For this special edition quiz, we challenge you to test your geography knowledge using photographs from around the world. How many of these 10 questions can you get right?
How to Change Your Blogger Layout
Today we are going to talk about changing the look of your blog by editing your layout. There are several different types of layouts to choose from and it pretty easy to switch things up to best suit your needs. Some folks might like one basic post section and one sidebar. Others may need two sidebars or a few different footer sections. I will show you how to change the blogger layout and make it more suitable for your needs.
Changing the blogger layout
Luckily, Blogger makes it pretty simple to change things up if you are using one of their templates. (Note: you must be using an unaltered theme for this to work. If you are using a customized template such as one of ours, this will not work.).
We at Designer Blogs can also offer you upgraded layout options with any of the designs. You can find our layout options in our blog accessories shop.
Pick a design
Here is my sample blog using Blogger’s SIMPLE template. It has a basic post section and a right sidebar created from one column at the top and two smaller ones below it.
To switch things up, log into your blog, click on the Theme tab and then select the orange Customize button.
Customizing blogger layout
In the new window, select the Layout button on the left-hand side of the page. This will brings up the layout options. As you can see, Blogger offers eight options for layout, as well as three different options for your footer.
You literally just click on the options for either area that you want and then SAVE your changes. It is that simple.
This is a great way to utilize the space on your blog if you have several sidebar items that seem to go on for eternity down the length of your blog. The organization is key to a well-designed blog, especially if gaining and keeping readers is a high priority.
And there you have it. I hope this tutorial showed you how to change the blogger layout for your blog.
Happy designing everybody!
What Students Are Saying About Quarantine Dating, Ghosts and Songs of Hope
We all need human connection to survive and if we don’t get it we will become comfortable being alone. Many find that as a good thing but if you really think about it you can develop mental illnesses without even noticing and in the future you won’t feel comfortable talking to people about it because you perceive it as normal. Teens especially need contact because we are about dive into adulthood and we have to cherish the left over time we have as teens.
— Suzie Kourkaji, North Hollywood CA
Although I am currently not dating anyone at the moment, I can still experience what it must be like to not be able to physically be with your lover. The stress and loneliness while being isolated must be painful to begin with and to not be able to see their partner must have increased the amount of anxiety. Yet, I can’t say the same for my friends because even though social distancing has been placed, they will still go out of their way to visit their boyfriends. Now, If I was a parent, it will be extremely difficult for me to allow my child outside because of the pandemic.
I’m not in a relationship and neither are my two closest friends, It’s been hard enough to not see them because I before I used to see them all the time. Through this quarantine, I’ve found myself less interested in guys. Like I’ll find some dude attractive or whatever but I won’t go out of my way to speak to anyone or even think about relationships. I just miss my friends, and I wish I could have fun with them and mess around, the longer this quarantine goes the less interested I get. I think part of it is because I can’t go out and see people or talk to people as much as I could before without really getting bored, so all I do is read these terrible things or see people saying stupid things and it makes me not want to talk to anyone.
— Sophie DeMontagnac, Cary, NC
Navigating a new normal
Older generations have always criticized teenager’s attachments to their devices, but now they have become an even more integral part in our lives- a life line to our sanity of sorts. As we endure this pandemic and seek to upkeep our social habits and our emotional needs, our screen times are through the roof. It’s not satisfying to me, nor is it for my boyfriend or friends. So now, as we have all been at home for 2 months, I look forward to going on walks. I beg my parents and he begs his and we are fortunate enough to be able to see each other, and in such a beautiful environment at that. Stealing away for hikes seems to me as the least risk involved interaction, and for us touch deprived teenagers, necessary to remain content. We long for sitting in fast food joints and going over to each others houses, but we thrive in the lack of pressure to socialize now. I adore seeing a few friends at a time promoting a more intimate and relaxed atmosphere. Essentially surviving a long distance relationship is a testament to my friendships and my relationship, and it just makes me appreciate and love them all the more. I cannot wait to embrace them all when this nightmare is over, and never again take a night out for granted.
