A world where the pursuit of learning for all adults is valued, equal, and strengthens communities
A world where the pursuit of learning for all adults is valued, equal, and strengthens communities
To advocate for empowering adult learning that drives social equality, justice, and collective action across the island of Ireland
To advocate for empowering adult learning that drives social equality, justice, and collective action across the island of Ireland
Our work is informed by the experience and needs of our members. These are learners, individuals and organisations who are committed to the principles of adult learning and its transformative power.
Our work is informed by the experience and needs of our members. These are learners, individuals and organisations who are committed to the principles of adult learning and its transformative power.
Learner Voice is at the heart of our work. We conduct evidence-based research - through the National Further Education and Training (FET) Learner Forum - with thousands of adult learners across the country, to gather their experiences and perspectives on what is working well and what needs to change in adult and community education. This is the basis of our advocacy work and is used to ensure policy responds to the needs of the learners.
LEARN MOREThe Adult Learner Journal is a valuable resource that documents the development of adult learning policy and practice. It provides a forum for critical reflection on the practices of teaching and learning, giving priority to subject matter that addresses social exclusion, equality, workplace learning and the study of the teacher-student relationship.
LEARN MOREWe have hundreds of members who connect with all communities across the island of Ireland. Our members inform all our research and campaigns as we advocate for policy change in our education system to benefit everyone.
LEARN MOREWe support people who provide all types of learning in local communities across the country, based on a model of social justice which priorities the furthest behind in our education system.
LEARN MOREWe will seek to create networking opportunities for sharing best practice and learning. We will conduct research and collect and analyse data to identify key issues, trends, and gaps within the education sector to inform evidence based recommendations and enhance capacity-building efforts.
LEARN MOREWe seek to make a difference in global challenges like climate change, the digital divide, and threats to democracy. European projects also offer great opportunities for capacity building for people working in the adult and community education sector in Ireland. We are involved in a number of European projects, supporting our members with their work in adult and community education, and promoting access to and participation in lifelong learning in Ireland and across Europe.
LEARN MOREWe have built strong relationships with national policymakers and decisionmakers across Ireland and, using our research and feedback from our membership, we are a strong advocate for improvements in adult and community education policy nationally and across Europe. We act as a link between national policy and what happens in practice on the ground. We also respond to policy developments from Government, with our members’ and adult learners’ concerns in mind. Throughout the course of this strategic plan, we will continue to build effective relationships with key policymakers to make adult learning a more realistic option for people, and so that everyone’s basic needs are met in order to facilitate them to engage in education at any stage of their lives.
LEARN MOREWe create new multimedia campaigns that highlight the benefits of adult learning to the general public. These direct-action campaigns target social inequality to influence policy and funding. Specifically, we will run a national campaign on identifying the key barriers to social inclusion in adult learning.
LEARN MORE“We believe women’s community education is a catalyst for change”
“I thought I would have been dead at the age of 25 over drugs. This place saved my life, it helped me learn to live without addiction. Especially as someone with ADHD this is an outlet and gives me something physical to do. I thought this place would never do a thing like this for me but it’s just wonderful”
AONTAS have been working to support adult education for over fifty years. We are highly experienced in bringing people and organisations from across the adult and community education sector together. This goal is all about improving social equality by creating a space for collective action. We will provide a structured platform for voices and input to be heard from across the sector; inform national research on the importance of social equality; and build capacity within the sector
As an established advocacy-based organisation, this objective allows us to redefine our advocacy goals to challenge and address social inequality in the context of adult learning, particularly in a time of sectoral change with the new Unified Tertiary Education system. We will strengthen and develop AONTAS' organisational voice; evidence and highlight how adult learning is impacted by social inequality; and inform and influence to enable change.
We recognise that to achieve our mission, we must be a supportive environment that champions professional development and encourages innovation and new ideas. We will develop a socially inclusive framework for AONTAS as an employer; Integrate a problem-solving culture; enhance organisational infrastructure, and plan for funding diversification.
We will facilitate collaboration among different stakeholders in the sector, including government bodies, adult and community education providers, and non-profit organisations. We will deliver training initiatives, workshops, and information sessions on relevant topics for learners. We will design and deliver professional development programs for members, educators, trainers, and administrators within the sector (for example to enhance teaching methods and learner-centred approaches, incorporating technology in adult learning). We will develop educational resources, toolkits, and guidelines to support educators in their professional growth. We will identify and collaborate with key stakeholders to develop socially-inclusive policies and frameworks.
We conduct evidence-based research to develop and share new insights and findings into adult and community education. This is the basis of our calls for policy change. We prioritise learners and Learner Voice, facilitating and supporting learners to represent themselves and their communities directly with policymakers.
Our advocacy and campaigning will focus on the need for increased financial supports for adult learners, and on the need for stable and sustainable funding for community education. We will launch national campaigns on these issues throughout the course of this strategic plan.
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We will publicly showcase examples of how adult and community education can and does address social inequalities. We will use our campaigns to advocate for diverse models of learning and the social inclusion of underrepresented communities in the new Unified Tertiary Education system. Our communications campaigns and activities – including events, articles and publications, public relations, interviews and speaking engagements, and social media among others – reach millions of people every year. We will make our public campaigns more effective through creating impact frameworks and measuring the success of our work over time. We will continue to bring people together through large-scale events such as the adult education summit and the annual Adult Learners’ Festival. Our priority is to build collective action for social change – and for AONTAS to be the catalyst for that change.