As a fair share of the world’s population stays at home in the wake of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, the challenges posed by restriction of free movement have offered an invaluable opportunity to utilise extra leisure time for self-development. The Badiri E-Academy, which was launched globally in 2018 by the Badiri Education and Development Academy (Badiri), the education and capacity-building arm of UAE-based NAMA Women Advancement Establishment (NAMA), operates an excellent e-learning platform for both professionals and entrepreneurs for free, and presents an excellent avenue to university students, professionals and entrepreneurs to continue their journey of learning and upskilling at home.

Since its launch, the platform’s training content has been used by 7000+ men and women all over the world to develop their professional and life skills.

Targeting university students, women and men, aspiring and established entrepreneurs, working professionals, job seekers, and a host of others, the nine professional training courses currently offer 52 lectures and four e-books, covering a spectrum of disciplines from business and entrepreneurship to culture, banking and self-improvement. Courses are available in both Arabic and English.

Built on the Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs) model in collaboration with technical partner, Fazinova, Badiri E-Academy’s free online learning platform offers courses in both Arabic and English. These resources can be accessed online at https://www.badiriacademy.org/courses.

The E-Academy mobile App is available on both Android and Apple stores to enable individuals to access their desired courses anytime, anywhere. After selecting a course and completing a simple registration process, participants can commence the e-learning session.

As the world shifts to virtual reality classrooms and automated tutoring programmes to enable the continuity of flexible learning, Badiri E-Academy’s free learning platform is a boon for those seeking to develop deeper learning skills in an innovative and creative manner.

The nine courses offered by Badiri E-Academy currently are: Basis of Islamic Banking and Finance; How to Empower Your Success in the Uncertainty of the Information Economy; Design Your Dream Job; The Human Project; MentorMe! Overview of the US College Application; Blogging 101 for Business; Four Million Threads: The Garment Workers of Bangladesh; The Mindset of Silicon Valley; and The Right Mindset to Become a Protagonist.

In addition, the e-books available for learners worldwide authored by internationally renowned Brazilian entrepreneur, Bel Pesce. These include The Best Version of Yourself that details the essence of behavioural DNA; The Brazilian Girl From Silicon Valley and The Brazilian Girl From Silicon Valley 2 which outlines how entrepreneurial attitudes can change lives and how responsibility can be combined with entrepreneurship; and Finding Superheroes which focuses on small behavioural secrets that can turn us all into superheroes.

The course offerings will gradually be expanded to include more learning material and in more languages.

The courses have been selected to respond to the needs of both men and women in the learning and professional development process and is In line with Badiri Education and Development Academy’s firm belief that all people have the right to access sources of knowledge and quality learning.