internet and in the social space you can find a lot of attractive, valuable offers that really support our development.

Lifelong learning, or the so-called Lifelong Learning has a beneficial effect on our well-being and sense of happiness. It develops our brain and makes us more willing to take on challenges, including professional ones (we refer to our article (Lifelong learning personal and professional benefits). Sometimes taking one course that just made us curious can unexpectedly inspire us to change our career path or simply find our passion! Check with us how to find places with a valuable development offer.

Knowledge from the Internet: where to look for valuable programs

As we have already mentioned, the Internet offers almost unlimited learning opportunities - we can explore both professional topics and those that simply interest us. Even if the knowledge is not directly related to work, it is worth using it, because personal and intellectual development can go hand in hand with relaxation. In this chapter we will show you where to look Free and valuable courses, which will allow you to develop your passions, acquire new skills and enjoy learning on your own terms.

1. PEP - Polish Entrepreneurship Foundation offers more than 200 courses that you can implement in different forms: online training, e-learning, courses with teaching materials and with the possibility of obtaining a certificate. There are really a lot of categories - you can choose from topics related to law, office applications, soft competences or company management, among others.

Such an offer will be especially valuable for people interested in business and management, but also for those who want to develop their communication skills. According to the opinions of the participants, you can find both courses of a more “technical” nature, such as training in Excel or SQL, as well as topics in the field of labor law. If you feel that you want to polish a foreign language, you will also find something for you - for example, a course “Job interview in English”, which can prove particularly useful for those starting their professional careers.

It is also worth paying attention to courses on personal development, such as “Competences to strengthen mental resilience”; are topics that help not only in work, but also in daily functioning.

1. AKADEMIA PARP - Polish Agency for Entrepreneurship Development offers as much as 70 free online courses. The choice of topics is really wide; here you can both broaden your knowledge of accounting and take part in training on SMEs in the capital market.

Small and medium-sized entrepreneurs will certainly find a lot of valuable content here, for example courses on the collection and management of receivables from counterparties. Most of the training takes place from 3 to 5 hours, so they can be easily adjusted to the daily rhythm of work.

1. Short courses from Cambridge this is a great option if... you didn't get to this university 😉 And seriously, University of Cambridge Every year it opens more than 100 Free Online Trainings, covering a really wide range of topics: from astronomy and biology, through creative writing, to the law of England and Wales or the basics of psychology.These courses usually last about two months and are taught by the lecturers of this prestigious university. They only require registration, and there are no fees to participate in them. This is an excellent opportunity to develop your interests or simply test yourself in a whole new field; without the pressure of exams and credits.

At the end, participants receive certificate confirming the completion of the course, which not only makes a great addition to the resume, but also, admit it, looks really impressive!

1. Google and the School of Commerce joined forces in the project Skills of Tomorrow, which aims to help Poles find their way in the rapidly changing, digital world. This is a free development program aimed at everyone, regardless of age or work experience. You will find training in the field of internet marketing, data analysis, digital competence or project management. Importantly, the courses are available online and complete with a certificate confirming the acquired skills, issued by Google and the SGH. Skills of Tomorrow is a great opportunity to improve your qualifications in a practical way and increase your chances on the job market - especially if you are thinking about a career in the digital industry. And if you are just starting out, do not worry - the material is divided into levels, so you can easily adjust the pace of study to yourself.
2. Udemy is one of the most popular educational platforms in the world, offering thousands of courses in a variety of fields; from programming and marketing, to photography and personal development. Although most of the courses are paid, you will also find a lot of free proposals that often match the quality of the commercial ones. Simply enter “free courses” into the search engine or use the filters to discover valuable materials prepared by practitioners from all over the world. An ideal option if you want to learn at your own pace and check out new topics without spending money.

Prefer live? Tips where you can expand your horizons for free Not everyone likes to learn only in front of the screen, sometimes direct contact with people and the environment works best especially since the screen often tires us and we need a break from technology. In many cities you can enjoy free lectures, workshops or thematic meetings in libraries, community centers, museums or science centers. It is also worth observing events organized by universities or municipal initiatives, often offering open lectures and discussions that allow you to gain knowledge and new experiences in a pleasant, social atmosphere. What places are worth watching?

1. Public libraries - e.g. The University Library in Warsaw or city libraries in Krakow and Wrocław often organize free workshops, author meetings, language courses and lectures.
2. Community centres and community centres - e.g. Dom Kultury Śródmieście in Warsaw offers art workshops, developmental classes and open lectures.
3. Museums and science centers — e.g. The Copernicus Science Centre in Warsaw or the Museum of Polish History organise free lectures, scientific demonstrations and educational workshops, often as part of open days.
4. Higher education institutions - many universities conduct open lectures and series of public meetings, such as the University of Warsaw or the Jagiellonian University, as well as special programs such as “free courses for city dwellers”.

summary

Free courses and lectures give not only knowledge, but also the opportunity to discover new passions and test yourself in various fields. Even a short lesson or workshop can inspire you to change your career path or develop personal interests. It is worth using the Internet, educational platforms and local initiatives to learn at your own pace and enjoy the satisfaction of development.

Sources: 1. https://akademia.parp.gov.pl/course/index.php?categoryid=6

2. https://www.pfp.com.pl/platforma-szkoleniowa/

3. https://www.udemy.com/

4. https://www.pace.cam.ac.uk/courses