Supporting Learners’ Voices in Irish Education and Training Boards: The FET Learners as Leaders Programme
By Kalianne Farren, AONTAS Research Officer
How can we have a better, fairer adult education system?
At AONTAS, we’re helping adults who have gone back to education speak up about their experiences. Adult learners are the best experts in what works and what should be improved in adult education. Listening to them and working with them can make learning better for everyone.
Empowering Learners across Ireland The AONTAS “Learners As Leaders” Programme
When people share their stories about returning to learning, people empathise, they listen, and sometimes they get inspired.
How can we empower people to share their experiences?
Mental health supports are in place for FET learners, but more work remains to be done
AONTAS research has found a lack of information on mental health supports for Further Education and Training (FET) learners and a disparity in the provision of psychological counselling across programmes. Here, AONTAS Research Officer Dr Laura Lovejoy considers the implications of our most recent findings for learner mental health.
EU Travels: Adult Learning Policy and Action in Larissa Bucks the Trend
Last month, Ecem Akarca and Conor Thompson from the AONTAS Advocacy Team travelled to Greece with Marissa Hebron from Longford Women’s Link. This study visit was part of the RegALE Erasmus+ Project. Ecem, Marissa and Conor learned about Greek approaches to adult and community education.
EU Travels: “One of the most multicultural cities in the world and an ideal setting to share best practice with Adult Education professionals from Europe and beyond”
Kalianne Farren, AONTAS Research Officer for Learner Voice, travels to Brussels to attend the European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA) Younger Staff Training.
“Marginalised people continue to be let down. It is vital that the voices of the people are heard”
Aisling Meyler, AONTAS Research Officer, shares what she has learned from doing research over the years, why she is passionate about social justice, equality and fairness, and why research has a positive impact for people and for social change.
EU Travels: Combatting the Digital Divide: “Just as previous generations in Trento were isolated geographically, older people are at risk of being isolated digitally”
Earlier this summer, AONTAS’s Capacity Building Officer Conor Thompson travelled to Trento in Italy to take part in a European project that looks at the “digital divide” and seeks to improve the experiences of later-life learners in relation to employment and job skills.
“Do something outside your comfort zone – you might enjoy it!”: New Creativity Takes Courage Learners As Leaders Programme
“Learners As Leaders” is a learner-centred flexible programme that brings adult learners together from across Ireland, empowering them to share their stories, build their skills, and become advocates for adult and community education, and for their communities. This July and August, AONTAS EU Projects Officer Ecem Akarca, Project Officer for Capacity Building Conor Thompson, and Communications Officer Kate Smyth are running the programme with the theme of “Creativity Takes Courage”, which includes a painting class!
EU Travels Blog Series 2022 – Mechelen, Belgium
“This was such a good experience as it brought together adult learning colleagues from across Europe for the first time since before the COVID-19 pandemic.” Earlier this summer, Dearbháil Lawless, then Head of Advocacy and recently appointed AONTAS CEO, visited Mechelen in Belgium for the European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA) General Assembly.
EU Travels Blog Series 2022 – Oslo, Norway
“Banking and finance systems are all based on the history and culture of a country and they are different all across Europe. It’s important for us to remember this as we work with our European partners in adult learning.” Finance and Administration Lead at AONTAS Marta Feragalli travelled for study visit to Norway to learn more about different approaches to finance in the charity sector across Europe.