Writing by Megan Fearon, Head of Impact and Engagement
Last week we launched a new report on adult education at the Northern Ireland Assembly, one that calls for a fundamental shift in how we measure the impact of lifelong learning in Northern Ireland.
The research, titled Measuring the Impact of Adult Education in Northern Ireland: Current Practice and Ways Forward, was commissioned by the Department for the Economy through the Alliance for Lifelong Learning.
Authored by Dr Eve Cobain (AONTAS) and Dr Colin Neilands (FALNI), the report highlights both the value of adult learning and the need to change how we assess its success.
This work builds on findings from AONTAS’ Northern Ireland Community Education Census (2021–2022), which showed that the sector remains overly focused on “counting outputs” like course completions, attendance figures, qualifications — without fully recognising the deeper, long-term impact that adult and community education has on people’s lives, families and communities.
The new report makes it clear: while numbers matter, they don’t tell the full story.
The richness of adult learning — especially in non-formal and community settings — is often lost when the tools used to measure impact are too narrow, too transactional, and too disconnected from learners’ lived realities.
The launch had the strong backing of key political figures.
Speaking at the event, Minister for the Economy Dr Caoimhe Archibald MLA emphasised the central role education plays in personal and economic development:
“Education can make a huge contribution to personal development, improving our skills base, raising productivity and equipping people to take up good jobs, in line with my economic priorities. I welcome this hugely valuable research and look forward to continuing to work collaboratively to support and promote adult education in all its forms.”
The event was also sponsored by Chair of the Economy Committee, Mr Philip Brett MLA, who acknowledged the gap in participation rates across the region and the pressing need for more coordinated action:
“This report highlights the tangible, real-life impact of adult learning participation. As a region, we lag behind others in levels of participation — which must be addressed by giving education providers the resources they need to expand adult learning and develop a framework for greater collaboration across this diverse sector.”
One of the most powerful moments of the morning came from those at the very heart of adult learning, the learners themselves.
A panel of adult learners shared deeply personal accounts of how community education has shaped their lives.
From organisations like WOMEN’STEC and Ballybeen Women’s Centre, they spoke of new skills gained, but also of the wider impact: confidence, connection, and visibility.
Nikita Thompson spoke of the ripple effect of her children watching her “do her homework” at the kitchen table and the example it sets for them.
One learner, Maureen Nwosu, listed the courses she has taken part in and, captured the spirit of lifelong learning in just a few words: “I’m not stopping there.”
It was a reminder that the outcomes we should be measuring aren’t just about jobs — they’re about personal growth, confidence, and being more engaged in the community.
The event also included a panel of funders and education providers, who echoed the importance of embedding learner voice more structurally across the sector. There was strong interest in the Learner Voice model developed by AONTAS, which has grown into a powerful tool for both policy and practice, across formal, informal, and community education.
The need for more coordinated, consistent, and learner-centred data collection was another key theme, with agreement that adult education’s impact is best captured when learners themselves are involved in shaping the narrative.
The report makes several key recommendations, including:
At AONTAS, we believe this is a crucial moment for adult learning in Northern Ireland. The research provides a roadmap not just for better data collection, but for a more values-driven, learner-focused approach to education.
Because ultimately, what gets measured gets valued. And it’s time we value the full, transformative power of adult and community education — in all its forms.
If you’d like to learn more about the research or explore how to support a learner voice model in Northern Ireland, please get in touch with mail@aontas.com