GALWAY, IRELAND – 2026-06-13
Alison is expanding its TY and LCA Certified Programmes this coming September with the addition of On The Money, a suite of financial literacy courses developed in partnership with credit unions, giving secondary school students across Ireland the opportunity to develop practical financial skills, improve their understanding of personal finance and build confidence in managing money and planning for the future.
Building Financial Confidence From an Early Age
Financial literacy is an important life skill, particularly as young people begin to make decisions about saving, spending, borrowing and planning for their future. However, topics such as budgeting, credit and debt, long-term financial planning and online scams can be difficult to navigate without practical guidance.
On The Money has been developed to provide accessible, practical financial education that students can engage with online and at their own pace. Through its inclusion in Alison’s TY and LCA Certified Programmes, students will have the opportunity to explore financial topics alongside their wider school learning.
The initiative supports the credit union movement’s longstanding commitment to financial wellbeing, financial inclusion and community development, bringing practical financial literacy into the learning experience of Irish secondary school students.
From Credit Union Collaboration to On The Money
The initiative began through a partnership between Alison and David McDonnell, CEO of Naomh Brendan Credit Union, and David McCauley, CEO of Donore Credit Union, who worked with Alison to develop financial literacy learning focused on practical skills that can be applied to everyday life.
The initiative has since received support from the Irish League of Credit Unions (ILCU), which helped rename the programme On The Money and supported its rollout through the development of marketing materials for credit unions. Representing more than 3.6 million members across the island of Ireland, credit unions are not-for-profit, member-owned financial organisations with a long-standing commitment to supporting their communities. The ILCU is also helping to facilitate live delivery of the programme through participating credit unions, bringing the learning beyond the online platform and creating opportunities for students to engage directly with their local credit union and build their financial knowledge and confidence.
The partnership brings together Alison’s global online learning platform and the experience and community focus of the credit union movement to create an accessible financial education offering for learners.
Practical Skills for Life Beyond School
The initial course offering focuses on four key areas of personal finance:
Phishing and Scam Awareness
Students can learn how to recognise common phishing attempts and potential scams and understand how they can better protect themselves.
Credit and Debt Management
The courses introduce learners to credit and debt and the importance of making informed financial decisions.
Budgeting and Cash Management
Students can develop a stronger understanding of budgeting and managing day-to-day finances.
Saving, Investing and Financial Goal Setting
Learners can explore saving, investing and ways to set and work towards financial goals.
The courses are delivered online, allowing students to progress at their own pace and giving schools a flexible way to incorporate financial literacy into their TY and LCA programmes.
Supporting Financial Wellbeing Through Education
For TY and LCA students, On The Money provides an opportunity to develop knowledge that can support them as they move towards further education, employment and greater financial independence.
The courses are designed to support people of different ages and backgrounds and reflect the wider importance of lifelong learning and financial inclusion.
The initiative also builds on the credit union movement’s activities as appointed UN SDG Ambassadors in Ireland, supporting its commitment to financial wellbeing, inclusion and community development.
Olivia Cosgrove, Head of Social Impact at Alison, said:
“Financial literacy is a vital life skill, and giving young people the opportunity to develop these skills before they leave school can have a lasting impact. Through On The Money, we are bringing practical financial education into Alison’s TY and LCA Certified Programmes and working alongside the credit union movement to help students build greater confidence in understanding and managing their finances.”
Expanding TY and LCA Learning Opportunities
The addition of On The Money forms part of Alison’s wider TY and LCA Certified offering, which gives secondary school students access to online learning across a broad range of subjects, skills and career areas.
Launched in the programmes in September 2026, the financial literacy courses will give participating TY and LCA students another opportunity to explore practical skills that can support both their education and their future lives.
The programme will sit alongside the wider range of courses and learning opportunities available through Alison’s TY and LCA Certified Programmes.
Multimedia & Resources
On The Money Financial Literacy Courses
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Alison's webinar page is available for anyone who wants to view upcoming sessions and register for free. Learners can also explore free Certificate and Diploma courses, while organisations can learn more about the Free LMS for team training.
About Alison
Alison is a global leader in free online learning and skills development. With over 50 million registered Learners across 193 countries (as of October 2025), Alison empowers individuals, communities, and organisations to upskill quickly and effectively – at zero cost.
The Alison platform provides immediate access to over 6,000 free, CPD-accredited courses, covering essential areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Cybersecurity, Digital Marketing, Project Management, Business Operations, Healthcare and Sustainability. Courses are created by a mix of independent experts and global leaders, including IBM, Stanford and Microsoft.
For organisations, Alison offers a Free Learning Management System (LMS) that enables unlimited Learners to access thousands of courses with no upfront cost. A premium version with advanced analytics and customisation is also available. Alison's offering includes a full suite of assessments and psychometric tools, including a Workplace Personality Assessment, Mental Health & Wellbeing Assessment, English Language Proficiency Test, as well as Numerical, Verbal, and Abstract Reasoning tests.
To further support career development, Learners also gain access to a Career Guide, a Resumé Builder, and the ability to study offline through the Alison App.
In 2026, Alison will launch a Global Recruitment Service to directly connect skilled, motivated Learners with hiring employers. The platform is also expanding its reach with multilingual versions, starting with complete Spanish, French, and Hindi offerings — reaffirming its mission to make education accessible to anyone, anywhere.
Founded in 2007, Alison pioneered the concept of free, large-scale online learning and is recognised as the world's first MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) platform. Today, its mission continues: to break down barriers to learning, helping people gain skills, build confidence, and improve their lives — no matter where they live or what they earn.
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