By taking advantage of free online interactive IT training courses on ALISON, not only government departments but organisations such as schools, multinationals, small business and community groups can take advantage of this free training offer. ALISON CEO Mike Feerick also stated that “getting everyone in Ireland online and IT literate is one of the most immediate and direct ways of increasing national productivity by several percentage points – without costing the Irish government a cent.” 

In addition to covering the extensive curriculum examined by traditional paid certifications such as ECDL, ALISON also provides free practical skills training such as Touch Typing and Workstations Ergonomics. Registered ALISON learners can obtain a free Certificates of Completion by achieving assessment scores of 80% or above and trainers and tutors can also avail of ALISON’s learner group management to monitor and direct students’ progress. 

Education and training online is becoming increasingly popular. In a 2009 IT literacy programme funded by FAS and managed by ALISON which targeted low-skilled, low waged workers in SME’s in the West of Ireland, over 88% of participants stated that they wished to learn online in the future. 

Because of the flexibility of the internet people can upgrade their IT skills anytime and anywhere they want. This provides a further cost cutting opportunity as staff can learn outside of office hours saving productive staff time. 

ALISON will shortly be writing to the Auditor General and the Secretaries of each Irish Government Department highlighting this obvious potential for cost savings using ALISON’s free online resources.