The Adult Education Guidance Services – Free, Local, Impartial and Confidential

At last week’s Weekly Membership Webinar Mary Stokes, Guidance Programme Coordinator for Further Education and Training (FET) from the National Centre for Guidance in Education, gave a presentation about guidance provision for adults and the role played by Adult Education Guidance Services in local communities across Ireland.
AONTAS Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2020

On 29th July, AONTAS held its 50th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in a hybrid format; both online via Zoom and with AONTAS staff and board members present at our office in Dublin. This marked the first time in AONTAS’ history that the AGM did not take place fully in person. Over 60 attendees were present at the online AGM, including representatives from Education and Training Boards (ETBs), community education organisations, and adult learners.
Growing Evidence Base of Widening Inequalities During COVID-19 for Learners across Ireland

AONTAS Research Officer, Dr Eve Cobain, attended the launch of Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) report on “The implications of the COVID-19 pandemic for policy in relation to children and young people” published on 22nd July. In our latest blog Eve draws comparisons between the ESRI report and AONTAS’ recent publications on the impact of COVID-19 on adult learners, including the “AONTAS COVID-19 Further Education and Training (FET) Learner Report
Mental Health Ireland: AONTAS Membership Update and Engagement Webinar

AONTAS Membership Update and Engagement Webinar 16 (featuring a contribution from Mental Health Ireland)
The Code Institute: AONTAS Membership Update and Engagement Webinar

AONTAS Membership Update and Engagement Webinar 15 (featuring a contribution from AONTAS member The Code Institute),
Community Education is gaining greater prominence in new EU lifelong learning policies

Sam O’Brien-Olinger, AONTAS Information and Policy Officer gives a brief overview of some of the most important new EU policies relating to adult learning including recent AONTAS advocacy activities at EU level. Sam also outlines aspects of the new Skills Agenda, the recent renewed commitment to the European Agenda for Adult Learning and why these are important for Ireland, AONTAS members and adult learners across the country.
Adult and community education empowering people experiencing homelessness to stay connected

AONTAS Membership Update and Engagement Webinar 14 (featuring a contribution from Dublin Simon Community).
Moving Beyond Words: From an anti-racist reflection to anti-racist action; lessons taken from AkiDwA’s Conference on dismantling racism

In this blog, AONTAS Project Officer Kalianne Farren reflects on AkiDwA’s ‘Moving Beyond Reactions: Time to Dismantle Racism’ conference and its links to the adult and community education sector.
Racism in Ireland is something which AONTAS members recognise and know needs to be addressed.

In this blog, AONTAS information and Policy Officer Sam O’Brien-Olinger reflects on last week’s weekly membership update webinar (24th June 2020) which saw Shane O’Curry, Director of the Irish Network Against Racism, present and build on the conversation started by AONTAS Board member Joy-Tendai Kangere at the webinar on 10th June.
Weekly Membership Update and Engagement | Webinar 12

At the 12th AONTAS Weekly Membership Update Webinar AONTAS Member Jane McNicholas gave a presentation on the actions and plans of Dublin South City Partnership’s Education team.