Online courses directory (19947)

The free online Diploma in French Language Studies course is designed for anyone who wants to learn to speak and write basic French. You will learn French vocabulary for greeting people, introducing yourself, and talking about your studies or your job. Core French language skills such as understanding numbers, time and dates along with talking about the weather are also covered. You will learn the key French words and phrases for describing the workplace, different occupations and applying for a job. The course also covers French vocabulary for talking about where you live, what your home is like, what your daily routine is like, and topics such as paying the bills and going shopping. You will also learn to speak in French about your hobbies and how you spend your vacation. The phonetics section in each module covers the pronunciation of the alphabet, French accents, accentuation and vowels. Learners will also be directed to the relevant sections of grammar in a grammar reference resource. The course lays down the foundations of the spoken language by introducing learners to the pronunciation of words and phrases through text and audio. Short audio segments let you hear how the words and phrases are pronounced. These are reinforced with longer videos using related interviews with French speakers which include transcripts in both French and English. This course will be of great interest to anyone who wants to learn to speak French for use in business or social occasions, and for those wanting to travel to any French speaking country or region in Europe.<br />

The free online course Introduction to Hospitality Management Studies provides information on the basic skills and competencies involved in working within the hospitality industry and an understanding of how the industry operates in its different forms. The course first introduces you to the main characteristics of the hospitality industry such as products and services, communication with customers and with staff, relationship building such as developing repeat customers, cultural diversity and labour. You will also gain an understanding of the relationship between the hospitality industry and the tourism sector, as well as an overview of the different career prospects and opportunities available in the hospitality industry. Next, you will learn about the accommodation sector and the different types of accommodation, from city centre hotels to villas and chalets, as well as the different types of specialized hotels. You will then learn about hotel rating systems, the criteria involved, and the organizations that develop and apply the systems to hotels. Finally, you will learn about the accommodation product which refers to rooms and related products and services that hotel guests will utilize. You will learn about the various types of hotel rooms, their grading systems as well as the different types of bed associated with each room type. You will also learn about the different types of hotel guest and how to interpret and evaluate the different types of requests that are made by guests. This free course will be of great interest to professionals working in the hospitality industry who would like to learn more about the main characteristics of the hospitality industry. The course will also be of great interest to people who wish to gain employment or a career in the hospitality sector, and to owners of hospitality focused businesses.<br />

The free online course in Hospitality Management Studies – Hotel Operations provides detailed information on a variety of hotel management operations including the front office department and the housekeeping department. The course first introduces hotel ownership classifications and the different modes of hotel management such as management contract enterprises and franchising. You will learn about the classification of hotel departments into categories such as revenue centred and cost centred departments. You will also gain an understanding of the organization of hotel departments and their varied functions and how they work together to provide a positive experience to hotel guests. Next, you will learn about the front office department, from the organization of the front office to the key positions and duties of staff, such as the front office manager, reception staff and concierge staff. You will also learn about the day to day operations, such as the main duties of the front desk staff and the standard procedures that should be followed by staff for the registration and check-out of guests. You will also gain an understanding of what is involved in the four different phases of the guest cycle as well as an understanding of room sales revenue and sales indicators. Finally, you will learn about the housekeeping department, which refers to rooms and related products and services that hotel guests will utilize. You will learn about the various types of housekeeping positions, such as room attendants, cleaners and supervisors, and their roles and duties within the department. You will also learn about the relationships of the housekeeping department with other hotel departments, the standard procedures to be followed during room cleaning operations and the room status codes and terminologies used by hotels to enhance inter-departmental communications. This course will be of great interest to professionals working in the hospitality industry or learners who would like a career in hospitality who wish to learn more about hotel departments and their staff, functions, and influence on the guest experience. It will also be of interest to owners of hospitality focused businesses who would like to learn more about the ownership structures in hotel operations and how revenues and expenses are managed.<br />

