09/12/2010

ALISON.com, the Galway, Ireland-based FREE Online Learning website is to receive a Diploma Award for the 2010 UNESCO-King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa Prize

Irish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Education and Skills, Mary Coughlan TD has congratulated ALISON.com. Minister Coughlan said “the success of ALISON in this prestigious international award showcases the innovation in the education sector in Ireland and its growing impact worldwide”.

In the award citation, ALISON is recognised for “providing a new world of free online learning opportunities to improve employment flexibility and skills worldwide. Some 500,000 people worldwide have been trained since 2007 using an innovative SEE, HEAR, and DO pedagogical approach. The system enables learners either to study individually or to be part of the over 300,000 people who study as part of groups managed by trainers/tutors in schools, colleges, workplaces and community groups”.  ALISON Founder & CEO, Mike Feerick will receive the Diploma Award from the King Of Bahrain and the Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova in Paris on January 12th 2011.

Commenting on the award, Mike Feerick commented “The success of ALISON is less known in Ireland due to our international focus. Irish people should be aware however that they can learn many new skills, from Touch Typing, Web Skills, Health & Safety, Maths and Entrepreneurship at Certification or Diploma level for free via the ALISON website.

The UNESCO ICT in Education competition rewards individuals, institutions or non-governmental organisations for projects and activities that creatively use Information and Communication Technologies to enhance learning, teaching and overall educational performance. The award theme was “Digital Literacy: Preparing Adult Learners for Lifelong Learning and Flexible Employment” and was intended by UNESCO to draw attention to the critical role of adult education in the development of an inclusive, participatory and sustainable society.

ALISON