Advice for couples
To teenage couples, I would say to think of the situation the world is going through at the moment: we are in a global pandemic. It may be very difficult to maintain distance from significant others, but it is important to understand that we are doing this to keep each other safe. By seeing each other, you are putting him/her, as well as your family at risk. Many people are losing their loved ones to this virus, and the best thing you can do is to prevent it by social distancing. To the families, please understand that in our generation, social interaction is a crucial part to our lives. At school, we are taught to engage in discussions and increase participation and collaboration. We have been encouraged to do so since our first step into school. It is a very difficult time right now, but the most important thing is to be safe, but also understand how it has affected different people.
I believe that if your teenager is in love and they want to see each other they should see each other maybe not every day but once a week. If you still want social distancing then back 2 cars up and sit on the back end and talk. I have never had a special other so I do not know everything that may feel but allow some sort of in-person connection would greatly help them.
If I was a Parent I would let them go see them but set a time of 2 to 3 hours and supervise from a distance and I know that may sound controlling but to keep both of the teenagers safe is to limit some of their time. But I would not say no after how long it has been for them and how much they may be hurting.
Sharia and Islamic law: religious worship during the COVID-19 pandemic
In this guest post, hear from teaching assistant and research fellow, Dr Yahya Barry – an educator on the University of Edinburgh’s new course on The Sharia and Islamic Law – about how Islamic law has responded to state-enforced social isolation measures in Edinburgh, Scotland.
You can find out more about the distinctions and definitions of Sharia law on the University of Edinburgh’s free online course.
The religion of Islam has existed for over 14 centuries, but little is known about the way its code of legislation (the Sharia) actually operates. Its almost two billion followers invariably cherry-pick and “mix and match”, creating a bricolage of Islams across the world.
Sharia is an Arabian word that means ‘path’, and the Sharia law is a code that shapes Muslim life. The law is upheld by Imams who are ministers of religion trained to represent Islam, as well as oversee Muslim congregational worship.
How Muslims have responded to the UK lockdown – placed by the government in response to the coronavirus pandemic – has shined a light on the contextual, debated, and constantly evolving nature of Islamic law.
What happens to this community of believers, along with their faith, when they can no longer physically meet to worship together in prayer, fasting, celebration and mourning?
On 16 March 2020, the Scottish government urged Imans to “suspend congregational prayers within the Mosque – including the Friday prayer”. The Cabinet Secretary for Justice, Humza Yousaf – a Muslim himself – along with the Chief Medical Officer urged us to cancel all prayer in congregation.
As religious leaders, the Imams have the authority to advise their communities on when to start and finish their prayers, and when they should begin and end their fast. Some celebrants are even able to officiate marriages in their mosques under both Islamic and Scots law.
Imams now have to delicately juggle multiple contingencies: the immediate risk to health, the demographic reality of a dispersed and diverse minority community, and the fact that their authority has to operate within the confines of secular Scots law.
A virtual debate
For the city of Edinburgh, a WhatsApp group for all Imams – of which I am a part – is discussing what to do.
The discussion starts with a number of key points of debate. Some question the linguistic and perhaps technical connotations of the word “urge” alongside its legal significance in the letter:
“‘Urge’, that’s surely not an obligation or a command?”
Another highlights that the term is qualified with the adverb “strongly”. Another dissects the meaning behind the urge, explaining that the protection of the NHS here is a point of conjecture, not one of certainty.
Could prayers be cancelled on the grounds of statistical predictions?
A reminder is then served: in Islamic law, “certainty” (Yaqeen) can only be removed by certainty, not conjecture.
Distinctions were starting to emerge now between the classically trained Imams from the seminaries and the more eclectically qualified – those who are self-taught – members of the group.
Another interjects at this point, reminding the group of the certainty embodied in the sanctity of the mosques – they are symbolic of the community’s identity and wellbeing. Another retorts:
“But this is a matter of life and death”
They reference the fact that the removal of harm (Mafsadah) supersedes the good or virtue (Maslahah) of communal practice – a legal maxim rooted in Sharia which emerges as authoritative during the discussion.
This, along with information cited from Muslim advisory groups, rulings from certain global authorities and consultations by Qadis (Islamic judges) from across the Muslim world, seals the outcome.
