LinkedIn Learning for Researchers

Find out how LinkedIn Learning can support researchers at the University of Leeds.

LinkedIn Learning is an online learning platform with over 21,000 courses created by industry experts, that you can access anytime, anywhere and University of Leeds students, PGRs and staff have free access to it. The content you'll find has been created by LinkedIn Learning alongside courses and videos designed by staff at the University of Leeds.

You can easily access your account from the LinkedIn Learning login page using your normal University username and password. 

• Help support your personal and professional development. 
• Learn new skills or technical software to improve your career prospects. 
• Get support with projects or tasks you're trying to complete. 
• Gain professional certificates from industrial providers by completing in-depth learning and passing online exams. 
• Easily connect to your LinkedIn profile to highlight completed courses and new skills.  
• Access on-the-go and at a time that suits you. You can even download content and view it offline. 

With so many courses available, we’ve compiled the following list as a starting point. You can also browse different topics on LinkedIn Learning, which include Business, Creative and Technology. Once you've started watching courses you're interested in, LinkedIn Learning will also start suggesting recommended content tailored to your interests.   

Given the vast array of courses available, choosing the one that matches your skill level can be daunting. This is where the Skill Evaluation feature comes into play. It's a self-assessment tool designed to gauge your current expertise in a particular area and recommend resources tailored to enhance your knowledge and deepen your understanding of the subject. The results are completely private to you. There are currently 42 skills that you can take a skill evaluation for. The skills include Microsoft Office Suite, Time Management, Python, Leadership, Communication and many more. Please refer to the Skill Evaluation guide to view all the skills. 

To find the Skill Evaluation for a specific topic follow the instructions below: 

1. On the homepage for LinkedIn Learning, type the skill title in the search box on the top menu bar
2. You see an option to ‘Guide your learning with Skill Evaluation’ select to take the Skill Evaluation
3. Answer the questions in the Skill Evaluation
4. You’ll receive your results and will be directed to content relevant to your level and understanding
5. You can find all your skill evaluations in your 'My Library' on the homepage on the left side navigation panel. You can revisit your results and retake them at any time

Watch a video on YouTube about the Skill Evaluation feature

With its vast global reach, LinkedIn has recently surpassed 1 billion users worldwide. In recent years, the platform has gained significant popularity among researchers and academics, establishing itself as a valuable tool for networking, collaboration, and professional development. For instance, many academics now use LinkedIn to share their research findings, connect with peers across the globe, and even find funding opportunities.  

• Create a standout LinkedIn profile to showcase your research area, education, and expertise. This will help you raise your visibility and highlight your research to a broader audience
• Connect and develop relationships with a wide community including peers, academics, industrial partners and key stakeholders
• Use your connections to research career paths and opportunities
• Stay in touch with your colleagues, peers and the large Leeds Alumni community
• Continue to learn with LinkedIn Learning and showcase your course certifications

Find out more about how to set up your LinkedIn profile and how to build your online presence. 

This Career Development Time guide will explain some of the ways you can use your 10 days, what development looks like, and help you plan how to make the most of your career development time.  

Career Catalyst Programme

The Career Catalyst Programme harnesses the power of LinkedIn Learning to enhance your career opportunities. Designed specifically for research technicians, postgraduate researchers, and postdoctoral researchers, this self-paced programme offers flexibility and comprehensive resources. For more information and to access the Career Catalyst Programme.

Collections on LinkedIn Learning are a series of courses, links, information and resources all in one convenient place. Explore the collections below designed for researchers at the University of Leeds. 

Library Research Support Collection 

Head to the Library Research Support LinkedIn Learning Collection for Library links, resources and information for PGRs. You can find information on Open Access, managing and safeguarding data, workshops and events. It’s a great one-stop shop for many useful resources linked to PGR research. 

The Research Workshop Collection 

The Research Workshops Collection help you to easily find and use materials from research workshops.  Whilst this collection can’t replace attending workshops, it’s a helpful extra giving you access to information that can improve your research skills. If you would like to contribute materials to the Research Workshops Collection read our Sway outlining how to contribute your materials. 

• Visit the OD&PL LinkedIn Learning webpage for an overview of LinkedIn Learning at the University of Leeds 

This resource contributes to your digital capabilities development areas of digital learning and development. To find out more about developing your digital capabilities through workshops and self-directed activities, visit the Library website if you are a student, and the OD&PL website for staff.