GALWAY, IRELAND - 2026-07-03

Alison has reached 1 million Learners in Western Europe, marking a major regional milestone for its free online empowerment platform and its mission to make skills development available to anyone, anywhere.

The milestone comes at a time when digital and workplace skills remain high on Europe’s agenda. Eurostat reported that 60% of people aged 16 to 74 in the EU had at least basic digital skills in 2025, still below the EU’s 80% target for 2030. For Alison, passing 1 million Learners in Western Europe points to the continuing demand for flexible, free learning that people can use to build confidence and stay employable.

Empowering the Workforce to Adapt, Evolve, and Advance

Western Europe is home to mature labour markets, advanced digital economies, and workers who increasingly need to refresh skills throughout their careers. Alison’s growth in the region shows that free online learning is not only serving people where access is limited, but also where the pace of change is pushing adults to keep learning.

For Learners, the appeal is practical. Alison courses can be started quickly, studied around work and family commitments, and used to build knowledge in areas that matter for career development, from digital skills and business operations to healthcare, sustainability, and personal development.

Connecting Personal Goals with Regional Opportunities

Reaching 1 million Learners in Western Europe is more than a platform number. It represents people using free learning to prepare for a new role, strengthen an existing career path, explore a new subject, or gain confidence after time away from formal education.

The growth also reflects a broader shift in how people think about lifelong learning. The European Commission has described regular upskilling and reskilling as part of people’s professional lives, helping professionals keep pace with changing economies and supporting lifelong learning.

Free Learning for a Skills-First Future

Alison’s model removes cost as a barrier to learning, giving millions immediate access to thousands of free courses across practical subject areas. That matters in a region where many people already understand the value of skills, but still need learning that fits into busy lives and changing work patterns.

By continuing to grow in Western Europe, Alison is helping more Learners take small, useful steps towards better opportunities. The milestone shows how free online learning can sit alongside formal education, workplace training, and personal career planning as part of a more flexible skills ecosystem.

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.

Find us on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.