A decision is reached
Within three hours, all fourteen mosques in Edinburgh represented by the group announce the cessation of communal worship, except one – there’s always one. But even this mosque later reconsiders its position and adopts the same stance as the majority.
This informal WhatsApp group of Imams, now representing a population of 15,000 Muslims across the city of Edinburgh, deliberated over matters as though they were a legal council, sitting in order to pass important juristic matters of policy. And, in many ways, they were.
Within an hour or two of our WhatsApp deliberations, Facebook posts, emails and tweets appeared communicating the cessation of congregational worship.
The Friday congregational prayers were to be replaced by the normal afternoon prayer as there was no precedent to instruct that the same format be undertaken at home during times of social isolation.
How do individual Muslims understand God’s law? Is there a difference between the letter of the law and its spirit? Which authorities are qualified to interpret, implement and police it? Is there a difference between the Sharia (in Arabic, the pathway defined by God, an ideal) and Fiqh (Islamic law, a human effort to interpret Sharia)?
These are some of the questions that our free, online course The Sharia and Islamic Law: An Introduction interrogates.
Created and led by leading academics from the University of Edinburgh specialising in Islamic and Middle Eastern studies, anthropology, politics, religious studies, sociology, and theology, this course brings together multiple perspectives to guide the enquiring mind on this often misunderstood subject.
Welcoming Ken Hahn as our Chief Financial Officer
By Jeff Maggioncalda, CEO Coursera
I am fortunate to be working alongside a leadership team that cares deeply about fulfilling our mission and finding ways to better serve our learners, partners, and customers. Today, I am excited to share that Ken Hahn has joined this team as Coursera’s Chief Financial Officer.
Ken joins Coursera during an important growth phase for the company. Coursera now serves over 60 million learners — including 10 million who joined the platform in the last two months. With millions of students and professionals around the world relying on Coursera to continue their learning, we are further growing our investment in content and platform efforts to serve them during an uncertain time. I am looking forward to Ken’s leadership in helping us meet the demand for our recently launched initiatives and shape our long-term financial strategy in a highly dynamic environment.
Ken brings more than 20 years of experience as Chief Financial Officer at public and private companies including Collective Health, iControl Networks (acquired by Comcast), QuinStreet, and Borland Software. Prior to his executive roles, Ken worked at the Boston Consulting Group and PricewaterhouseCoopers. Throughout his career, Ken has built teams, processes, and infrastructure that help scale businesses efficiently.
Ken graduated summa cum laude from CSU Fullerton and was named an Arjay Miller Scholar when he earned an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
I am proud of how we have supported learners, institutions, and communities amid the pandemic, and I look forward to Ken contributing his experience, talent, and passion to a leadership team dedicated to serving the world through learning.
Please join me in welcoming Ken to our community.
Alison Launches GDPR courses in 18 European languages
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a piece of EU legislation regarding data protection and privacy online. GDPR brings all EU countries in line in how they protect the data and privacy of their citizens and is one of the most important laws to come out of Europe in recent years.
Any business that is either established in the EU, or sells good or services to EU citizens (or processes their data), must comply with the rules set out under GDPR. GDPR doesn’t just cover how companies process data, but how that data is stored and exchanged.
Organisations that are subject to GDPR must be able to demonstrate that they are following the regulations and that the data in their possession is secure. For many companies, this means either updating or completely overhauling how they do business, both on paper and online.
As GDPR is such a huge piece of regulation, keeping onside of all of the rules can be difficult. However, if an organisation fails to comply, they could face a fine of up to €20 million or 4% of their global annual turnover.
In order to help businesses correctly interpret GDPR and to implement the necessary measures to protect their customers’ data, Alison has published a highly popular course on understanding GDPR.
The English version has already helped thousands of students navigate GDPR and protect themselves and their businesses from serious financial losses. We’re now delighted to announce that, alongside English, this course is now available in 18 major European languages:
- Bulgarian
- Croatian
- Czech
- Danish
- Dutch
- French
- German
- Hungarian
- Italian
- Latvian
- Lithuanian
- Polish
- Portuguese
- Romanian
- Slovakian
- Slovenian
- Spanish
- Swedish
See here for our GDPR courses in multiple EU Languages.
