Program Overview

Digital Skills Certificate

The Digital Skills Certificate is a program designed to improve understanding, learn new skills, and gain formal recognition from Lancaster University of digital skills. It is available for free to both students and staff. The program is self-paced and involves completing five online courses of choice, as well as two mandatory courses in Information Security and Creating Accessible Resources.

Program Requirements

To gain the Digital Skills Certificate, participants must pass:

• The Information Security course
• The Creating Accessible Resources course
• At least one assessment from each of five digital skill categories:
  • Communication, Collaboration and Participation
  • Creation and Innovation
  • Identity and Wellbeing
  • Information, Data and Media
  • Learning and Self Development

Digital Skill Categories

The program includes the following digital skill categories:

Communication, Collaboration and Participation

Using digital technologies and social networks to improve engagement with others, socially and professionally. Courses available in this category include:

• Gathering data online using Qualtrics and Microsoft Forms
• Group collaboration with Microsoft Teams
• Managing email with Microsoft Outlook
• Managing calendars with Microsoft Outlook
• Managing files with Microsoft OneDrive
• Meetings and teaching events in Microsoft Teams

Creation and Innovation

Designing and producing new content, information, and data through innovative application of technology. Courses available in this category include:

• Introduction to computational mathematics in Matlab
• Image editing
• Presenting information with visual impact
• Video production
• Writing documents with LaTeX
• Statistical programming with RStudio
• Introduction to programming in Python
• Web editing with Terminalfour CMS (For staff by request)
• Designing presentations using Microsoft PowerPoint and Microsoft Sway

Identity and Wellbeing

Understanding the potential impact of digital technologies on health, wellbeing, and individual identity. Courses available in this category include:

• Online networking with LinkedIn
• Digital wellbeing
• Intercultural competencies
• Professional use of social media
• Digital Sustainability

Information, Data and Media

Managing, evaluating, assimilating, and using information and data in a range of media. Courses available in this category include:

• Analysing and presenting data with Microsoft Excel
• Finding academic resources with OneSearch
• Introduction to data analysis with SPSS
• PDF editing with Adobe Acrobat

Learning and Self Development

Having the capacity to identify and participate in digital learning opportunities. Courses available in this category include:

• Formatting documents with Word
• Mind mapping with MindJet
• Introduction to referencing and reference management tools
• Task management with Microsoft Planner and To Do
• Introduction to Moodle (For staff)
• Course administration in Moodle (For staff)
• Online assessment and feedback for assignments in Moodle (for staff)
• Creating interactive learning materials with Xerte

Certificate Completion

The certificate itself takes the form of an online badge that can be exported to services such as LinkedIn. For students, it will also be displayed on their Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR) when they graduate and can be used to gain points towards their Lancaster Award.

Benefits of Completing the Certificate

The benefits of completing the Digital Skills Certificate include:

• It's a great way for students to learn new skills for study
• It provides a platform for staff to improve their efficiency and effectiveness in the workplace
• It proves to potential employers that you have the digital know-how to succeed in the modern workplace
• It develops your knowledge of a wide range of technologies, not just those things you are already comfortable with
• You can learn entirely online, at your own pace, from anywhere

Using Completed Courses towards the Lancaster Award

For each digital skills online course students pass, they gain five points that can be used towards the Careers & Employability section of their Lancaster Award (up to a maximum of 20 points). To redeem, students need to access their badge(s) on Moodle, select the relevant badge(s), print the page, and include these in their portfolio when submitting for completion of the award.