Lectures cancelled? Why not enjoy a webinar from the comfort of your living room? Bored? Why not learn Arabic calligraphy in your pyjamas?
At SPARK, we’re adapting and changing all our programmes in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) challenges. As the largest provider of scholarships for Syrian refugees in the Middle East, we’re searching for new ways to keep providing university and vocational courses online or from home.
In the meantime, we’ve compiled a list of 15 of the best, free online resources to help students continue building up skills for future jobs.
Expand your knowledge of a subject
Rwaq
Rwaq provides free access to certified education courses in various fields and disciplines, from science and technology to law, which are all provided by distinguished academics from across the Arab world.
- Language: Arabic
- Level: All levels
- Style: Video lectures & tasks/exercises to test your knowledge
- Certificate of completion: Yes
Tabshoura
Want to improve your Turkish language skills and keep learning? Tabshoura offers offers programmes in Arabic, English, French and Turkish, available online and offline or through their app.
- Language: Turkish, Arabic, English, French
- Level: Primary and secondary education (kindergarten, middle school)
- Style: Interesting articles to read and courses to follow
- Certificate of completion: No
Edraak
An initiative of the Queen Rania Foundation for Education and Development, Edraak provides courses for multiple levels, so it is great if you are a beginner in a new subject or you want to enhance your knowledge even further. Edraak also has courses to improve your soft and technical skills, which looks great on your CV when applying to jobs.
- Language: Arabic
- Level: All levels
- Style: Video and online material
- Certificate of completion: Yes
Noonacademy
For students and teachers, this social learning platform has over 4 million users in the Middle East! Classes offered chemistry, biology, languages, social studies, history and geography among many other topics.
- Language: Arabic and English
- Level: Various levels for mentors and students
- Style: Interactive sessions, videos, games, classes and grading.
- Certificate of completion: Yes
Improve your job skills
Harmash
Specialised in computer science, Harmash is the right place for anyone aspiring to become a professional and creative programmer in the digital world. Take courses in computer programming, computer languages, algorithms, app development, user interface and much more!
- Language: Arabic
- Level: Entry and advanced level
- Style: Videos, online material
- Certificate of completion: No
Sdeem
If you’re volunteering or working with NGOs or community organisations, Sdeem offers specialist training for workers in non-profit organisations in the Arab world, from finance to project management.
- Language: Arabic
- Level: Entry and advanced level
- Style: Videos, infographics, quizzes
- Certificate of completion: Yes
Learn a language
Duolingo
Download the app and get transported to another country! The fun platform provides interactive language courses in over 35 different languages. You’re tested through assessments, games and rewards.
- Language: 35 languages
- Level: All levels
- Style: Assessments, games, rewards, language-proficiency exam
- Certificate of completion: No
Memrise
Memrise uses flashcards to increase your rate of learning a language. Memrise also offers user-generated content on a wide range of other subjects.
- Language: 16 languages
- Level: All levels
- Style: Games, rewards, videos and interactive material
- Certificate of completion: No
Boost your creative skills
Canva
If you want to learn how to design anything from flyers, presentations, posters, social media graphics, try learning Canva. It is a graphic design platform that allows users to create amazing visual content for free using easy-to-use templates. It is available on web and mobile, and integrates millions of images, fonts, templates and illustrations.
- Language: English
- Level: All levels
- Style: Self-taught
- Certificate of completion: No
Alkhattat
An online platform that teaches Arabic calligraphy and Islamic ornament by a group of professional calligraphers who were carefully selected to share their experiences through training courses. The tool offers beginner and advanced levels for anyone interested in pursuing a new hobby or an ancient art.
- Language: Arabic
- Level: All levels
- Style: Videos and online material
- Certificate of completion: No
Creative ways to learn
Kahoot!
Kahoot! is a game-based learning platform using multiple-choice quizzes. Why not create your own quiz for your friends or family during quarantine?
- Language: English
- Level: All levels
Skillshare
Skillshare is an online learning community with thousands of classes for creative and curious people, on topics including creative writing, photography, music, UI/UX design, business analytics and marketing plus more.
- Language: English
- Level: All levels
- Style: Videos and online material
- Certificate of completion: No
Words With Friends
Kill time, decrease boredom and also learn! Words With Friends is a multiplayer online take on classic puzzle games. Download the app and develop your vocabulary and test your skills against friends and family.
- Language: English
- Levels: All levels
Connect with others
Houseparty
Houseparty is a social networking service that enables group video chatting through mobile and desktop apps. Users receive a notification when friends are online and available to group video chat.
Zoom
Zoom provides a remote conferencing service that combines video conferencing, online meetings, chat, and mobile collaboration. If you want to catch up with your family, friends or colleagues, Zoom offers solutions suitable for everyone.
Quarantine is difficult but there are many options available to make this time worthwhile. Don’t forget to exercise well, keep social contact with your friends and family, call local helplines if you felt the need and follow the official reliable updates from the World Health Organization.
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