Free online courses aim to launch 25,000 UK tech careers

The University of Leeds has joined forces with e-learning platform Coursera and the Institute of Coding to develop a collection of free online courses to help young people from underrepresented backgrounds explore careers in tech.

The Click Start programme, funded by public benefit company Nominet, has been updated for 2024 with 7 new courses created with expert academics from the School of Computing covering trending technologies from AI to Robotics. 

The courses offer the freshest perspectives on cutting-edge subjects, aiming to set young people up for career success in today's tech landscape. Participants can now delve into the realms of Web Development, Blockchain, Cloud Computing, Software Development, and Technology-Assisted Decision-Making.  

A limited number of scholarships are available, offering three months of free access to 16–30-year-olds in the UK who are underrepresented in tech careers, including young people with disabilities and caring responsibilities, women and non-binary people, and children of parents who didn’t attend university. 

The project is nationally important providing vital digital skills to help grow the UK economy and is also strategically important to the University and its commitments to address widening participation, equity and diversity issues in the workforce.

Sam Wilson - Director of Student Education, School of Computing 

Scholarships can be accessed by filling in a short online form and include free certificates for each course completed. For those not eligible for a scholarship, course materials can still be accessed for free for a limited time. 

Transforming online learning opportunities 

Click Start ensures that the journey into coding is immersive and enriched with the latest technological advancements. Far from endless scrolling through text on a screen, Click Start courses enable interaction with other learners through discussion forums, as well as hearing from industry experts. 

A YouTube live event billed for the recent Leeds Digital Festival saw lead academics sharing the thrills and spills of their first jobs in tech, offering inspiration and insights to young people who may feel they haven’t had a head start. 

The live interview was broadcasted from HELIX, the University’s new learning innovation hub which houses cutting-edge media facilities, including film studies, production suites, and self-recording podcasting booths. The studios have enabled academics to create engaging and accessible experiences for online learners, irrespective of their location. 

With an estimated 870,000 vacancies in the tech sector across the UK, there is a clear need for action. Our partnerships between industry, outreach organisations and employers are helping to upskill the next generation of creative minds, while promoting lifelong learning to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to access careers in tech.

Margaret Korosec - Dean of Online and Digital Learning 

Building skills and career confidence 

Almost 15,000 students from 56 countries have already begun their journey into tech with Click Start, taking advantage of the open education programme to unlock their potential in the digital age, gaining next-level tech skills through popular short courses such as ‘Introduction to Programming with Python’.  

The programme also aims to develop young peoples’ confidence through personal and professional skills courses, from CV writing to decision making. 

Embarking on the Click Start has been a transformative journey for many learners who have expressed enthusiasm and gratitude for the programme. 

Highly engaging, inspiring, and valuable. I loved the examples used – I felt that it really aligned with my interests.

Course participant - Fundamental Skills in Engineering Design 

As a recent further education leaver, I was looking to improve my problem-solving skills to help me in kickstarting my career. I loved the mix of engaging discussions and useful resources which equipped me with essential skills to streamline my work and solve problems effectively.

Course participant - Decision Making - How to Choose the Right Problem to Solve  

These courses are all super valuable - they break down concepts and make things really, really accessible for everyone… I love that it brings in people from diverse backgrounds that are otherwise under-represented.

Course Participant – Introduction to Programming using Python 

Further information 

To see the full list of courses in the University of Leeds Click Start programme, visit https://www.leeds.ac.uk/click-start/doc/click-start-online-courses 

To find out more about Nominet and the Institute of Coding, visit: https://www.nominet.uk/nominet-and-the-institute-of-coding-launch-uk-wider-programme-supporting-those-from-underrepresented-backgrounds-into-digital-careers/ 

For more information, please contact: digitaleducation@leeds.ac.uk