AONTAS STAR Awards
The STAR Awards recognises the very best in adult learning in Ireland. We celebrate and acknowledge the incredible adult learning initiatives going on across the country, in support of learners, as part of the AONTAS Adult Learners’ Festival.
STAR Awards Categories
Celebrating adult learning in all its forms
Adult and community education groups from across the island of Ireland can nominate a project or group under different categories, depending on the different ways they support adult learners.
Sponsored by Mental Health Ireland, this category is open to adult learning initiatives that support increased health and wellbeing for participants, for example mental health, physical activity, recovery from addiction, nutrition and sporting projects.
Sponsored by EPALE Ireland, this category is open to adult learning initiatives that support educational equality by providing access to adult learners from low-income backgrounds/learners with disabilities into third-level programmes and/or initiatives that promote partnership between higher education providers and local communities.
Sponsored by Open College Network Northern Ireland, this category is open to adult learning initiatives that support all participants to effectively engage with their local community and contribute to social and cultural life, examples may include initiatives that provide participants with access to information and communication technologies.
Sponsored by SAOLTA, this category is open to adult learning initiatives that support Global Citizenship Education by empowering learners to assume active roles to face and resolve global challenges and to become proactive contributors to a more peaceful, tolerant, inclusive and secure world.
Sponsored by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), this category is open to adult learning initiatives that place the voice and experience of the adult learner at the heart of their work. This can be achieved through building capacity of learners to increase their confidence or public speaking skills, or using the personal, individual experiences articulated by learners to shape the organisation’s governance structures. Examples may include training learners in advocacy or governance skills, building effective Learner Voice processes into quality assurance standards, or demonstrating clear evidence of change that directly responds to the feedback from adult learners.
Sponsored by the Department of Adult and Community Education in Maynooth University, this category is open to adult learning initiatives that are bringing about positive social change.
Sponsored by the European Social Fund, this special award recognises initiatives that support adult learning through working towards better education and training systems at all levels, equal access to quality education and training, and upskilling, reskilling and lifelong learning for all.
Sponsored by the Open University Ireland, our “Shooting Star” Award recognises an outstanding project in adult and community education from across the island of Ireland.
Have a Question?
Frequently Asked Questions about AONTAS STAR Awards
What is the Adult Learners' Festival?
The 2026 AONTAS Adult Learners’ Festival will take place from 2-6 March 2026. The Festival is a nationwide celebration of adult learning coordinated by AONTAS, in collaboration with other key national organisations and stakeholders.
Over the past 20 years, the Festival has become a firm fixture in the Irish adult learning calendar, showcasing the range of learning opportunities available across the country and encouraging adults to try something new.
What are the STAR Awards?
The STAR Awards are an awards initiative coordinated by AONTAS as part of the annual Adult Learners’ Festival to acknowledge the fantastic work undertaken by adult learning initiatives throughout Ireland.
Now in their 20th year, the STAR Awards recognise outstanding work in adult learning. The STAR Awards also give initiatives the opportunity to spotlight their excellent work across Ireland and bring national recognition to learners, staff and organising bodies.
Who can nominate a project?
Nominated Initiatives are welcome from all groups, throughout the island of Ireland, as long as they focus on adult and community education and demonstrate innovative approaches to adult learning within their relevant category.
What are the categories?
The 2026 categories are:
- Adult Learning Initiatives that Support Health and Wellbeing
- Adult Learning Initiatives that Support Third-level Access and Engagement
- Adult Learning Initiatives that Support Social Inclusion
- Adult Learning Initiatives that Support Global Citizenship Education
- Adult Learning Initiatives that Support Learner Voice
- Adult Learning Initiatives that Support Social Change
What are the judges looking for?
The judges look for a combination of elements including:
- Innovate approach – initiatives should be able to show innovation in their work or approach to learning
- Collaboration/Partnership – evidence of teamwork, partnership and cooperation between diverse groups
- Inclusion – learning opportunities should reach all learners, especially those furthest from the education and training system
- Learner supports – which facilitate access and retention of learners such as financial, mentoring and caring supports
- Positive learning experiences – such as how the initiative’s curriculum was built around the learners’ needs or interests
- Progression – demonstrate learner’s movement onto further education training, community involvement or employment
- Learner choice – Learners should be supported to make informed choices regarding what, and how, they learn
- Transformative learning – show how being involved in learning has helped the participants to make a change to their lives and that of their community
Why should I nominate an initiative for a STAR Award?
The STAR Awards are the perfect opportunity to highlight the impact of adult learning to politicians, funders, media and the public to help spread word about the difference it can make to people’s lives.
Who judges the STAR Awards?
The independent STAR Awards judging panel includes people from adult learning organisations, universities, Government and other groups in the adult and community education in Ireland.
How do I nominate a group?
Nominations for the 2026 awards are opening!
Nominate your adult learning initiative by the 30th of October!