Learner Voice Training for Educators
AONTAS offer Learner Voice Training to staff in Education and Training Boards across the country
This project is funded through the New European Agenda for Adult Learning (NEAAL)
Learner Voice Training
Learner Voice is a concept based on the idea that learning should be guided by both learners and teachers.
The goal of Learner Voice activities is to listen and respond to what learners need, which will facilitate more learners returning to and staying in Further Education and Training.
Learner Voice has always been and remains at the heart of AONTAS’ work, as we strive towards our vision of educational equality for all adult learners.
Since 2020, we’ve been working with staff and learners in Education and Training Boards (ETBs) across Ireland to develop Learner Voice as a process that is embedded in Further Education and Training (FET).
We provide training for staff focused on the principles and implementation of Learner Voice work.
What’s new with our Learner Voice Training?
As Ireland’s National Coordinator for the New European Agenda for Adult Learning (NEAAL), we are expanding our Learner Voice Training opportunities in 2026-27. We have delivered training to staff and educators in twelve ETBs from 2024-2025. We are focusing on developing, piloting, and evaluating this training for staff in four ETBs.
The training includes:
- Theory behind Learner Voice
- Discussion with other staff
- Practical tools and resources needed to establish sustainable Learner Voice structures
The training will be particularly useful for staff planning to establish a Learner/Student Council in their ETB over the coming year. Training can be customised to meet the needs of the ETB and typically lasts for 3 hours, including a break.
The training is open to anyone who works directly with learners, centre managers and ETB staff who have a particular responsibility for Learner Development or who collaborate with AONTAS on the delivery of the National FET Learner Forum.
AONTAS also offers workshops for learners on Learner Voice, advocacy, effective feedback and committee skills. Find out more here (link to Training for learners’ tab)
If you work for or with an ETB and would like to learn more about this training, contact Ruby at rcooney@aontas.com
Learner Voice Resources
This Learners as Leaders handbook is a free resource to complement our ongoing Learner Voice Training. It provides ETB staff with the theory, tools, and practical resources to facilitate learners’ sharing of feedback and learning experiences at their ETB.
The goal is to help make learning better for everyone.
Learner Voice Digital Badge
The Learner Voice Digital Badge is designed to enhance staff capacity to develop Learner Voice structures in Further Education and Training settings. The course duration is 8 weeks and is delivered fully online. After completion of the course, staff will receive a digital badge issued by the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning.
Register your interest for the Learner Voice Digital Badge 2026 here.
Since 2023, Learner Voice Project Officer, Karyn Farrell, and Education Projects Officer, Ruby Cooney have delivered tailored training sessions to staff and educators in 12 Education and Training Boards.
February 2026: Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board
Workshop session delivered to 18 staff in Tullamore.
Aims of the session:
- Networking and sharing of experiences on what’s happening to capture the learner experience in Laois & Offaly ETB
- Exploring effective methods of including learners in their educational journey.
- Sharing examples of good practice in Learner Voice with colleagues
- Brainstorming the important elements required for a participative LOETB Learner Voice model
- Systems to be put in place to meaningfully act on learner feedback and setting up, supporting and maintaining representative learner structures.
November 2025: Longford and Westmeath Education and Training Board
Session delivered online to staff in Longford and Westmeath Education and Training Board
Aims of session:
- Introduction to Learner Voice and what’s happening to capture the learner experience in your ETB
- Exploring the possible approaches to setting up Learner Voice structures in LWETB
- To share insights and good practice on setting up and maintaining learner representative structures.
September 2025:Dublin and Dun Laoghaire Education and Training Board
Session delivered to seven staff members from Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Adult Education Service in Swords.
Aims of session:
- To give an introduction to Learner Voice and what’s happening to capture the learner experience across the ETB sector.
- To share insights and good practice across the ETB sector on setting up and maintaining learner structures.
When asked in the end-of-session feedback form to share their highlight of the session, staff noted the “opportunity to discuss practical steps and facilitators’ knowledge”.
August 2025: Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim Education and Training Board
Session delivered to 12 staff members from Mayo, Sligo, and Leitrim Education and Training Board.
Aims of the session:
- To give an introduction to Learner Voice and what’s happening to capture the learner experience across the ETB sector.
- To share insights and good practice across the ETB sector on setting up and maintaining learner structures.
During the training, staff discussed which Learner Voice practices are currently in place and identified next steps to expand them.
June 2025: Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board
Session delivered to 14 staff members from Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board (LCETB).
Aims of the session:
- How to develop a culture of meaningful learner engagement and
- How to create more genuine partnership mechanisms.
- Recognising effective Learner Voice practices in LCETB
- Identifying areas for improvement.
- Discussing the essential steps to establish a Learner Voice structure suitable for LCETB.
When asked in the end-of-session feedback form to share their highlight of the session, participants said the opportunities to discuss challenges and possibilities with peers.
May 2025: Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board
Session delivered online to 10 staff members from Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board.
Aim of session:
- To gain a greater understanding of Learner Voice as a process and a culture
- To identify opportunities to listen to and involve learners more in their educational experience
- To develop a clearer understanding of the important elements required for a meaningful GRETB Learner Voice model
Staff were asked to share their highlight of the session. Here’s what they said they enjoyed:
“The broad extent of ideas to engage with the learner voice”, “the opportunity to share and learn about other centre practices” and “the start of putting together a learner voice structure within the organisation”
May 2025: Kerry Education and Training Board
Training session delivered to 15 Kerry Education and Training Board staff members.
