Adult Learners' Festival

AONTAS STAR Award Winners 2024

Adult Learning Initiatives that support Learner Voice
Sponsored by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI)

Winner

Pathfinders, Gorey Adult Learning Centre - North Wexford Adult Literacy Department, Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board

The Pathfinders initiative enables people with autism to progress to mainstream learning that matches their interests and abilities. The initiative helps grow learners’ communication skills, concentration, imagination, organisational skills and daily routine in an adult learning centre.

Winner  Pathfinders, Gorey Adult Learning Centre - North Wexford Adult Literacy Department, Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board

Adult Learning Initiatives that support Health and Wellbeing
Sponsored by Mental Health Ireland

Winner

Social Therapeutic Horticulture Programme – Tipperary Education and Training Board & the HSE

The Social Therapeutic Horticulture Programme provides a therapy through horticulture in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, in partnership with the HSE. Service users are in active addiction and are not working or engaging in any other training. It is facilitated by a training Social Therapeutic Horticulturist, a key worker, and a counsellor assigned by the Substance Misuse Service. Service users work in the greenhouses and each has an individual care plan.

Winner  Social Therapeutic Horticulture Programme – Tipperary Education and Training Board & the HSE

Adult Learning Initiatives that support Third-level Access and Engagement

Winner

ComMUniversity - Maynooth University

Established in 2011, the ComMUniversity is a programme where people can attend higher education courses in the familiar surroundings of their local libraries. This programme allows them to access a course in the secure and familiar environment of the local library, with the goal of widening participation in higher education, especially for people from communities that are under-resourced or people who have not had the opportunity or encouragement to go to university before.

Winner  ComMUniversity - Maynooth University

Adult Learning Initiatives that support Social Inclusion
Sponsored by Open College Network Northern Ireland (OCN NI)

Winner

EDNIP (Embracing Diversity & Nurturing Integration Project) English Conversation Club - Mary Immaculate College, Limerick

This initiative is aimed at migrants who are parents of children attending DEIS schools in Limerick city. DEIS schools help children and young people who are at risk of or who are experiencing educational disadvantage. There are children from 64 countries across the five schools involved in this initiative. The aim of the initiative is to create a safe space for people to practise their language skills.

Winner  EDNIP (Embracing Diversity & Nurturing Integration Project) English Conversation Club - Mary Immaculate College, Limerick

Adult Learning Initiatives that support Global Citizenship Education
Sponsored by SAOLTA

Winner

Threads: Global Citizenship Education Through Drama - Lourdes Youth and Community Services (LYCS), Dublin

The Threads Project brought GCE to a community organisation, using the arts. It featured a drama group, formed in 2021, that was concerned with social justice issues. Their interests were inspired by the SDGs that had an impact on members’ lives. Given that the group were all living in the North-east inner city in Dublin, issues included poverty, crime, and social disintegration.

Winner  Threads: Global Citizenship Education Through Drama - Lourdes Youth and Community Services (LYCS), Dublin

Special Recognition Award for Shared Island and Peace Building Initiatives
Sponsored by The Open University in Ireland

Winner

The MAS (Maternal Advocacy and Support) Project

From the Women’s Resource and Development Agency, the Mas project (Maternal Advocacy and Support) provides maternal mental health support to women who are pregnant and/ or who have children up to the age of 3.

Winner  The MAS (Maternal Advocacy and Support) Project

Special Recognition for a European Social Fund (ESF) Initiative
Sponsored by the European Social Fund

Winner

Advanced Manufacturing Technician Traineeship - Kildare Wicklow Education and Training Board

This course from KWETB provides the skills and knowledge for learners to confidently pursue employment in a process maintenance technician role in a manufacturing setting. It prepares learners to become more competitive in the employment market or to confidently progress on to further and higher education.

Winner  Advanced Manufacturing Technician Traineeship - Kildare Wicklow Education and Training Board