AONTAS Membership Engagement: A Vital Link for the Community
Jim Prior is Coordinator of Southill Family Resource Centre, a member of the Limerick Community Education Network (LCEN) and Vice President of AONTAS. The LCEN represents over 19 community education based organisations across Limerick city and they have been members of AONTAS for over 12 years. Here Jim shares how the LCEN has engaged with the work of AONTAS over this time.
Leaving Cert Options for Adult Learners
Returning to education to sit the Leaving Cert as an adult can provide a vital second chance for those that left school early. It can be difficult to take that first step back into education but there are plenty of opportunities and supports available if you wish to choose this route.
Alan Hand – One Year On
In 2016, Alan Hand made the big decision to return to education and complete his Leaving Certificate after becoming unemployed in 2013 due to the recession.
Alan completed his Leaving Cert through the Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) run by Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board (LOETB) in summer 2016. Since then he has become a strong advocate for adult learning.
One year on we talked to Alan about why he made the decision to return to education, how his life has changed and what advice he would give to others thinking of doing the same.
Collaboration, Innovation and Learning in Barcelona
Earlier this summer Matthew Waters from An Cosán Virtual Community College (VCC) travelled to the Spanish city of Barcelona to present at EDULEARN – one of the largest international education conferences.
The trip took place as part of the ERASMUS+ ‘Making an Impact at European Level’ project. Organised by AONTAS it supports the professional development of our Community Education Network (CEN). Here Matthew shares the highlights of his trip.
Exposure to Adult Education in Romania
Last month Joan Keehan from Southill Family Resource Centre (FRC) Limerick visited Craiova as part of ERASMUS+ ‘Making an Impact at European Level’ an EU-funded project that supports the professional development of adult education workers. In our latest blog she shares her experience.
Learner Voice at the Centre of European Vocational Skills Week
The first European Vocational Skills Week took place from 5th to 9th December 2016. As the National Coordinator for the European Agenda for Adult Learning (EAAL), AONTAS welcomed the introduction of this initiative. It provided an opportunity to profile the diversity of education and training opportunities available to learners across the EU with hundreds of events taking place. It also provided AONTAS with an opportunity to highlight the importance of the learner voice at both a national and European level.
Validation of Prior Learning in Ireland: A Learner’s Experience
The learner voice sits firmly at the heart of AONTAS’ work. As the National Adult Learning Organisation in Ireland, we believe that in order to widen participation in lifelong learning, we must listen to the voices and experiences of learners. AONTAS spoke to adult learner advocate Una Buckley about Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Una details her personal experience of RPL and gives some suggestions on how to make the process more accessible for learners.
Almost 100 learners take part in the National FET Learner Forum 2017
The National Further Education and Training (FET) Learner Forum took place on Friday 7th April in Croke Park, Dublin. This event marked the second meeting of the forum when 100 learners from across Ireland met to discuss their achievements and challenges in FET.
Learning from Best Practice in Crete
In spring 2017 James Clifford from Kerry Action for Development Education (KADE) travelled to Rethymno, Crete to take part in a five day job shadowing mobility with the European Centre in Training for Employment (ECTE). The aim of a mobility was to increase awareness of cross cultural issues between Ireland and Crete, meet with potential partners and discuss how KADE could become a host in EU mobility programmes to strengthen the capacity of their organisation.
EU Exchange for a Better Tomorrow – Part 2
AONTAS is the National Coordinator for the European Agenda for Adult Learning in Ireland. As part of the Learning Today for a Better Tomorrow project (2015-2017), AONTAS in collaboration with Skills for Work, undertook ‘EU Exchange for a Better Tomorrow’, a professional exchange. In part 2 of our ‘EU Exchange for a Better Tomorrow’ blog the particpants give some reflections on their trip to Malta.