Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development Archives

State offers free training to 1,000 Missourians unemployed by COVID-19

September 9, 2020 By Alisa Nelson

The state is offering free online courses to 1,000 Missourians laid off or furloughed because of COVID-19. In a press release, the Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development says it has partnered with CompTIA, a nonprofit trade association, to provide the on-demand schooling.

Missouri offers free training for 1,000 Missourians unemployed by COVID-19

Enrollment is open through December 4 and the work can be completed in as few as eight weeks. Those who wrap up the training will be certified in information technology, cybersecurity or project management.

CompTIA teaches students with little-to-no information technology or project management experience. It offers both entry and advanced level IT and project management trainings at whatever pace each student wants to go. Virtual mentorship and resources to help ensure success and completion of the programs are provided.

To be eligible for courses, applicants must be over 18 years old, and have been laid off or furloughed because of COVID-19.

Those interested must qualify for Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) funding and may be asked to take two assessments through their local Missouri Job Center to see if they are eligible. For more information, visit jobs.mo.gov/returnstrong.

Missouri is using federal coronavirus aid to cover the cost of the training.

Free online classes available to Missourians unemployed by coronavirus outbreak

July 1, 2020 By Alisa Nelson

Missouri workers who have lost their jobs during the rash of COVID-19 cases can now enroll in free online classes. The Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development has partnered with Coursera, an online learning platform with 3,800 courses.

Free online classes available to Missourians unemployed by coronavirus outbreak

Through the partnership, Missourians can also earn professional certificates from leading companies like IBM and Google that are designed to prepare people for entry-level careers like IT.

“I truly believe education changes lives,” Zora Mulligan, commissioner of higher education, says in a press release. “Coursera provides another avenue for Missourians to learn new, marketable skills and, even during this period of economic uncertainty, advance their careers.”

The registration deadline is September 30 and courses must be completed by the end of this year to receive the credential or certificate at no cost.

To register, an account in the MoJobs system is required. Anyone without a MoJobs account can create a login at jobs.mo.gov. MoJobs users will have access to a link within the site to receive an invitation from Coursera.

For more information, click here.