Learn for free in 2016

Three Cardiff University online courses that have attracted participants from all over the world are returning in January and February.

The free Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), hosted by FutureLearn, have been a huge success with 40,000 people having signed up previously.

Registration is now open for the re-running of the courses, which allow people to study online anywhere in the world.

The courses are: Making Sense of Health Evidence: The Informed Consumer(starting 25 Jan); Community Journalism: Digital and Social Media (starting 8 Feb); and Muslims in Britain: Changes and Challenges (starting 22 Feb).

Previous participants say the courses have helped them better understand issues and, in some cases, had a big impact upon their lives.

Making Sense of Health Evidence: The Informed Consumer has been developed to help people identify what is reliable evidence amid a constant bombardment of mixed health messages.

Esther Cable, who signed up to the course when it ran in 2015, said: “I feel much better equipped now to assess the wealth of information out there.

“I am grateful for the amount of effort that has gone into putting this course together and I think it's fantastic that this quality of course has been made freely accessible to us all.”

The course is for anyone who is interested in learning more about the topic. It may appeal particularly to people who want to find out more about a medical condition or who are considering studying a health-related subject at university.

It is a cross-University collaboration bringing together specialists in health, social sciences and journalism.

Every week there is a case study that illustrates the issues discussed. Studies include the MMR vaccine, the use of drugs in pregnancy, and the impact of dehydration on our ability to function.

Community Journalism: Digital and Social Media is led by Professor Richard Sambrook, Deputy Head of Cardiff University’s prestigious School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies and former Director of Global News at the BBC.

Community news websites such as East Grinstead Online and Grimsby Spotlight have been established as a direct result of the course.

Other learners have credited the experience with helping them enhance their public relations knowledge, improve perceptions of their local school, create a travel blog or improve their media skills.

Lucio Albenga, a software developer from Italy, signed up to the course from personal curiosity but found that it also enhanced his professional skills.

He said: "I learned about social media engagement tools and analytics that I have since used in my personal and professional life.

"The educators are great and always provide extra useful information through comments and hangouts. I recommend it to everyone interested in social media and journalism."

The third course, Muslims in Britain: Changes and Challenges, comes at a time when discussions about Islam dominate much of the political and news agenda.

People are increasingly bombarded by dramatic and at times disturbing headlines, yet general knowledge of Muslims and their faith can be poor.

The course is designed to help develop people’s understanding of Muslims and their faith through an exploration of communities in Britain.

Retired teacher Graham Hughes, from Stockport, joined the course when it ran previously.

He said: “I think it is of immense importance to go beyond simplistic stereotypes and develop a more informed view of who British Muslims are.

“This course has made a significant contribution to achieving that aim. I will be encouraging friends and acquaintances to sign up when the course runs again.”

Find out more about Cardiff University’s free online courses.