The free online course in Hospitality Management Studies – Food and Beverage Services introduces the functions, operations and organisation of the food and beverage department in the hospitality industry. The course also provides information on service principles, menu design and objectives, and restaurant layout and design considerations. The course begins by introducing the food and beverage operations within a hotel. You will learn about the relationship between the food and beverage department and other hotel departments, such as room service and the stewarding department. The course describes the organisation and key duties of restaurant staff, including floor staff and kitchen staff, from apprentice to managerial levels. You will also learn how to implement best practices to restaurant staffing and procedures. Next, you will learn about the classification of food and beverage services, based on market segments and customer types, such as the leisure, student and industrial markets. You will also gain an understanding of the different types of menu, the objectives of menus and the comparison among different menu types. Finally, you will learn about the basic food and beverage services such as table setting, with a focus on the procedures and items required. You will learn about menu planning, menu design and the considerations involved in the process. You will also learn about restaurant design and layout as well as the functional considerations involved in restaurant ambience, and the features that can help to create an ambience depending on the restaurant type. You will learn what skills and knowledge are needed to be able to manage a restaurant effectively with proper use of resources. You will know how to implement best practices in motivating, and monitoring team members. This course will be of great interest to professionals working in the hospitality industry who would like to learn more about food and beverage services. It will also be of great interest to learners planning a career in the hospitality industry and who would like to demonstrate knowledge of food and beverage within the context of the hospitality/restaurant sector.<br />

The free online course in Hospitality Management – Health and Safety in Food Service provides information on implementing best practices in health and safety in food service operations. The course first introduces the different factors affecting kitchen layout and design. You will learn about the features that have to be considered when designing the kitchen, such as the number of staff, type of restaurant and kitchen hazards. You will also learn about the ease of workflow, and the different types of kitchen equipment and how this affects the kitchen design and layout. Next, you will learn about food safety and the food handling process, such as the observance of good hygiene codes and habits. You will also learn about the different types of food contamination and the measures taken to control them, such as safe food storage, safe cooking procedures and correct food temperature control and measurement. Finally, you will be introduced to the types of accidents and injuries that occur in the food service industry such as trip, falls, cuts and burns. You will learn how to be aware of hazards, and implement safe kitchen working procedures to help minimize injuries. You will also learn about fire safety and how to recognize and use fire equipment found in most restaurants, such as the different types of fire extinguisher. This course will be of great interest to all food service staff and managers who would like to learn more about implementing best practices and procedures in relation to kitchen health and safety, and to all learners who are interested in hospitality and the food service industry as a career.<br />

The free online course Diploma in Hospitality Management takes you through the essential principles, concepts and skills required in the hospitality sector. The course begins by introducing you to the nature of hospitality, such as the relationship between the hospitality sector and tourism, the various types of accommodation and the different types of hotel guests and their requests. You will also learn about hotel management and the organization of hotel departments and their functions. For example, you will learn about the key duties of the front office department and housekeeping department, and the organization of these departments and the roles involved. The course also covers food and beverage services and its relationship to other hotel departments. You will learn about restaurant operations planning, the organization of the kitchen, menu objectives and planning, table setting and restaurant design and layout. Finally, you will learn about the food handling process, such as food safety and food contamination, and the importance of personal hygiene for catering practitioners. The course also discusses kitchen accidents and how to respond to them, and the procedures that must be in place to ensure staff safety when working with different types of equipment or in the case of fire. This free Diploma course will be of great interest to professionals working in hotels, restaurants, or any other hospitality service operation. This course will also be of great interest to any learner who would like to gain employment or a career in the hospitality sector. <br />

