Learner Voice

Aontas Research

We conduct robust, evidence-based research into adult education, community education, and Further Education and Training (FET). We mainly do this through the National FET Learner Forum and research into community education in Ireland.

The National Further Education and Training (FET) Learner Forum

Learner Voice is at the heart of AONTAS’ work. It is a concept in education that means that learners should have a say in decisions about their own education. It means that those who learn, not just those who teach, should influence the educational experience.

The National FET Learner Forum is a series of events taking place across Ireland, which facilitate adult learners to share their experiences of learning. This is the basis of our advocacy work and is used to ensure further education and training policy is responding to the needs of the learners themselves.

Since its launch, the Forum has reached thousands of learners. The project consists of one national event and a series of regional events held at Education and Training Boards across Ireland each year. We are here to listen to the voices of adult learners from across Ireland. We share the experiences of adult learners with SOLAS and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

This means change happens from the ground up.

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New research findings: Learner Voices Across Ireland Report 2024

Our latest “Learner Voices Across Ireland” report shows 64% of people surveyed gained more self-confidence through engaging in adult learning in Ireland in the last year. 58% gained a more positive outlook on the future, while 31% had an increased sense of belonging, and better health and well-being.

Learner Voices Across Ireland Report (LVAI)

Learner Voices Across Ireland is the flagship report capturing the collective insights of adult learners who have participated in the National FET Learner Forum. Drawing on the experiences of over 1,700 learners from across Ireland, the report represents the culmination of years of Forum events, dialogue, and research.

It offers a rich, evidence-based understanding of what is working well in Further Education and Training (FET), and where improvements are needed. Rooted in the principles of learner voice, the report provides stakeholders such as policymakers, educators, and providers with a clear and credible account of learners’ experiences, priorities, and aspirations.

This nationwide consultation reflects AONTAS’s long-standing commitment to a learner-centred FET system. Through close collaboration with Education and Training Boards (ETBs), SOLAS, and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS), the LVAI report turns individual learner voices into actionable insights. It highlights both the successes within FET, such as high learner satisfaction with teaching and support, and the challenges that persist, including access to mental health services, transport, and childcare. More than just a report, Learner Voices Across Ireland is a roadmap for creating a more inclusive, responsive, and effective FET system shaped by those who know it best: the learners themselves.