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.
EU Exchange for a Better Tomorrow – Part 1
As part of the ‘Learning Today for a Better Tomorrow’ project (2015-2017), we undertook a professional exchange in collaboration with Skills for Work. The delegation of eight comprised of the European Projects Officer at AONTAS, three Skills for Work staff, including their National Coordinator and four Skills for Work learners, coming from diverse backgrounds.
Sharing Best Practice with Malta
AONTAS recently hosted a Maltese Study Visit in order to share best practice with other EU member states. As part of the study visit, Christianne Fenech, Project Manager in the Ministry of Education & Employment visited Ireland for three days to focus on her specific areas of interest including: workplace learners, family literacy and engaging with employers. AONTAS travelled with Christianne to Limerick to visit some of the fantastic community education groups based in Limerick who are also a part of the Limerick Community Education Network (LCEN), longstanding AONTAS members. Read about it here.
Learning from Best Practice in Luxembourg
As part of our learning mobility project: ‘AONTAS – Making an Impact at European Level’ project Warremount tutor Niamh Mc Call recently travelled to Luxembourg to take part in a two day conference run by the European Basic Skills Network (EBSN). The aim of a mobility was to exchange information and learn more about best practice models. In our latest blog Niamh shares her experience of the conference and highlights some pilot projects from Europe that look at innovative ways to teach language to migrants.
AONTAS Travels to Cardiff to Share Best Practice on Learner Voice
AONTAS is currently leading out on the learning mobility project: ‘AONTAS – Making an Impact at European Level’. This two year project is funded under the adult education field of the ERASMUS+ programme and supports the professional development of adult education workers.
‘European Union: Solidarity in a time of Uncertainty’
On 10th March, almost 100 attendees took part in the AONTAS EU Seminar- ‘European Union: Solidarity in a time of Uncertainty’. The event marked the closing event of the AONTAS Adult Learners’ Festival 2017.
The agenda included 10 speakers, spanning from academics, to practitioners, to learners. Twelve Slovenian adult learning practitioners and learners also participated in the morning’s proceedings, as part of a week-long study visit to Ireland.