The free online course Introduction to E-Learning Theory and Practice is an overview of internationally recognised and research-based e-learning theory and methodologies for creating effective e-learning courses. The course begins by reviewing what is meant by the term &quot;e-learning&quot; and what the benefits are in creating e-learning content. The course then reviews the Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Development, how learning occurs in a multimedia environment, and how to identify relevant course material using topic analysis and task analysis methodologies. You will learn about the importance of writing learning outcomes first when creating a course, and how to write learning outcomes about specific aspects of the course that describe a competency or performance capability that is to be acquired by the learner. Next you will learn how to storyboard a course using presentation techniques such as storytelling, a scenario-based approach, a demonstration-practice method, or a toolkit approach. Finally, you will learn how to create different types of assessments that monitor and evaluate student learning. This free online course will be of great interest to teachers, trainers and all subject matter experts who would like to learn more about the theory and practice behind designing and developing effective e-learning courses.<br />

The free online course Introduction to Change Management will introduce you to the whole area of change management and how it is being used to guide and transition individuals, groups and organizations to a new desired future state using a structured approach. Modern businesses are continuously facing the need to change - It could be departments within an organization or the entire business itself that needs to change, so managing and adapting to organizational change is an essential ability required in the workplace today. The course begins by examining a wide range of organizational structures that exist within modern businesses. By studying these structures in depth, you will gain a greater understanding of how complex a process implementing change within a business is. The course then continues to discuss a variety of factors that cause organizations to change and reasons that employees resist such changes. By studying these factors, you will gain an insight of the fears that workers encounter when new changes are being introduced. You will develop skills that will help you understand these worries, and your own change management skills. Next, you will learn about the importance of communication and good leadership in the process of change management. You will develop the skills needed to help employees cope through periods of change, and ultimately help them understand the benefits of change. This free course will be of great interest to professionals working in an industry that is currently experiencing, or will soon be experiencing change. The course will also be of interest to small business owners who wish to learn more about ensuring that their businesses can successfully transition through periods of change. <br />

The free online course Change Management – Guiding Principles and Practices will introduce you to the principles of change management while also providing you with examples of change management in practice. Even though change management is a relatively new field it possesses a significant body of theory. You will learn the key terms and phrases used within the field and study how the discipline has evolved over the past decades. You will then be presented with a range of scenarios that include how the culture of an organization can affect the implementation of change and various approaches to implementing organizational change. Next you will study a range of factors common to successful change management. Even though change management is a complex process, some common factors for implementing successful change exist. By studying the principles and practices of change management you will develop an ability to have a positive input into any change process, regardless of the industry. You will gain a greater understanding of how to successfully implement organizational change, while also developing your own change management skills. This free course will be of great interest to professionals working in an industry that is currently experiencing, or will soon be experiencing change. The course will also be of interest to small business owners who wish to learn more about ensuring that their businesses can successfully transition through periods of change.<br />

The free online course Organizational Change - Managing and Supporting Employees presents you with a practical step by step guide on the most effective and efficient way to implement organizational change and how to manage and support employees through what can be for many a very difficult period in their working lives. With continuous changes in technology and increased competition due to globalization, organizations need to be able to continuously adapt to the changes occurring around them or face the risk of becoming irrelevant in the market place. This course will help you develop the change management skills necessary to do so. First you will learn how to successfully manage organizational change. You will study 9 key success factors that research on successful organizational change projects from all over the world indicate are crucial for change to be fully implemented. Each of these 9 key success factors will focus on a specific element of organizational change such as: the role of stakeholders, the development of a change plan, and risk management strategies. Next you will learn how to guide employees through organizational change. You will study the 11 key success factors necessary to ensure that your employees do not have a negative experience during the change period. You will learn how to empathize with your employees and see change from their perspective, learn why stability is important during a period of change, and how to develop a policy of open communication throughout the process. This free course will be of great interest to professionals working in an industry that is currently experiencing, or will soon be experiencing change, and wish to play a prominent role in the change management process. The course will also be of interest to small business owners who wish to learn more about guiding their business and employees through a period of change.<br />

