GALWAY, IRELAND - 2026-08-13

Alison, the free online empowerment platform, has surpassed 50,000 Graduates in the Netherlands, marking a meaningful milestone for Learners in one of Europe’s most digitally capable economies.

The achievement reflects steady demand from Dutch Learners who are using free, flexible online courses to build practical skills, strengthen their confidence, and support career progress on their own schedule. From work-ready digital skills to business, healthcare, language, and personal development courses, Alison’s model gives Learners a way to keep developing without cost becoming the first barrier.

A Milestone Built Around Practical Access

Reaching 50,000 Alison Graduates in the Netherlands shows how strongly online learning now fits into everyday career development. Alison’s free model is especially relevant for adults who want short, focused learning that can sit alongside work, family, job searching, or a change in career direction.

While the Netherlands is already a European leader on digital capability, the need for continued skills development remains clear. Statistics Netherlands reported that 84 percent of people in the Netherlands had at least basic digital skills in 2025, the highest share in the EU. That strength creates a strong base, but it also raises expectations for people to keep updating their skills as workplaces become more digital.

Free Learning Helps People Keep Pace With Changing Work

The milestone also lands at a time when adult learning is increasingly tied to labour-market resilience. The OECD has highlighted that training needs are important in the Netherlands, particularly as digitalisation and the low-carbon transition reshape the kinds of skills employers need.

For Alison Learners, that makes accessible learning more than a personal benefit. It gives people a practical route to refresh skills before a role changes, prepare for new opportunities, or build confidence in areas where formal education may feel too expensive or too difficult to schedule.

Netherlands Graduates Point to a Strong Culture of Self-Improvement

Alison Graduates in the Netherlands are part of a wider global community of people choosing to learn in a way that is self-directed, flexible, and focused on useful outcomes. The milestone points to a culture where people are willing to invest time in themselves when the learning is accessible and relevant.

As Alison continues to grow across Europe, the Netherlands stands out as a market where free online learning can complement an already strong skills landscape. The 50,000 Graduates milestone shows that even in highly developed learning and labour markets, there is sustained appetite for practical, open-access education.

Ends

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. 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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