Lesson of the Day: ‘“I Can’t Breathe”: 4 Minneapolis Officers Fired After Black Man Dies in Custody’
CNVS 02_NYT Final Script_150429
Transcript
Start time: 00:00:00
Rakesh: Racism means basically like…
Miles: A large, a large part of uh…a race feels that they’re superior to another race and so and so not only do they believe that but they act on it.
Malik: Examples would be in class sometimes I’d be the only black kids and we’d read a book like, I don’t know, Huck Finn and then there’s that uncomfortable moment…the “magic” word would come up and people look at you like “What’s his reaction?” Things like that.
Miles: I was walking home from school with this one white girl and we had just gotten off the bus and we were about to, we were almost home and there were these groups of black kids that had just gotten out of school. She was like “Oh, let’s cross the street, there’s a group of black kids. I don’t want to run into them.” And so she told me…which, I don’t even know why she would do that.
Marvin: I used to wear a sweatband like just to reinforce my wrist and I had a teacher come up to me and say, “You should take it off because it looks gang affiliated.”
Shaq: I’ve been in situations you know where I’ve had to cross the street because I didn’t want to scare the white lady that was walking.
Marvin: I would actually, it would get to the point where I would start to count how many times a woman would clutch her bag.
Bisa: When I was 16, I was leaving my mom’s house in my pajamas, which had snowmen on them um, with my brother and we were actually stopped by the police rather aggressively.
Jumoke: I’ve been stopped by the cops on my way between classes, because we have two separate buildings, walking from one building to the other building. As my white students in the same class walk by me.
Malik: It’s kind of upsetting because we live in a world where my mom has to be afraid when I walk outside from the people that are like meant to protect me and I just, I don’t like when my mother feels like that you know, I love my mother. She should always, I want her to always be happy…
Bisa: You know I walk tall, I keep my head up, very you know, try to be very articulate and and polite…um and so of course I was like “Okay I’m going to be fine because I act a certain way.” And of course that has absolutely nothing to do with it. Um, people, the way people perceive you you know, is not up to you.
00:02:06
Jumoke: My parents taught me oh you know, “Cops are your friends, you’re supposed to, you know they’re here to protect you.” But all I’m seeing is the opposite. So how can I not be afraid when I feel like I’m being hunted? When I feel like I’m there to fill a quota?
Shaq: We are in a so-called free society and as a black man we literally don’t feel free. We don’t know “freedom” is.
Jumoke: Every time we’re killed, the first thing you see on the news is: criminal record. Or something like that. So from the second the bullet hits us, already we’re starting to be dehumanized.
Malik: Black people like myself, we don’t get as many chances as they do so you have to be aware and you have to watch out and you can’t mess up.
Bisa: This was an extremely emotionally taxing process for me in terms of coming to terms with maybe…the nature of of racism in my own life and in this country and in this world and if you wait until somebody is 12, 13, 14 to put that on them…it’s…it’s really, it can be really difficult.
Malik: My dad, he’s just like the honest one he’s like “Listen son, like, there are things in this world that you have to, you kind of have to watch out…” He doesn’t want me to live in fear, but he wants me to be aware.
Maddox: I want people to know that I’m perfectly fine and I’m not going to hurt anybody or do anything bad.
Rakesh: I should be judged about like who I, who I am and like and what kind of person I am.
Marvin: My parents would tell me, especially my mom, she would tell me, you have to endure. You have to muscle through it. And like, this is no different, it’s a part of being a person of color in America.
Bisa: And there’s a certain comfortability associated with that because if I know that something is inevitable then I know how to deal with it. Fortunately, I’ve had parents who have said “this is what you do.”
00:04:00
Marvin: Mom and dad, I’ll be fine because you did a good job raising me. You gave me all the resources and the time and the blood, sweat and tears to make a good man, an honorable man and the foundation to survive in this country.
Myles: I want you to know that I will act in an appropriate manner and do everything that you told me to do because I do love you and I know that everything you say is for a reason and not just to talk the talk. And I love you.