The free online course Change Management - Organizational Capacity for Change presents you with a range of factors, which if implemented effectively, can result in an organization developing a positive capacity for change. A positive capacity for change is perhaps one of the most valuable traits that an organization can possess in today’s market. It helps assure management and stakeholders that if the organization encounters a period of change, they have the necessary means in place to deal with it. It also reminds staff of the fact that change is unavoidable and needs to be embraced rather than feared if organizations wish to remain relevant. This course will help you develop the skills necessary to develop such a capacity within an organization. First you will learn about the factors that must be in place for an organization to possess a positive capacity for change. You will study eight key factors that research suggests helps develop a positive organizational capacity for change. Each factor focuses on a different element of the organization such as: the role of middle management, the creation of a culture of accountability, and the role trust plays in the process. Next you will study a range of tools and processes that help implement change across an organization. By studying these tools and processes, you will develop the skills necessary to help individuals, teams, and large systems, come to terms with change when it has been implemented. This free course will be of great interest to professionals working in an industry that is currently experiencing, or will soon be experiencing change, and wish to play a prominent role in the change management process. The course will also be of interest to small business owners who wish to learn more about guiding their business and employees through a period of change.<br />

The free online course Diploma in Change Management will help you develop the skills necessary to play an active and effective role within an organization that is going through a period of change. With increased competition and technological advancements businesses need to be able to change the way they provide their services in accordance to their customers' demands. Should they fail to do so, they face the real risk of loosing customers and even going out of business. The course begins by introducing you to the theory of change management. You will examine contemporary forms of organizational structures and analyse the strategies that are used to implement change in each structure in the most efficient manner. You will then be introduced to a more practical approach to change management. You will examine the factors needed to successfully implement change and develop a positive attitude towards change within an organization. You will learn that through communicating effectively, establishing a sense of trust and allowing an input from all departments, change can be embraced rather than feared. You will examine the fears and apprehensions that employees may encounter during periods of change and learn how to develop the skills needed to empathise with them, help them see the positive aspects of change and even become champions of change. Finally, you will study key factors that research suggests helps develop a positive organizational capacity for change. Each factor focuses on a different element of the organization such as: the role of middle management, the creation of a culture of accountability, and the role trust plays in the process. You will study a range of tools and processes that help implement change across an organization, and these will give you the skills necessary to help individuals, teams, and large systems adapt to change. This free Diploma in Change Management course will be of great interest to professionals working in an industry that is currently experiencing or will soon be experiencing change, and wish to play a prominent role in the change management process. The course will also be of interest to small business owners who wish to learn more about guiding their business and employees through a period of change.<br />

The free online course Introduction to Service Management introduces the topic of managing business services, how to make business services more effective and efficient, and how to improve customer relationship management. The course begins by introducing you to the topic of service management and the elements of service management such as how best to serve customers in the modern business environment, what the product service systems are, what the service act comprises of, and how to ensure seamless service to customers both within and outside an organisation. Few services are totally intangible as they often contain elements with tangible properties - these services are said to be intangible-dominant. You will learn how business services are those that market offerings which are intangible-dominant, and the course introduces you to important service dimensions: Intangibility, Heterogeneity, Inseparability and Perishability. You will also learn about marketing methods and strategies used to overcome intangibility. Finally, you will learn about developing a service blueprint, how to fail proof a service and why services should be redesigned. This course will be of great interest to all business service professionals and business owners that offer services to customers and who would like to learn more about managing and improving business services.<br />

The free online course Customer Relationship Management in Business Services focuses on how businesses can achieve excellence in customer relationships by designing and developing effective and efficient service processes for their customers. The course begins by showing you how fluctuating demand from customers for a service can be addressed by businesses by managing capacity within the service process they offer to their customers. You will then learn how businesses can use marketing elements to shape demand patterns for a service. You will learn about consumer behaviour and how important elements of service processes such as queuing and waiting lines can be re-designed to greatly improve customer experience and also increase service productivity and efficiency. You will also learn about The Three-Stage Model of Service Consumption and how this model allows service managers set objectives and shape consumer behaviour in a targeted manner. Finally, you will learn about self-service technologies (SSTs) and co-creation of business services and how these methods are the ultimate form of customer involvement in a business service when used appropriately. The course uses real-world examples throughout to demonstrate how service businesses and service organisations around the world achieve excellence in their customer relationships. This course will be of great interest to all professionals working in service businesses and service management and who would like to learn more about creating business services that go beyond customer satisfaction and achieve customer delight. <br />

