On Tuesday, 16th November, AONTAS held its final Community Education Network (CEN) meeting of 2021. The CEN brings together independent community education practitioners from across Ireland to collaborate, share knowledge and engage on key areas relating to community education. This particular CEN meeting was unique in the sense that it gave AONTAS the opportunity to recognise and celebrate the outstanding commitment of five women, who have retired recently from community education, who were instrumental to the establishment of the CEN and, ‘unsung heroes of their local communities’ according to Dr Niamh O’Reilly, AONTAS CEO.
CEPRAH focuses on initiatives that support active civic engagement and the proper functioning of democracy in communities at local, national and global levels. The information below gives an insight into the project, the recent virtual café and guidelines on how to become involved in future activities.
On Wednesday, 30th June, almost 100 participants from across the lifelong learning sector, including community education organisations, Education and Training Boards (ETBs), Higher Education Institutions and NGOs, gathered online for the CEN Census 2020 launch event. AONTAS implemented this broad-scale mixed methods research project, drawing on qualitative and quantitative data, to build a robust evidence base demonstrating the need to effectively fund community education. This online event provided an opportunity for participants to discuss key findings and recommendations from the first Community Education Network (CEN) Census report, “CEN Census 2020: Community Education in a time of COVID-19”. Taking an evidence-informed advocacy focus, the event aimed to share with policymakers and stakeholders some of the key issues facing community education providers, particularly during COVID-19.
On Wednesday, 30th June, participants from across the lifelong learning sector will gather online for the launch event of the AONTAS research report CEN Census 2020: Community Education in a time of COVID-19.
On Day 4 of the 15th annual Adult Learners’ Festival (Thursday, 4th March 2021), the first online AONTAS STAR Awards celebration was hosted by Colm O’Regan - comedian, bestselling author and broadcaster. Almost 150 people came together for this uplifting online event that celebrated and acknowledged the incredible work adult learning providers have done in adapting their provision during COVID-19 to ensure learners’ needs continue to be met.
On Day 3 of the AONTAS Adult Learners’ Festival 2021 (Wednesday, 3rd March 2021), 22 educators and practitioners from Northern Ireland’s adult and community education sector joined a webinar which to learn more about AONTAS’ work and to share their experiences during COVID-19.
On Day 1 of the AONTAS Adult Learners’ Festival 2021 (Monday, 1st March 2021), 85 participants joined a workshop that showcased the Learners as Leaders change-orientated adult learning methodology, the Irish model of community education, and learner voice activities.
The 17th online instalment centred on the results from the recent survey of AONTAS Community Education Network members as they prepare for a return to work and learning next month.
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.
