Have you ever wanted to learn a new skill or upgrade your current skills? What about taking advantage of leadership training? Now, through an innovative arrangement with one of the world’s largest and best resourced online training companies, York University staff can upgrade their skills and more through Lynda.com, an online learning company that helps anyone learn software, design and business skills to achieve their personal and professional goals.
York’s Centre for Staff Development & Technical Learning is announcing the official launch of its subscription with Lynda.com to coincide with the University’s second annual Learn @ Work Week, Oct. 25 to Nov. 1.
“We’re very excited to be offering this new service,” says Cheryl Dickie, technical learning specialist, Learning 
& Organizational Development. “The courses are very high quality and each is professionally presented.”
Browse the library of video-based courses at lynda.com
Staff can borrow a free license to take courses on Lynda.com. There are hundreds of video-based courses for computer software and business skills development. Visit lynda.com and browse the online library – there’s a video tutorial on how to browse – to review course outlines and try out free lessons. To learn more about how York University’s loan system works, and/or to request access, visit the Online Learning License Request Form.
New courses and topics are added every week at no extra cost and tutorial teachers are drawn from some of the world’s top trainers who are considered the best in their fields.
“It’s a great service for employees,” says Dickie, who spent part of the summer running a trial program. The result: employees in the trial program were extremely satisfied with the courses they tried, and would recommend the service to their colleagues.
Does the introduction of lynda.com mean staff will no longer have access to in-class training? Absolutely not, says Dickie. Classroom training will continue. Lynda.com offers an additional way for staff to learn at their own convenience, she says, as well as access to courses on highly specialized and advanced-level topics.
To learn more about this innovation and other ways to learn at work, visit the Internal Learning Opportunities page available on YU Link, York University’s employee intranet.