Alison, the world’s largest free online learning platform, has reached a landmark achievement in its mission to democratise education: it has now delivered the equivalent of 11,846 years of learning to people around the world, representing nearly €1.5 billion worth of educational value made freely available to society, and almost 2% of the global spend on skills development.
Founded with the belief that education is a basic human right, Alison has been a pioneer in removing financial and geographic barriers to learning. With a global community of 45 million registered learners and over 5,500 CPD-accredited courses, Alison empowers individuals to learn what they want, when they want, at their own pace, entirely free of charge.
Ciaran Cannon, Vice President of Global Affairs at Alison, says this milestone reflects the growing demand for accessible education and the real impact of Alison’s model: “To have delivered nearly 12,000 years of learning, the equivalent of €1.5 billion in educational value, is a powerful statement about what free learning can achieve. These are not just numbers; they represent millions of people gaining the skills, confidence, and knowledge to transform their own lives and communities. At Alison, we are building a global infrastructure for lifelong learning, where no one is left behind.”
In addition to its course offerings, Alison provides a completely free Learning Management System (LMS) used by over 10,000 schools, businesses, NGOs, and governments to deliver structured, scalable training. From job readiness programs to corporate compliance training, the Alison LMS enables organisations of all sizes to educate at no cost, further amplifying its global impact.
Looking to the future, Alison is setting its sights even higher. With plans to allow learners to access the full suite of Alison courses without an internet connection, and an expanding network of government partnerships worldwide, the platform aims to double its learning impact in the coming years.
“This is only the beginning,” adds Cannon, a former Minister for Skills Development. “We're currently translating all of our 5,500 courses into Spanish, a move that will allow us to support the 500 million people who speak that language on a daily basis. Then we move on to French, and a host of other languages. Our vision is a simple one, to bring free, high-quality learning to every corner of the world. Whether you're in a rural village with no internet or a bustling city seeking to upskill your workforce, and no matter what language you speak, Alison will be here to help you grow.”
As the global need for accessible, flexible education continues to rise, Alison stands firm in its commitment: Free learning for anyone, anywhere, at any time.
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About Alison
Founded in 2007 as the world’s first MOOC, Alison has developed into the largest free online learning platform globally, serving over 45 million learners. Its mission is to make education accessible to all, empowering individuals with the skills and knowledge to transform their lives and careers. Alison provides over 5,500 free, CPD-accredited courses in areas such as business, IT, healthcare, sustainability, and soft skills. The platform enables learners to gain in-demand competencies without the time or cost commitments typically associated with higher education programmes. In addition to serving individual learners, Alison now offers a free Learning Management System (LMS) for businesses, enabling employers to manage employee upskilling in-house. This development allows organisations to deliver training more efficiently without the need to send staff off-site or invest in costly tuition programmes.
About Ciaran Cannon
Ciaran Cannon, Alison’s Vice President of Global Affairs, brings over 17 years of experience in the Irish Parliament, including two terms as Minister of State. As Minister for Training and Skills, he led the creation of Ireland’s first Further Education and Training Strategy and the establishment of SOLAS. A strong advocate for digital learning, he founded the Excited Movement, helped introduce computer science in schools, and supported initiatives like EU Code Week and Africa Code Week. As Minister for Diaspora and International Development, he championed global education efforts and was named a UNICEF Global Champion for Education in 2019. At Alison, Ciaran now leads international engagement, advancing the mission of free education for all.
