LinkedIn Learning, previously known as Lynda, is an e-learning platform that offers video courses taught by industry experts in software, creative, and business skills. With over 16,000 courses, LinkedIn Learning aims to help professionals develop in-demand skills through on-demand instruction. But is it considered a credible and worthwhile educational resource by employers and professionals?
Who uses LinkedIn Learning?
LinkedIn Learning is used by a wide range of professionals across many industries. Some of the most common users include:
- Employees – Either self-motivated learners or assigned training by their company
- Students – Supplementing college or boosting skills
- Career changers – Learning new skills to change professions
- Professionals – Keeping current in their industry with new software, techniques, etc.
- Entrepreneurs – Gaining business, marketing, and tech skills
- Companies – Providing training and development for their workforce
LinkedIn reports having over 15 million members using LinkedIn Learning. Some major companies that use LinkedIn Learning for employee training include Adobe, Buzzfeed, Volvo, and Sodexo. So it spans both individual learners and corporate training programs.
Benefits of LinkedIn Learning
There are several key benefits to using LinkedIn Learning that make it an appealing education platform:
- Expert instructors – Courses are taught by real-world working professionals, not just professional teachers. This provides valuable insider knowledge.
- Self-paced – You can learn on your own schedule, pausing and rewatching videos as needed.
- Relevant content – The course library stays up-to-date with the latest software versions and industry trends.
- Portable access – You can learn on any device, anytime, anywhere you have an internet connection.
- Personalized recommendations – LinkedIn Learning suggests courses based on your existing skills and goals.
- Gamification – You earn badges and certifications as you learn and can display them on your LinkedIn profile.
- Integration – LinkedIn Learning is tied into the LinkedIn platform for easy sharing and visibility.
These features make LinkedIn Learning convenient, flexible, and engaging for continuous skills development.
Credibility of Certifications
When you complete a course on LinkedIn Learning, you can earn a certificate of completion to showcase your new skill. But how credible are these certificates compared to other professional credentials?
Certifications from LinkedIn Learning demonstrate effort and willingness to learn, but do not carry the same weight as accredited degrees and industry-recognized certifications.
The advantages of LinkedIn Learning certifications are that they are:
- Achievable – Short courses make earning certifications realistic
- Affordable – Included with many LinkedIn Premium subscriptions
- Visible – Displayed directly on your LinkedIn profile
However, the disadvantages are that LinkedIn Learning certifications:
- Are not accredited or overseen by any governing body
- Do not require assessments or exams – just completing the video material
- Are not recognized qualifications on their own
- Do not verify subject matter mastery
So while LinkedIn Learning certifications can enhance your profile and demonstrate self-motivation, they likely won’t carry as much weight with employers or academia as accredited degrees and industry certifications.
Company Acceptance
When looking at employer acceptance, LinkedIn Learning is generally viewed positively but with some caveats. The platform has strong brand recognition given its association with LinkedIn. The abundance of courses also makes it useful for supplementing workplace training and enabling self-directed learning.
According to LinkedIn’s 2022 Workplace Learning Report:
- 94% of L&D professionals say online learning platforms like LinkedIn Learning are critical or important for employee development
- 61% of employees prefer on-demand online learning over instructor-led training
However, some companies may not consider LinkedIn Learning certifications as adequate training for certain skills. Employers seeking formal accreditation or verification of abilities may require staff to pursue training through accredited institutions, testing centers, vendor-specific academies, or industry associations instead.
Some other potential drawbacks for company acceptance:
- Perception as less thorough or rigorous than formal classroom education
- No way to verify comprehension since assessments are absent
- Company-specific systems or workflows may not be covered
- Hard skills like programming may need hands-on learning
So in summary, LinkedIn Learning has general corporate acceptance as a supplement to workplace training and professional development, but likely does not replace formal education or credentialing in many fields.
Academic Acceptance
From an academic standpoint, LinkedIn Learning is not considered equivalent to accredited higher education. The platform’s courses serve a different purpose – providing short, practical instruction from a real-world perspective.
A few reasons why LinkedIn Learning is not viewed as comparable academically:
- No admissions requirements or prerequisites
- No grades, assessments, or comprehensive evaluations
- Nooversight from an accrediting body
- No issuing of accredited degrees or credits
- Courses are not part of an accredited curriculum
- Instructors do not necessarily have teaching credentials
Additionally, while some colleges and universities may promote LinkedIn Learning to their students as a supplemental resource, in most cases it would not be accepted as a replacement for accredited coursework.
That said, LinkedIn Learning can still provide value in an academic context by:
- Helping students learn job-ready skills
- Providing additional technology training
- Introducing topics not covered in required courses
- Offering a professional perspective to complement academic theory
But the platform is fundamentally positioned as skills training, not accredited education. So most academic institutions would not consider LinkedIn Learning certifications as comparable to college credits or degrees.
Individual Value
On an individual level, the true value derived from LinkedIn Learning depends on a learner’s goals.
For working professionals seeking to gain practical skills, add professional development credentials, or switch careers, LinkedIn Learning can provide substantive value:
- Build in-demand job skills efficiently
- Expand your knowledge within your field
- Prepare for certification exams
- Showcase skills and dedication to learning through certifications
The platform’s advantages in affordability, accessibility, and breadth of content make it highly useful for building real-world capabilities as an individual learner.
However, individuals looking for deeper subject matter mastery, accredited education credentials, or a comprehensive program of study may need to look beyond LinkedIn Learning to options like:
- Degree programs at accredited colleges
- Industry certification preparation programs
- Bootcamps and intensive training for skills like coding or data science
- Vendor-specific training programs
- Hands-on apprenticeships
So in summary, LinkedIn Learning is best valued as a supplementary source of practical, working knowledge by individual learners, not a replacement for accredited education and credentials.
Conclusion
While LinkedIn Learning is not considered comparable to accredited higher education, it offers substantive value in delivering practical skills training from industry experts. For working professionals, LinkedIn Learning is a widely accepted and beneficial platform for self-directed learning and career development. But academic institutions and some employers may require additional accredited training or credentials to supplement LinkedIn Learning courses. On an individual level, the platform can greatly expand practical knowledge but is most beneficial when complemented with hands-on experience, accredited coursework, or industry-recognized certification. So in contexts where applied skills and continuous learning matter most, LinkedIn Learning is a well-regarded and powerful resource.