The free online course Marketing Strategies for Service Management introduces a variety of marketing strategies that help position a business service in the marketplace and give it a competitive advantage by implementing an effective pricing strategy. The course begins by introducing the principles of positioning a business service and how positioning strategies can be used to correctly position a service in the marketplace. You will learn how to develop an effective positioning strategy for a business service and how to use positioning maps to analyze competitive strategy. You will then learn about branding and what is meant by a 'brand'. You will learn about the key features of a successful brand and how they can be applied to a business service. You will examine the various components of strategic thinking and how to develop and implement a strategic plan. You will learn about strategies that help grow a service business and help the business to respond to changes in the industry and market conditions, and how to best capitalize on new opportunities. You will also be introduced to five different competitive strategies and learn how these can be used in a service business to generate a competitive advantage that will enhance customers' delight and create customer advocacy for the service. Finally, you will learn about strategies for setting the price of business services. You will be introduced to the Three C's model for price setting and market-penetration pricing. You will learn about price-adjustment strategies and how to respond to competitors' price changes. This course will be of great interest to all professionals working in the area of business services and service management and who would like to learn more about marketing strategies that help position and price a business service. <br />

The free online course Service Management - Building Service Quality introduces the dimensions of service quality and how to build quality into business services to achieve customer delight. The course begins by introducing the dimensions of service quality and the elements of customer satisfaction. You will learn how to classify quality and customer satisfaction under the headings of 'hard', 'soft' and 'outcome' quality. You will learn about the costs of poor service quality and the approaches that need to be taken to recover service reputation. You will also learn about the different tools that can be used to analyze service quality problems. The course then introduces the topic of customer loyalty and how to measure it. You will learn about the benefits of implementing a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system and how to develop an effective CRM strategy to improve service quality. Finally, the course describes the service innovation process and how building quality into services improves their efficiency and effectiveness. This course will be of great interest to all professionals working in the area of business services and service management and who would like to learn more about building effective quality practices and procedures into the business services they offer.

The free online course Diploma in Services Management introduces the topic of managing business services, how to make business services more effective and efficient, how businesses can achieve excellence in customer relationships by designing and developing effective and efficient service processes for their customers. The course begins by introducing you to the topic of service management and the elements of service management such as how best to serve customers in the modern business environment, what the product service systems are, what the service act comprises of, and how to ensure seamless service to customers both within and outside an organisation. You will then learn how businesses can use marketing elements to shape demand patterns for a service. You will learn about consumer behaviour and how important elements of service processes such as queuing and waiting lines can be re-designed to greatly improve customer experience and also increase service productivity and efficiency. You will learn how to develop an effective positioning strategy for a business service and how to use positioning maps to analyze competitive strategy. You will then learn about branding and what is meant by a 'brand'. You will learn about the key features of a successful brand and how they can be applied to a business service. You will examine the various components of strategic thinking and how to develop and implement a strategic plan. The course then introduces you to the dimensions of service quality and the elements of customer satisfaction. You will learn how to classify quality and customer satisfaction under the headings of 'hard', 'soft' and 'outcome' quality. You will learn about the benefits of implementing a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system and how to develop an effective CRM strategy to improve service quality. Finally, the course describes the service innovation process and how building quality into services improves their efficiency and effectiveness. This course will be of great interest to all business service professionals and business owners that offer services to customers and who would like to learn more about managing and improving business services.<br />