Credits
DIRECTED & PRODUCED BY: Joe Brewster / Perri Peltz
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Rudy Valdez
SOUND: Chase Horton
EDITORS: Geeta Gandbhir / Clare Vance
CONSULTING PRODUCERS: Blair Foster / Geeta Gandbhir / Michele Stephenson
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER: Clare Vance
THANK YOU: Rakesh / Miles / Malik / Marvin / Shaq / Bisa / Jumoke / Maddox / Myles
NYTIMES CREDITS
End time: 00:04:57
Music: “Rolling Emotions,” Composed by Adam Dennis (PRS) and Bob Bradley (PRS), Library: Bruton TV Series (BTV). Track ID: BRU_BTV_0146_01301
Course spotlight: Mindfulness for Wellbeing and Peak Performance
Can you tell us a bit about this course, who it’s aimed at and what it aims to achieve?
Commencing on 15 June, the Mindfulness for Wellbeing and Peak Performance course explains the science, practice and philosophy of mindfulness, as well as techniques to reduce stress and improve your wellbeing. These evidence-based approaches have been found to improve mental and physical health, productivity, learning and memory, communication, and empathy.
The beauty of our mindfulness course is that it can help anyone, from students to industry professionals, stay-at-home parents to retirees. No matter your context, the course provides practical steps that you can apply to improve your quality of life.
What has been your experience of running this course online? What differs from a face-to-face course?
The mindfulness course was designed to minimise the differences between learning online and face-to-face, with expert facilitated discussions, timely feedback videos, as well as engaging content and extra resources.
However, a benefit of the online delivery for this course, is that you can engage in mindfulness and meditation practices from the privacy of your own home, removing the self-consciousness that some might feel when attending meditation workshops or learning about the topic face-to-face.
We recently introduced ratings and reviews to FutureLearn short courses. The Mindfulness for Wellbeing and Peak Performance has already clocked up hundreds of reviews in a very short space of time with an outstanding average rating of 4.8 stars out of 5. What factors do you feel have made this course so successful?
We’re thrilled with the ratings and reviews this course has received so far. Our Lead Educators, Associate Professor Craig Hassed and Dr Richard Chambers are both internationally renowned experts and active researchers in the field. The evidence-based, and practical approach of the course have contributed to its success.
Our course mentors are very active and supportive of learners who are new to the practice of mindfulness. The result is a very strong sense of community within the course, despite the large numbers of learners.
The feedback video model has also worked so well for the mindfulness courses that we’ve replicated this for all Monash University FutureLearn courses.
In the current climate, mental wellbeing is in the spotlight more than ever. What role do you feel free-to-access resources can play in supporting the wellbeing of the general public?
The mindfulness course is a free resource, providing the public with easily accessible tools to support their wellbeing.
“It’s a very trying time for people all around the world and perhaps we need something to help us through,” Associate Professor Hassed says.
“Mindfulness won’t make the situation go away, but it can certainly help us to keep calm and cope a whole lot better.”
Alongside the course content, we release weekly feedback videos on our YouTube channel, where our lead educators respond directly to student queries, and address relevant contemporary issues in the media, such as the anxiety everyone is feeling from COVID-19. This gives students a sense of connection with lead educators, and makes the course relevant to our current situation.
What have been some of your key learnings from running this course?
With over 330,000 enrolments since 2015, the Mindfulness course has taught us that there is a significant demand for online learning, and that this mode of teaching and learning can deliver exceptional outcomes for learners even in subjects that you might not think would translate to online. As mentioned above, we’ve learned that engaging content, responsive lead educators and a sense of community amongst learners are all critical success factors.
Category Research insights
How has COVID-19 changed the job market?
As we draw closer to the midway point of 2020, we can all reflect on what an unusual year it’s been so far. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed our lives in ways we couldn’t have imagined back in January. But as the weeks of lockdown have rolled by, we’re becoming used to a new normal. So, as the global economy starts moving again and people return to work, what do we know about what’s changed in the job market during COVDI-19?
We take a closer look at the overall picture in the labour market, what’s changed in how we work, and how certain industries are faring during this unprecedented time.