The session introduced Learner Voice theory and discussed how to develop an approach to Learner Voice that aligns with the Kerry ETB core values:
- Inclusion
- Respect
- Equality
- Quality
- Excellence in Learning
Staff shared that their highlights from the training were the opportunity to exchange experiences and ideas with colleagues and to better understand the existing Learner Voice processes in KETB.
February 2025: Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board
Session delivered to 18 staff members from Cavan and Monaghan ETB. Attending staff included teachers, an assistant principal, learner support staff, and Youthreach resource workers.
After the session, the staff members were asked to share their highlights. Here’s what they said:
- Collaborating with members from other sectors in CMETB and sharing of stories of best practices in Ireland
- Engagement and involvement and examples from ETBs
- Practical Implementation Strategies
- Learning about the work of the Student Unions in Monaghan Institute and the Journey podcast
January 2025: Louth and Meath Education and Training Board
Session delivered to seven staff from Louth and Meath Education and Training Board.
Aims of session:
- Introducing Learner Voice theory and its practical application in the everyday work of LMETB staff.
After the session, the staff shared their highlights. One attendee said they enjoyed “talking and interacting with staff from other centres to see what they are doing” as well as “learning from others”.
September 2024: Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board
Session delivered online to 12 staff members and tutors from Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board.
Learning outcomes for participants were:
- Building a greater understanding of Learner Voice as a process and a culture
- Identifying opportunities to listen to and involve learners more in their educational experience
- Using a planning framework to build a sustainable and meaningful Learner Voice structure
One staff member noted that they enjoyed “hearing what’s happening elsewhere and finding out how to get my learners’ opinions heard on a local basis.”
September 2024: Dublin and Dun Laoghaire Education and Training Board
Training session facilitated with 5 staff members from the Quality Assurance Unit with Dublin and Dun Laoghaire Education and Training Board.
The session had two main aims:
- To give an introduction to Learner Voice theory and its practical application
- To equip staff with the practical tools and resources necessary to set up sustainable Learner Voice structures
The training incorporated a broad range of interactive and practical methods. One of these included a Mind Map exercise for staff to collaborate on putting a sustainable framework in place to support a functioning and meaningful Learner Voices group.
One staff member said: “The session focused our attention on where to start and gave us a structure and framework to ensure organisational consistency.”
June 2024: City of Dublin Education and Training Board
Session facilitated with 14 staff members from City of Dublin ETB Educational Service to Prisons. Participating staff included teachers and head teachers with representatives from all seven Dublin prisons and Pathways. The session had two broad aims:
- To give an introduction to Learner Voice, and what’s happening to capture the learner experience across the ETB sector
- To share learning across Prison Education centres and Pathways about practical tools and resources to engage in different Learner Voice activities
Participants worked together to identify opportunities to listen to and involve learners more in their educational experience. They shared valuable insights into initiatives and programmes that are working well in their individual centres, and came up with new ways to increase the visibility of these activities.
They also discussed solutions to overcoming some of the barriers and challenges they face while working on Learner Voice activities in a restricted setting. They collaborated on ways to put more formal structures in place to capture learners’ views and feedback.
June 2024: Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board
Session facilitated with four staff from Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board at the dedicated GRETB training centre in Mervue.
Aim of session:
- An introduction to Learner Voice theory and its practical application in their everyday work.
- Highlighting some of the practical tools and resources necessary for them to set up a Learner Voice group.
- Identify priority actions and a timeline for completion over the coming months.
June 2023: City of Dublin Education and Training Board
Session delivered to seven staff from City of Dublin ETB in Finglas. As part of the training, the group used DIXIT cards, asking participants to pick the cards that represent a positive and empowering adult education system and then discuss why.
The group picked symbols that they felt represented the learners they work with and their experience in the Cabra and Finglas centres of City of Dublin ETB.
They talked about how returning to education is “not just about certification – it’s about participation in something meaningful”. They said that many learners “feel hope. Seas may still be choppy and the landscape of their everyday lives may not have changed but now [with returning to education] there is a sense of hope”. They also talked about the Adult Education service as “guiding people on their path”, and about the ETB as a place to “shelter from the storm” and “a sense of connection with this centre and with other learners”.
We are grateful to all ETB staff who get involved in working to make the experiences of learners a core part of to their approaches.
Background
In 2020 and 2021, Education and Training Boards across Ireland were going through a quality assurance review with Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI). Given that AONTAS have expertise in the area of Learner Voice, and given our history of research and learner engagement through the National FET Learner Forum, we were asked by ETBs to hold online training sessions with adult learners to prepare them to take part in quality assurance reviews with QQI.
In 2022, we began to develop this work, focusing on supporting people to gain more confidence and skills in leadership and self-advocacy. We held sessions with learners from six ETBs, with a total of 167 learners taking part. These sessions focused on communicating to people that voicing their experience and sharing feedback on their courses and on interactions with their ETB can be integral to creating positive change, both for their own experience of learning and for those who come after them. This process can help identify important issues and how to address them, fostering a learning environment that has been co-created by the learners and staff.
If learners feel heard and respected, it is more likely that they will stay engaged.
We continue to offer training to ETBs and Learner Voice groups across the country. A central part of this is establishing and maintaining partnerships between AONTAS and ETBs.
If you work for or with an ETB and would like to learn more or get involved, contact Ruby at rcooney@aontas.com
This project is funded through the New European Agenda for Adult Learning (NEAAL)
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.