The free online course in Introduction to Ecology provides detailed information about the different types of ecosystems, terrestrial and aquatic biomes, and the effects of climate change on biodiversity. The course first introduces you to the scope of ecology and biogeography with a focus on the distribution of plant and animal species and their impact on the terrestrial environment. You will learn how to differentiate between ecological patterns and processes at different scales and levels of biological organisation (population, community and ecosystem). Next, you will learn to identify and recognize the distinguishing characteristics of terrestrial and aquatic biomes. You will gain an understanding of what controls animal and plant distribution, abundance and biodiversity. You will learn how plants and animals absorb energy and nutrients from the ecosystem around them as well as how species interact with each other. You will learn about the biology of various habitats from marine and freshwater to terrestrial habitats and the soil. Finally, you are introduced to climate and the effects of global climate change where you will learn about the interaction between humans, animals and the environment with specific reference to the effects of modern technological advances. You will gain an understanding of the role ecology plays in conservation, wetland and natural resource management, forestry, agriculture and fisheries, as well as the climatological challenges faced by society. The course will be ideal for professionals working in the area of biology, ecology or environmental science, for students who wish to pursue a career in the sciences, or for those who simply want to learn more about building a sustainable existence on this planet. This course will also be of great interest to anyone who would like to learn more about ecological diversity and the distribution of organisms in the global ecosystem around them or those who are concerned about their impact on the environment. <br />

The free online course in Ecology Studies – Population and Community Ecology introduces you to patterns of population distribution, population growth and species relationships and behaviours. You will learn about species populations, how life patterns evolve through natural selection, and how species behaviours are influenced by the environment. The course begins by introducing you to the tools that ecologists use to measure the characteristics of populations such as size, density, dispersion pattern and age structure. You will also learn how life tables are used to calculate population life expectancy. You will learn to identify the environmental limits to population growth, how populations with unlimited resources grow exponentially and, when resources become limited why populations then follow a logistic growth curve. You will gain an understanding of population dynamics and regulation based on density-dependent and density-independent factors and learn how the age structure of a population allows us to predict population growth. You will also learn about the characteristics used to categorize species. Finally, you are introduced to community ecology where you will learn the features of community structure and keystone species, and how some species can form symbiotic relationships within an ecological community. You will be introduced to behavioural biology and learn about behaviours such as imprinting and habituation, conditioning, and cognitive learning and methods of communication. The course will be of great interest to professionals working in the areas of ecology or environmental science, and who would like to learn more about the social and environmental consequences of population growth, and the different characteristics of species behaviour.<br />

The free online course Ecology Studies – Ecosystem Ecology provides detailed information on the modelling of ecosystems, energy transfer and biogeochemical cycles. The course begins by introducing you to the three broad categories of ecosystems based on their general environment: freshwater, ocean water, and terrestrial ecosystems. You will learn more about the resources within these ecosystems which organisms compete for such as organic material, sunlight, and mineral nutrients. You will learn to identify the various critical factors influencing community dynamics such as the components of its physical and geographic environment. The course then introduces you to how organisms acquire energy and how that energy is passed from one organism to another through food webs and their constituent food chains. You will gain an understanding of the different trophic levels, such as producers, consumers and decomposers, and how energy transfers affect ecosystem structures and dynamics. You will also learn about how the structure of ecosystems can be visualized and modelled with ecological pyramids to show the relative amounts of various parameters (such as number of organisms, energy, and biomass) across trophic levels. Finally, you will be introduced to the biogeochemical cycle, which is the process of recycling inorganic matter between living organisms and their environment. The six most common elements associated with organic molecules are covered explaining how mineral nutrients are cycled from one living organism to another, and between the biotic and abiotic world. You will also gain an understanding of how human activities have impacted these biogeochemical cycles and the potential consequences for society. The course will be ideal for students or professionals who want to develop a career in ecosystem research or for those who simply want to learn more about ecosystem structures, how energy is transferred between trophic levels, and how human activities have caused major disturbances to these cycles. This course will be of great interest to anyone who would like to learn more about ecosystem types and categories, the transfer of energy between trophic levels, through food webs and food chains, and how mineral nutrients are cycled through ecosystems.<br />