The UK declared a lockdown on March 23. For many of us, this meant we couldn’t go to work as we normally would. During the uncertainty, people were left wondering what this meant for their jobs. Thankfully, the UK government launched their furlough scheme on April 20, paying 80% of people’s wages if they couldn’t work.
Recent figures show that, as of May 24, some 8.4 million jobs have been furloughed since the scheme launched. Although some people are starting to return to work, many will continue to rely on the scheme. This incentive has been extended through to October (with some alterations).
Although the furlough scheme has brought relief to many people, there has also been a surge in unemployment. Around 856,500 people signed up for benefits such as universal credit and jobseeker’s allowance in April, an increase of 69%.
There have been similar trends across the global job market during COVID-19. The US, in particular, has been badly hit, with nearly 1 in 4 Americans claiming unemployment benefits. Additionally, recruiters in many countries have seen a significant decline in hiring activity since the pandemic began.
All of this makes for somewhat grim reading. But it’s not all bad news. Some industries are still hiring, people are slowly returning to work, and government schemes exist to support workers.
Hiring in a pandemic
One of the biggest changes to the job market during COVID-19 is the way companies are approaching recruitment. Companies are still looking to fill vacancies during this hectic time. However, current social distancing measure makes traditional means of hiring more challenging.
Despite the current hurdles, businesses are finding ways of hiring new staff. The process just looks a little different now. So, if you are searching for a new job, here are some of the ways you might interview for the role given the current circumstances:
- Telephone interviews. Although a popular first step of the recruitment process before coronavirus, it’s become even more prevalent recently. It’s a good way of initially gauging whether you’re the right fit for the role.
- Video interviews. During lockdown, many of us have been using video calls to keep in touch with loved ones. Platforms like Zoom can also be a great way of conducting an interview. It’s a useful replacement for face-to-face and panel interviews.
- Online tests. Tests are a fairly common part of the recruitment process. While in-person assessments aren’t possible right now, companies are turning to online solutions instead. They can be a great way of proving your credentials when applying for a job.
Remote working
Technology is rapidly changing the way we live and work. One of the saving graces of the coronavirus pandemic is that many people have been able to work remotely. At the height of lockdown, those who were able to work from home were asked to do so.
Although this way of remote working was new to many of us, it’s actually a trend that’s been emerging for a while. In 2019, Airbnb’s Future of Work report revealed that 77% of UK workers think being able to work remotely is important.
There are studies to back up the merits of this way of working, too. The American Psychology Association found that workers who had the ability to work remotely were more satisfied with their jobs and more productive.
So, whether you’re in work or applying for new roles, the job market during COVID-19 certainly has a focus on working from home. For many, this added flexibility is a great addition. But there are certainly pitfalls. It can be hard to set boundaries and not overwork. Plus, the lack of human interaction can be difficult for many.
The coronavirus pandemic has undoubtedly disrupted the job market, both in the UK and internationally. Across the UK in April, advertised vacancies were 49% lower than they were the previous year. But some industries have been hit particularly hard.
Between lockdown and social distancing measures, it’s not surprising that some sectors have been hit worse than others. Even with government support, the pressure has been immense on some businesses. It’s hard to quantify exactly which industry has been hit the hardest. But a combination of lost revenues and fewer jobs is clear across many. This includes:
Hospitality and leisure
With mandatory closures and social distancing in place, the hospitality and leisure industry has been hit particularly badly. If you think of things like hotels, pubs, travel, and sport, it’s not hard to see why.
According to one report, small- and medium-sized businesses in the sector lost an average of 54% of their monthly business income.
Manufacturing
The manufacturing industry in the UK has seen its worst slump in nearly 30 years. Areas such as new orders, employment, and overall output have all rapidly declined. Figures show that jobs in the industry are down 58% since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic started.
Again, lockdown restrictions have meant that places like factories and some warehouses haven’t been able to open.
Food and drink
With the closure of bars, pubs and restaurants, the food and drink industry is another that has felt the impact of COVID-19. Although people are eating more at home, out-of-home consumption has all but halted. Businesses in this industry traditionally rely on money coming from people eating out, which has been impossible during lockdown.
Energy
At the height of lockdown, it seemed like nearly the entire country had come to a standstill. And, with a decrease in transportation and trade across the globe, the demand for energy went down. Estimates suggest that this decline was around 18-25% per week.
