Esri Offers Free Access to GIS Training for Furloughed Professionals Affected by Coronavirus

Complimentary Software and Lessons Support Learning during COVID-19 Outbreak

REDLANDS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Esri, the global leader in location intelligence, today announced that it would provide free access to its ArcGIS platform and training resources to professionals worldwide who are impacted by work furloughs during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Individuals who are out of work will receive complimentary access to ArcGIS Online and over 20 apps until August 31, 2020, including ArcGIS Pro, along with a library of lessons through Learn ArcGIS and the Esri Academy. Those who would like access can sign up through June 30 for a Learn ArcGIS membership at learn.arcgis.com/en/become-a-member/.

Furloughed GIS professionals who are affected by work disruptions, and who may want to build new skills can benefit from these lessons, as would any workers who may not yet have geospatial experience but want to explore a career in GIS. 

Learn ArcGIS promotes GIS education through guided lessons based on real-world problems. Lessons encompass topics ranging from business analysis and urban planning to disaster response and public health. They cover both beginner and advanced topics and are available in seven languages. Esri Academy offers hundreds of professionally curated learning options on GIS and ArcGIS topics. White papers, videos, web courses, seminars, and massive open online courses (MOOCs) — such as The Location Advantage — are available at no cost. Trackable learning plans enable individuals to build specific knowledge and skillsets and achieve personal and professional development goals.

“This pandemic has created unprecedented disruption, and nowhere has that been more evident than in the lives of the people who make the economy run,” said Jack Dangermond, Esri founder and president. “Right now it is important to us to provide all the resources we can to help, and that includes training for impacted professionals, so that once they return, they have the added geospatial expertise that will make them an advantage to any workforce.” 

Esri has already been providing free access to its software and learning resources to support college and university students who no longer have access to campus computer labs during the COVID-19 outbreak. The company is extending this offer for non-commercial use to working professionals who have been affected by changes to their employment.

About Esri

Esri, the global market leader in geographic information system (GIS) software, location intelligence, and mapping, offers the most powerful geospatial cloud available, to help customers unlock the full potential of data to improve operational and business results. Founded in 1969, Esri software is deployed in more than 350,000 organizations including 90 of the Fortune 100 companies, all 50 state governments, more than half of all counties (large and small), and 87 of the Forbes Top 100 Colleges in the US, as well as all 15 Executive Departments of the US Government and dozens of independent agencies. With its pioneering commitment to geospatial information technology, Esri engineers the most advanced solutions for digital transformation, the Internet of Things (IoT), and advanced analytics. Visit us at esri.com.

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