Shaw Academy, an online learning and education platform, offers certification courses taught by expert instructors. The platform provides opportunities for students to sign up for free and earn qualifications, focusing on practical skills development. According to the source material, Shaw Academy promotes the vision of "education at a lower cost," aiming to empower students globally by making real qualifications accessible. The academy offers skills training in a variety of mediums, including language, music, health and wellness, marketing, finance, technology, design, beauty, and business and analytics. This training is designed to help individuals grow their business, hobbies, and careers.
Course Offerings and Categories
Shaw Academy provides a range of online courses that do not have to cost a significant amount. The platform boasts certified online courses with in-depth and practical lessons across over 100 subjects. Students can sign up for a Shaw Academy free course and earn a certified Diploma qualification by the end of the course. These Diploma courses are focused on practical skills, providing the tools necessary to advance in a career. With practical skills and university certification, students are positioned to find employment through the Academy's global job portal, Shaw Careers.
There are both paid courses and free courses available. Examples of subjects offered include Graphic Design, Creative Writing, Fashion Design, Coding and Technology, Interior Design, Photography, Design, Nutrition, and Business. The platform states there is a course for everyone's interest. Specific free courses mentioned in the source material include:
- Mobile App Development: Described as one of the best Shaw Academy free courses online, this course was developed by Austin Peay State University and is CPD Certified. It covers various aspects of mobile app development, including designing, building, and publishing for iOS and Android platforms.
- Photography: Courses cover familiarising oneself with the camera, understanding how it works, and improving photography skills. This includes learning about photography, video production, and video editing. Specific topics mentioned include making sense of camera terminology.
- Web Development: Included in the list of free courses with certificates.
- Digital Marketing: Included in the list of free courses with certificates.
- Social Media Marketing: Included in the list of free courses with certificates.
- Health and Fitness: Included in the list of free courses with certificates.
- Sports Nutrition: Included in the list of free courses with certificates.
Free Trial and Access Structure
A key feature of the Shaw Academy offering is the availability of a free trial. The platform offers a free trial of 28 days. This trial makes the first module of the student's choice completely free of charge. During this trial period, participants get free access for the first four weeks (module 1).
When a student enrolls into a particular programme, they gain access to one module, which contains eight lessons in total. The source material indicates that students can sign up for free and earn a certified diploma. It is stated that Shaw Academy is offering 11 online courses for free, but only one course per individual. Alternatively, other parts of the source material mention that students can sign up for a Shaw Academy free course and earn a, with the sentence trailing off. Another statement suggests that students can sign up for a Shaw Academy free course and earn a certified diploma.
There is also mention of accessing over 100 courses with a free trial. The source material states, "Give these free online courses from Shaw Academy a go." It is also noted that "Formerly Shaw Academy, Upskillist is where you can sign up for over 100 free online certification courses."
Course Delivery and Support
The mode of course delivery is through pre-recorded online courses. These courses are delivered through recordings of live presentations. There are also online courses and certifications offered by Shaw Academy which one can take and learn from the comfort of their home. Live webinars are conducted twice a week, and the courses are fully flexible and under the student's control. Students have the option to take a break at any time.
Students can log on to an online portal to complete assessments, assignments, replay lectures, review modules, and more. Educational and technical support is available if required. The courses are self-paced, with no strict schedule for most of the Shaw Academy Free courses online.
Post-Trial Options and Certification
After the 28-day month is over, students have the option of continuing their education. The source material mentions that participants can choose to audit these courses or go for payment and getting the shareable certification. The latter choice is beneficial as credentials on the resume/CV will increase. It is noted that the certifications are globally recognised.
The source material clarifies that Shaw Academy is not a degree-granting institution. It states, "No. Most of these courses are short term." However, students can earn a certified Diploma qualification. The courses are created by top institutes and industry experts from around the world. Benefits listed include lifetime curriculum access, live educator chat support, assessments, offline studying, and convenient class timings.
Eligibility and Requirements
Based on the provided information, the courses are open to students globally. The platform aims to empower and produce hundreds of thousands of new students each month all around the world. There is no mention of specific geographic restrictions within the source material, such as limitations for UK consumers. The source material refers to a "global job portal," suggesting an international reach.
The source material does not specify strict eligibility criteria beyond the ability to sign up for the platform. It is implied that the courses are suitable for anyone looking to build business, hobbies, or careers. The platform offers skills training in various mediums, catering to a wide range of interests.
Summary of the Offer
Shaw Academy (now also referred to as Upskillist in some contexts) operates as an online learning platform offering certification courses. The core offer highlighted in the source material is the ability to sign up for free and earn a certified diploma. The platform provides a 28-day free trial that grants access to the first module (8 lessons) of any chosen course.
Key details derived from the source material include:
- Platform Type: Online learning and education platform.
- Headquarters: Dublin, Ireland (founded in 2013).
- Subjects: Over 100 subjects including Photography, Design, Nutrition, Business, Web Development, Digital Marketing, Social Media Marketing, Health and Fitness, Sports Nutrition, Mobile App Development, Graphic Design, Creative Writing, Fashion Design, Coding and Technology, Interior Design, Language, Music, Health Wellness, Marketing, Finance, Technology, Beauty, Business & Analytics.
- Trial Period: 28 days free trial.
- Access: First module (8 lessons) free during trial.
- Certification: Certified Diploma qualification available.
- Cost: The source mentions "Each course is usd $39.95 worth, you can select 1 free 4." This specific pricing detail is ambiguous in the source text but suggests a monetary value associated with the courses. Another part of the source states courses don't have to cost a "pretty penny."
- Delivery: Pre-recorded online courses, live webinars twice a week.
- Flexibility: Self-paced, flexible, option to take a break.
It is noted that the source material contains some repetitive phrasing and mentions of unrelated entities (e.g., "The northern virginia criminal justice training academy," "Firefighters, ems providers," "National Fire Academy"). These appear to be data artifacts or irrelevant text mixed into the source chunks and are not relevant to the Shaw Academy offering for general consumers. The focus for the consumer is on the online educational platform and its free trial offer.
The source material suggests that after the free trial, there is a cost to continue and obtain the full certification, though specific pricing details are not clearly provided beyond the "$39.95 worth" mention. The platform emphasises practical skills and employability through its Shaw Careers portal.
Conclusion
Shaw Academy offers an online education platform with a wide range of certification courses. The primary method for accessing courses at no initial cost is the 28-day free trial, which allows access to the first module of a chosen course. Students can potentially earn a certified Diploma qualification. The platform covers diverse subjects from photography and design to business and technology, aiming to provide practical skills for career advancement. While the source material mentions "free courses," the context suggests a trial model leading to paid certification, with the option to audit or pay for shareable credentials.