As well as a decrease in demand for energy, jobs in the UK also declined significantly. Some figures suggest there are 73% fewer advertised vacancies in this industry.
Retail
As all non-essential shops were closed from the start of lockdown, it’s little surprise to see the retail industry hit so hard. Job vacancies declined nearly 80% during April. On top of that, chains such as Debenhams, Laura Ashley, and Cath Kidston have all gone into administration since the start of lockdown.
Although things may seem pretty bleak at the moment, there are always positives to be found in times of crisis. Despite the current climate, there are some industries where the job market during COVID-19 is thriving.
Many of these areas have seen either a demand for new staff or an increase in demand for services. Often, these sectors already had much of the infrastructure to deal with the crisis caused by the pandemic.
As companies across the country (and the world) adjust to a new normal, we’ve outlined some industries that have recently seen increased demand. We’ve also picked out some ways you can think about getting involved in these areas:
Healthcare
Now, more than ever, we appreciate how vital our healthcare systems are. The people working throughout the NHS and other healthcare services continue to prove how vital they are. And the healthcare job market during COVID-19 is further proof of this.
Data shows that only 9% of employees in health and social work were furloughed. Similarly, only around 10% of jobs in the industry were at risk, compared to an average of 24%. Only those in the IT and water supply, sewage and waste industries had a smaller proportion.
Of course, there are many different areas of the healthcare industry. If you’re thinking of entering the field, you can find all kinds of courses that will help develop your knowledge. If you’re interested in learning about the coronavirus outbreak, for example, you could take our course on COVID-19.
We even have a course on managing COVID-19 in primary care. This three-week course is led by experts at St George’s University of London. It helps keep existing healthcare professionals up-to-date with the latest advice related to the virus.
Wellness
Health and wellbeing have never been more important than they are right now. This need is also reflected in the boom of the home wellness industry. While many of us have been stuck at home during lockdown, we’ve looked to apps, online fitness classes, and other social wellness opportunities to stay healthy.
According to an expert from the Global Wellness Institute, people stuck inside were desperate for company. As such, people have been searching for collaborative videos including ‘with me’ in the title at a greater rate than ever.
People in the UK have been buying a range of fitness equipment, such as yoga mats and kettlebells. Similarly, the popular meditation app Headspace experienced a 19-fold jump in users taking a calming exercise. Evidently, the need to stay healthy, both mentally and physically, is resulting in a boom in the wellness job market during COVID-19.
You can learn about why mindfulness and wellbeing are such important tools during times of crisis. You can take a variety of courses that can help with things like stress, sleep, eating, and overall wellbeing.
Explore mindfulness and wellbeing courses
Online education
At the end of April, an estimated 1.2 billion children across the globe were out of the classroom. With schools and universities closed, remote learning and online education have become essential. As such, the industry has experienced a surge in popularity.
Although schools in the UK are gradually starting to open, this shift towards e-learning has shown just how useful technology can be in many different industries. Things like language apps, video conferencing lessons, online learning software, and virtual tutoring have all become popular.
And it’s not just the students who have turned to online education while they’re out of school. Parents have also been trying to brush up on their knowledge, as they take charge of their children’s at-home education. Learners of all ages can benefit from this method of study, which is why the industry continues to thrive.
At FutureLearn, we have a wide variety of courses related to online education. For those looking to improve their online learning skills, you’ll find multiple opportunities. If you’re more focused on the teaching side of things, there are many relevant courses, including those about teaching for home learners.
eCommerce
Despite retail sales declining in bricks and mortar stores, the online sector has seen an overall increase in sales. Online orders increased around 200% in the UK during April and the early part of May. While people are forced to stay home and shops are closed, this comes as little surprise.
The world of eCommerce brings convenience and efficiency, giving people a huge range of options to choose from. With social distancing measures set to be around for a while, its continued growth seems likely.
It’s an industry that relies on a wide range of digital marketing skills. There are also all kinds of roles related to eCommerce. You could manage content, write engaging copy, optimise websites for search engines, market on social media, and more. Of course, customer insight and analytics are also essential skills.
