21 free courses from Prometheus

For the Day of Defenders of Ukraine, the Prometheus platform has prepared 21 free courses that are worth taking during the war.

The site offers courses for military personnel on three topics: military training, adaptation of veterans, and psychological support. There are also separate courses for civilians.

“Everyone is bringing victory as close as they can: volunteering, weaving camouflage nets, baking sweets for the troops. We are doing what we do best – creating free educational programs that help military and civilians during war.”– they say in Prometheus.

Course materials can be downloaded and studied offline when there is no Internet access.

Courses for the military

Base: Modern military training

The course, created in partnership with the ASKOLD Special Training Center, provides basic knowledge of military affairs, but does not replace practical training in training centers.

Its task is to supplement and help learn the necessary amount of knowledge, for which there is usually not enough time.

The course provides information on:

• characteristics of various weapons;
• orientation;
• communication;
• tactical medicine;
• survival in the field, etc.

Completion of the course will take approximately 13 hours. It will be useful for those who are mobilized for the first time, military personnel without practical experience or fighters who want to update and supplement their knowledge, as well as for people who are subject to mobilization.

The training materials were developed by a team of volunteers in cooperation with military experts, doctors and psychologists.

“Chameleon”. Avoiding captivity and the psychology of survival in captivity

This course, consisting of 8 modules, deals with the realities of modern captivity, its structure and rules of conduct.

Listeners will get acquainted with such a type of adaptive behavior as “symbolic mimicry” – this is a kind of imitation role-playing game that helps to survive in captivity.

Prometheus says that taking the course will help:

• to form important skills for survival in captivity;
• learn to distinguish the deceptive behavior of the interlocutor on the verbal and behavioral levels;
• learn about the psychological attitudes necessary to overcome the trials of captivity.

The course was created jointly with the Civilian Readiness Center of the Serhiy Prytula Charitable Foundation.

UAV engineer. Basic course

This basic course, created by the specialists of the Victory Drones project of the Dignitas Foundation, will allow you to master the basic knowledge of the engineering of unmanned aerial vehicles and will prepare you for the assembly and repair of drones.

Training will provide an opportunity to:

• master the basic knowledge of aerodynamics and meteorology that is minimally necessary for UAV engineers;
• learn about the types of UAVs, their structure, features of use and repair;
• see how UAV maintenance, improvement or repair takes place in real conditions;
• prepare for specialized training and future employment as UAV engineers.

No special skills are required to complete the course.

Engineering course “People’s FPV”‎

The course will allow you to master the skills of assembling a civilian 7-inch FPV drone, which is capable of destroying the equipment of the occupiers, stopping the enemy offensive and, most importantly, saving the lives of the defenders.

The course will help you learn about:

• the structure of the drone, the principles of its operation;
• characteristics and types of antennas used for video and control signal transmission;
• an algorithm for learning how to pilot FPV drones.

Also, after completing the course, the participants will have step-by-step assembly and setup instructions 7-inch FPV drone.

The basics of the tactics of using DJI Mavic 3 and Autel EVO II copters in combat conditions

This course from the Come Back Alive Foundation provides military personnel with the basics of using DJI and Autel civilian copters in a combat environment.

Students will be taught:

• use civilian copters to perform combat missions,
• plan the mission taking into account weather conditions and risks,
• to use copters under enemy EW,
• develop a combat order in the SMESC format,
• minimize risks for the crew during the execution of tasks.

Application of technologies in conditions of war

Participants will learn the basic ecosystem of technology and software to increase productivity and safety on the front line.

After training, students will be able to:

• use UAVs and control their crews,
• work with StarLink terminals and radio communication,
• to defend against cyber-attacks and to ensure cyber security,
• navigate in topography and navigation,
• observe safety rules when working with modern equipment.

Peculiarities of the work of an officer-psychologist in the conditions of hostilities

The course is designed to lay the foundations for the psychological training of military personnel, which will ensure resistance to combat stress factors and negative psycho-traumatic consequences.

Course participants:

• learn about the principles and manifestations of traumatic experience;
• master the main aspects of providing psychological assistance;
• learn how to transform psychotraumatic crises into qualitative changes.

Courses on the adaptation of veterans and their family members

Adaptation to civilian life. Course for veterans

The course explains what happens to a veteran in the first month after returning home. How to adapt to civilian life? Lecturers will explain in understandable language what happens to the body and thoughts during this difficult period.

After training, students will know about:

• myths in psychotherapy;
• methods of psychotherapy;
• peculiarities of choosing a specialist in mental health;
• building relationships with loved ones during adaptation.

My own therapist. Psychological self-help tools for veterans

The course will help you learn about techniques with which you can cope with anxiety or anger, tame terrible memories or apathy; about the skills of managing internal tension and observing one’s own thoughts.

After training, students will know:

• how anxiety works;
• how does apathy work;
• how memory works;
• about the connection between thoughts and anger;
• about conflict prevention techniques.

