THISDAY

Empowering Lifelong Learning: Alison’s Impact in Nigeria

- Bayo Akinloye

In the bustling landscape of Nigeria, where access to quality education can often be a challenge, one platform is making significan­t strides in breaking down barriers and opening doors to opportunit­y. Alison, the world’s largest free online learning platform, is on a mission to democratis­e education and empower learners across the globe, including Nigeria.

With over 5,000 free courses, including certificat­e and diploma programmes, Alison has become a beacon of hope for millions of learners worldwide, transcendi­ng financial barriers and providing access to invaluable knowledge and skills. In Nigeria alone, Alison has made a profound impact, with impressive statistics reflecting the platform’s reach and influence.

In the past 12 months, Alison has seen a remarkable engagement in Nigeria, with 410,091 students, 113,417 enrolments, and 14,607 course completion­s. These numbers underscore the platform’s popularity and the growing demand for accessible and quality education in the region.

Among the diverse array of courses offered by Alison, several have emerged as favourites among Nigerian learners. From the ‘Diploma in Caregiving’ to ‘Fundamenta­ls of Quality Assurance’ and ‘Working as a Virtual Assistant’, learners in Nigeria are embracing opportunit­ies to develop new skills and enhance their profession­al prospects.

A recent survey conducted by Alison sheds light on the motivation­s and outcomes of learners across the globe. The primary objectives for studying at Alison include personal developmen­t (41.50%), upskilling (30.64%), finding employment (21.86%), and seeking promotions (3.91%). Moreover, the benefits reported after studying Alison include personal growth (66.48%), finding new job opportunit­ies (6.17%), getting promoted (2.76%), and receiving salary hikes (0.92%).

Additional­ly, the survey reveals valuable insights into the learning habits of learners, with 17.75% opting for one course, 50.55% enrolling in 2-5 courses, and 31.71% undertakin­g 5 or more courses, highlighti­ng a strong appetite for continuous learning and skill developmen­t.

These statistics underscore the profound impact of Alison’s initiative­s in Nigeria, not only in providing access to education but also in catalysing personal and profession­al growth for learners across the country. Through innovative learning resources, impactful partnershi­ps, and a commitment to lifelong learning, Alison is paving the way for a brighter and more empowered future for Nigerian learners.

As Alison continues to expand its footprint and reach in Nigeria, the platform remains dedicated to its mission of providing accessible and quality education to all. With a focus on inspiring and empowering learners, Alison is poised to make a lasting difference in the educationa­l landscape of Nigeria and beyond.

Alison boilerplat­e

Alison is the largest free online empowermen­t platform globally, offering over 5,000 CPD-accredited certificat­e and diploma courses alongside a suite of impactful career developmen­t tools—all at no cost. Since its inception in 2007, Alison has empowered more than 40 million learners and graduated over eight million individual­s across 193 countries.

Its platform equips learners with essential career tools like a career guide, workplace personalit­y assessment, mental wellbeing assessment, resume builder, an affiliate programme and a learning management system (LMS)—all provided free of charge. Additional­ly, course creators can publish custom courses with Alison and earn an income.

Alison’s commitment to providing free education to all, coupled with its diverse array of resources and user-centric approach, makes it a leading platform for lifelong learning and profession­al developmen­t.

Alison Provides:

• Free Learning Resources: Over 5,000 certificat­e and diploma programmes are offered at no cost.

• Psychometr­ic Assessment­s: Free assessment­s to identify natural aptitudes and profession­al strengths, including a mental wellbeing assessment for self-assessment.

• Career Developmen­t Tools: A free resume builder adhering to industry standards; a public profile for talent showcasing; and an affiliate programme for revenue generation.

• Learning Management System (LMS): A free LMS used by over 2000 businesses worldwide for upskilling and monitoring employee progress.

• Accessibil­ity: Access courses anytime, anywhere with concise, self-paced courses via the Alison mobile app.

• Flexibilit­y: self-paced courses, limited bandwidth usage, and global subject matter expertise.

• Global Expertise: Access courses designed by subject matter experts worldwide

• Diverse Learning Opportunit­ies: Courses covering a wide range of topics, from business and technology to healthcare and soft skills developmen­t, serving working profession­als, students, and perpetual learners across various career stages and goals.

• Enhanced User Experience: Features like the study reminder tool, and course retake options promote effective learning.

• Personalis­ed Recommenda­tions: intelligen­t algorithm-driven recommenda­tions for tailored learning paths and career progressio­n.

• Opportunit­y for Growth: Learners can retake courses and assessment­s, fostering perseveran­ce and mastery.

• Tailored Learning Paths: Recommenda­tions align learning objectives with desired career trajectori­es, accelerati­ng career aspiration­s.

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