Digital technology is having a huge impact on our lives, and understanding these digital skills in retail can be hugely beneficial for your career.
Pharmaceuticals
Pharmaceutical companies are playing a significant role in the pandemic. As well as research into vaccines, there is ongoing research into diagnostics, technologies, and other treatments. According to the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, in May, there were over 1,000 clinical trials and more than 150 treatments being tested.
As healthcare systems around the world prepare to deal with the impacts of the virus, the pharmaceuticals job market during COVID-19 has continued to grow. So much so that massive companies such as Gilead and Eli Lilly have seen stock market gains.
With FutureLearn’s pharmacy courses, you can pursue your interest and improve your knowledge in the area. It’s a vast field, with loads of fascinating subjects. Whether you want to learn about genetics in medicine or the basics of good pharmacy practice, you can find a relevant course.
Gaming
We’ve mentioned gaming a few times in recent posts. There’s been a surge in popularity across all platforms since the start of the pandemic. A survey conducted in March found that gamers in the UK reported they spent 29% more time playing video games during the quarantine.
With the entertainment industry hit by closures, people have turned to these forms of at-home entertainment to pass the time. As such, global spending on digital games rose to its highest monthly total ever, a staggering $10 billion.
That’s not to say the industry hasn’t been impacted by COVID-19. Many high-profile releases have been hit by delays, while basically all games conventions and expos have been cancelled.
However, a career in games development could be a rewarding one. Like many other technology-driven industries, the games job market during COVID-19 has plenty of opportunities. The UK’s indie gaming industry, for example, continues to thrive.
It’s undoubtedly a strange time for everyone right now. And, with furloughs, unemployment, redundancies, and more, it seems like a difficult time in the job market too. However, there are some glimmers of hope, and as the world takes steps out of lockdown, things will hopefully start to move again.
Whereas industries such as hospitality, retail, and food and drink have been hit hard, others have thrived. It’s difficult to know when the job market will pick up again, but experts remain hopeful that the UK economy will bounce back reasonably quickly.
During this challenging time, technology has played a key role in keeping us all connected. Additionally, it has also changed the way we think about applying for jobs and recruitment. Companies are far more likely to interview remotely, which is one of the big changes we’ve seen in the Job Market During COVID-19.
Ultimately, whether you’re currently working or not, there is never a bad time to start learning some new skills. If you have career goals in mind or are just hoping to improve your employability skills, an online course can help.
June Events
- Simon Nelson, CEO, FutureLearn will keynote at the Construct: Higher Education in a Post-COVID World online event from 1-1:30pm BST on 4 June. Simon will be talking about Lessons from Lockdown: Thinking long term.
- Justin Cooke, Chief Content & Partnerships Officer, FutureLearn is speaking at The second EdTech industry collaboration to help schools and colleges deal with CV19 and the need for home learning webinar, 4-5:00pm BST on June 4. Sign-up for free here.
- You can watch Simon Nelson, CEO, FutureLearn on a panel talking about The World of Education is Changing: A session with edtech leaders shaping the future, at the online CogX The Global Leadership Summit, at 2-2:45pm BST on 10 June. Get 50% off all CogX festival passes by using code: SPCXD50 or this link.
- On 18 June, watch Justin Cooke, Chief Content & Partnerships Officer, FutureLearn join a panel at the Learnit online event. The panel, Alt-HE and the future of universities, starts at 4pm BST.
- Join us at the FutureLearn Festival of Learning from 22-26 June, a one-week event celebrating the vital role of educators and learners of all ages. Over this week we will look at how education will evolve in a post-COVID world, how we can all collaborate to achieve great things in the wake of upheaval, and why learning together is now more important than ever.
- Watch Simon Nelson, CEO, FutureLearn join a panel at the Westminster Education Forum: The future for EdTech on 30 June. The panel, How the COVID-19 crisis might inform the future use of EdTech, starts at 12:10pm BST.
- THE Awards 2020 are open for entries and close on 10 June 2020. The ‘University of the Year’ category is open to UK higher education institutions who have demonstrated exceptional performance during the 2018-19 academic year. You can find more information regarding the criteria here.
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