GALWAY, IRELAND - 2026-07-09

Alison, one of the world’s largest free online empowerment platforms, has crossed 3 million Learners across Southern Africa, marking a major regional milestone as more people turn to flexible online learning to build practical skills for work and personal progress.

The milestone reflects growing demand for accessible skills in a region where many adults need learning that can fit around work, family responsibilities, and changing local job markets. It also comes as the World Bank has highlighted Africa's persistent skills gap, with around one million young Africans entering the labour market each month while employers continue to look for workers with relevant, practical capabilities.

Education Adapted to the Realities of Life

For Alison Learners in Southern Africa, free online learning offers a direct way to build confidence without the cost of traditional education. Learners can choose from thousands of short, self-paced courses and use them to strengthen workplace skills, explore new career paths, and gain a recognised CPD-accredited Certificate or Diploma after completing a course.

That flexibility matters in a region where skills needs are broad and fast-moving. From digital literacy and business operations to healthcare, project management, and personal development, Alison gives Learners a practical starting point for building skills they can use in everyday working life.

Career Growth Driven by Accessibility

Reaching 3 million Learners in Southern Africa shows how strongly the region is engaging with online learning that is free at the point of access. The milestone is not only a measure of scale. It also points to a wider shift in how people are taking ownership of their education and using digital tools to make progress on their own terms.

Alison's model is designed for that kind of progress. Learners can begin a course immediately, study in manageable sessions, and return to learning whenever their schedule allows. For adults balancing multiple things, that kind of flexibility can make the difference between intending to upskill and actually doing it.

An Ecosystem for Personal and Professional Empowerment

Alison goes beyond providing courses by offering a suite of tools designed to bridge the gap between learning and career advancement. Through the Career Guide, individuals can investigate various professional trajectories, while the Resumé Builder enables them to articulate their capabilities with greater clarity. Additionally, the Alison App facilitates Offline Learning, granting Learners enhanced autonomy over their study environments and schedules.

These integrated resources transform education into a practical, accessible experience. They give Learners a way to move from interest to action, whether they are looking for a first job, preparing for a promotion, changing direction, or building skills for self-employment.

What 3 Million Learners Means for Southern Africa

Southern Africa's 3 million Learners now form one of Alison's major regional communities. Their growth underlines a simple but important point: when learning is free, flexible, and focused on real skills, more people can take part.

As Alison continues to expand its global Learner base, the Southern Africa milestone shows the role free online learning can play in widening opportunity. It gives people a route to build useful skills at their own pace and helps communities strengthen the talent needed for a changing world of work.

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.

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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