Five free tech and data courses for non-tech leaders  

Digital skills are no longer optional, even for those working in policy, international development, law, education, health, or the creative industries. Whether you’re an applicant preparing for postgraduate study, a current scholar navigating the demands of your course, or an alum driving change in your home country, understanding technology can strengthen your decision-making and expand your impact.  

These five free courses are designed specifically for non-specialists. No coding experience required.   

1. AI for Everyone – Coursera (DeepLearning.AI)  

Artificial Intelligence is transforming education, healthcare, governance, and the global economy. This course explains AI in simple, practical terms and shows how organisations can adopt it responsibly.  

Best for: policymakers, NGO leaders, project managers, communications professionals.  

2. Data for Effective Policy Making – Inter-American Development Bank (Coursera) 

If you work in government, public policy, or NGOs, this course is essential. Learn how to interpret data, evaluate evidence, and use insights to inform better policy decisions. 

Best for: policy officers, civil servants, NGO leaders, and public sector professionals. 

3. Data and Urban Governance – Sciences Po (Coursera) 

Discover how big data informs city governance, algorithmic decision-making, public services, and citizen engagement. 

Best for: local government professionals, urban planners, and policy advisors. 

4. Digital Skills: User Experience – FutureLearn (Accenture)  

 User experience (UX) sits at the heart of modern digital services, from government portals to healthcare apps. This course explains how to design services that meet real user needs – a valuable skill for anyone working in public service or social innovation. 

Best for: health and social care leaders, digital programme managers, entrepreneurs, service designers.  

5. Data Science: R Basics (Harvard University) 

Learn the fundamentals of R, a free programming language that helps you analyse and visualise data. This course covers basic coding, data manipulation, and creating simple charts using real-world datasets. 

Best for: policy makers, researchers, and Chevening scholars who want to turn data into evidence-based decisions.