How to Survive War Together: A Course for Families of Servicemen and Veterans

After training, students:

• learn to be aware of and correctly identify states that did not exist before;
• learn how to overcome daily challenges;
• learn to build normal relationships during abnormal events;
• will understand the mechanisms of the psyche, which are included in stressful conditions;
• will know the most useful behavior strategies.

Courses for civilians during the war

Volunteering during the war

During training, students:

• get acquainted with the concept of volunteering and its directions;
• learn what role volunteers currently play, how to volunteer safely for themselves and others, how humanitarian aid works;
• learn to motivate themselves and the team, create their own projects and effectively help defenders and the population.

How to find a job during the war

During the war, many people lost their homes and jobs. The course will help you learn how to find a job in wartime.

After training, students:

• master the tools of self-regulation, which will help to find in oneself a resource for work and professional realization;
• find out which areas were most affected during the war, which areas and formats of work will remain relevant, which will most suit your needs and requests;
• will understand what search strategies can be applied, how to independently analyze your professional experience, skills and choose a new profession.

Internet Security in Wartime: A Practical Course

In 2022 alone, State Special Communications specialists registered more than 2,000 cyber incidents in Ukraine. The course will help users protect personal information online, avoid online fraud and be conscious citizens of the digital society.

After training, students:

• learn to apply a critical approach to information consumption;
• will be attentive to personal data (both personal and data of other users);
• learn to respect the boundaries of privacy in the online environment;
• master the method of analyzing potential risks in the Internet space.

Information hygiene during the war

“Ukrainians think that they know the methods of Russian propaganda perfectly. But the “crucified boys” are a thing of the past. Nowadays, more sophisticated information weapons are used.” – they say in Prometheus.

After training, students will know:

• how the information field is formed during the active phase of the war;
• about the specifics of Ukrainian, foreign and Russian media;
• how classic Russian propaganda works;
• what are information and psychological special operations and how do they work;
• how Russians use Telegram, insider bloggers and “good Russians” to achieve their goals;
• what rules of information hygiene should be observed during wartime.

Media literacy: how not to be manipulated?

Students on the course:

• will familiarize themselves with the best practices for developing the level of critical thinking;
• master the algorithm for checking the quality of Ukrainian and foreign media content;
• learn to research the expertise of authors, sources of information;
• learn digital tools for quick and effective photo and video authentication;
• familiarize themselves with the key narratives and tactics of Russian propaganda in order to counter them;
• learn to identify manipulative media content, distinguish disinformation, harmful propaganda narratives.

Civil defense and protection in emergency situations

How to prepare for emergencies? What algorithm of actions to follow? Where to seek shelter? How to provide first aid? You can learn about all this from the course materials.

Students on the course:

• learn how an emergency situation differs from a state of emergency;
• learn to develop a clear procedure during an air alert, mine detection, shelling, chemical or radiation threat;
• they will know when to return to the de-occupied territory.

Courses of psychological support of the civilian population

How to adapt in a new place? Course of psychological reintegration of IDPs

After training, students will know:

• how to help yourself, family, partner, children and loved ones adapt to the situation;
• what will make the new place of residence really “yours”;
• what are the first steps to take before a new job;
• how to reduce internal anxiety and venture into a new, rich life;
• what help the community can count on.

Basic psychological assistance in conditions of war

During military operations, the human psyche is under constant stress.

In order to cope with stress and help loved ones survive these difficult times, you should know a minimum set of techniques for basic psychological help.

After training, students:

• learn to identify signs of stress and stress reactions to it in time;
• learn how to cope with crisis situations and stabilize the psyche;
• learn proven and simple techniques of providing psychological first aid to themselves and others.

Countering war-related sexual violence and helping victims: what everyone needs to know

This course is Ukrainian-language, based on international standards, and combines the basic theoretical framework and practical components on combating sexual violence related to the war in Ukraine.

The course will help you learn:

• on international, European and national standards for the prevention and counteraction of war-related sexual violence;
• which entities are authorized to respond to war-related sexual violence;
• how to get help

Combating human trafficking in Ukraine. The impact of war

In difficult conditions, people can accept offers of illegal work both in Ukraine and abroad. This is the main risk of falling into a situation of human trafficking.

The course is designed to:

• to form an idea about the essence of human trafficking;
• familiarize participants with terminology and legal acts;
• identify risk groups, update knowledge on identification of victims.

Traumatic experience and PTSD: toolkit for the psychotherapist

Students will learn about the main psychotherapeutic approaches to working with clients with such experience and evidence-based counseling methods that will be useful in practice.

The course will help you learn about:

• approaches to understanding the concept of trauma, traumatic experience, the basis of neurobiology;
• diagnosis of psychological disorders associated with injuries;
• evidence-based methods of therapy when working with clients with traumatic experiences;
• practical psychological assistance to persons who have experienced a traumatic experience.

We will remind earlier in Ukraine, the World Online University was launched: 50 courses from the world’s leading universities are available on Prometheus.