The Gold Standard of Online Courses: Transforming My Skills with Coursera and ADBI Workshops

I've had the privilege of taking some of the best online courses available, and Irsquo;m happy to share my experience with you. Two standout programs that have truly transformed my professional capabilities are the Excel Skills for Business Specialisation course offered via Coursera, associated with Macquarie University, and the workshops from the Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI).

Excel Skills for Business Specialisation

One of the most comprehensive and impactful courses I have ever taken is the Excel Skills for Business Specialisation. This program, offered under the authority of Macquarie University through Coursera, delved into several essential areas that significantly enhanced my Excel proficiency.

Key Learnings from the Excel Skills for Business Specialisation

A. Basic Excel Functions and Formulas B. Advanced Excel Functions and Formulas

This includes a range of essential financial formulas, text formulas, lookup formulas, and more. The course covers everything from basic Excel functions to advanced ones, pushing the boundaries of what you can achieve with the software.

C. Automation with Tables D. Charting Techniques and Data Visualization E. Pivot Tables F. Advanced Excel Tricks G. Dynamic Array Formulas H. Dynamic Data Cleaning in Excel I. Basic Macros and VBA J. Basic Transformation Using Power Query K. Creation of Amortization Schedules L. Creative Chatting Techniques and More

The course not only taught me these specific skills but also showed me how to apply them in real-world scenarios. To really master these tools, I practiced them diligently and applied them consistently in my work. This hands-on approach made all the difference in my ability to leverage Excel for business solutions.

ADBI Workshops on High-Speed Rail Development

Another highlight of my training journey was the workshops offered by the Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI). These workshops were instrumental in my understanding of high-speed rail development and infrastructure planning.

Workshops Overview

AMD has meticulously designed two impactful workshops:

Frontiers in High Speed Rail Development in Asia

This workshop was an immersive experience, with participants coming from 15 countries across Asia and overseas. It delved into the multifaceted aspects of high-speed rail development, including:

Economic benefits Environmental aspects Challenges Stakeholder management Engineering aspects Multi-modal integration Aesthetics Reduction in carbon footprints

We also presented case studies from different countries, which was a practical and engaging way to apply the knowledge gained during the workshops.

For almost 43 days, I was fully immersed in this learning experience, which was well worth the time and effort invested. It provided a unique opportunity to collaborate with experts and professionals from diverse backgrounds, enriching my understanding of high-speed rail development.

Principles of Developing Quality Infrastructure in Asia

My second workshop was the Principles of Developing Quality Infrastructure in Asia. This workshop was attended by participants from 12 countries, emphasizing the importance of quality infrastructure in the region.

The curriculum focused on key areas such as:

Infrastructure commercialization Business entities and ownership structures Infrastructure planning Decision-making processes International cooperation with banks and other financial institutions Operation and maintenance of infrastructure projects Case study presentations on the country's shinkansen (high-speed rail) system

This workshop lasted for approximately 45 days, during which I was fully engaged in learning and presenting my insights on our country's shinkansen case study. The comprehensive nature of the program ensured that I gained a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities involved in infrastructure development.

Overall, both the Excel Skills for Business Specialisation course and the ADBI workshops have been invaluable in enhancing my technical and professional skills. If yoursquo;re looking to take your Excel proficiency or knowledge of high-speed rail development to the next level, I canrsquo;t recommend these programs enough. They are a true testament to the quality of online education available today.