Are you a non-native English speaker looking to grow professionally in tourism, business, or your career? Do you want to improve your English language skills at your own pace with free online courses and official certificates? If so, the U.S. Department of State’s Online Professional English Network (OPEN) Program offers Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs).
The OPEN Program offers a series of free, self-paced English courses designed to meet the diverse professional needs of its participants. These courses are flexible and inclusive, allowing participants from around the world to enroll with no limit on the number of learners. Whether you’re a student, professional, or job-seeker, there’s a course for you.
Courses run between 5 to 12 weeks, with participants expected to spend about 3–5 hours per week. Upon successful completion, a certificate is awarded to every learner.
Available Course
Here are the three courses offered by the OPEN Program, each with a brief description:
- English for Tourism Professionals: Designed for non-native English speakers working or studying in the tourism industry. Covers key vocabulary and communication skills needed in tourism settings. Duration: 12 weeks.
- English for Business and Entrepreneurship: Ideal for learners interested in enhancing their English language skills in a business context. Focuses on business planning, marketing, and entrepreneurship terms. Duration: 12 weeks.
- English for Career Development: It helps learners develop English skills for job searching, writing resumes, and preparing for interviews. Great for advancing careers in the global job market. Duration: 12 weeks.
Key Details and Dates
-
- Application Deadline:
- English for Tourism Professionals: June 30, 2025
- English for Business and Entrepreneurship: June 23, 2025
- English for Career Development: June 23, 2025
- Important Dates:
- Tourism Professionals: April 14 – July 7, 2025
- Business & Entrepreneurship / Career Development: April 7 – June 30, 2025
- Funding Type: Free of Cost
- Organizer: The OPEN Program, implemented by FHI 360
- Eligible Countries: All countries
- Eligible Gender: Male/Female
- Target Group: English learners, students, professionals
- Field: English language for tourism, business, and career development
- Duration: 12 weeks
- Program Language: English
- Host Country: Online
- Application Deadline:
Benefits
Benefits of the courses:
- 100% free enrollment and participation
- Open to unlimited participants globally
- Self-paced learning with flexible deadlines
- 12-week duration per course
- Certificate of Completion for successful learners
- Course materials are provided freely online
Eligibility Criteria
Who can apply?
- Must be a non-native English speaker
- Must have access to the internet
- Interest in tourism, business, or career advancement
- No academic degree or prior qualifications are required
How to Apply?
- Visit the OPEN Program’s MOOC page
- Select your desired course:
- English for Tourism Professionals
- English for Business and Entrepreneurship
- English for Career Development
- Click on “Enroll Now.”
- Complete the registration form
- Start learning at your own pace
