ETBI-News-Summer-2016-web

1. National Adult Learner Forum
One of the key actions in the SOLAS
FET Strategy was the establishment
of a National Adult Learner Forum.
As a result of our extensive learner
engagement and advocacy experience,
SOLAS tasked AONTAS with
establishing the Forum in 2016, and
organising it every year after for the life
of the FET strategy.
The National Adult Learner Forum
came to fruition in February 2016
and ETBs played a central role in its
successful development. The Forum
acts as a national advocacy platform
for FET learners who are participating in
SOLAS-funded programmes, giving them
a unique and exciting opportunity to
directly influence the FET service based
on their needs.
In addition to quantitative data on FET
learners, through the Forum, SOLAS
will gain rich qualitative data detailing
learners’ experiences of the FET
service. This, in turn, will help shape
future policy decisions.
In advance of the National Adult
Learner Forum in February, AONTAS
contacted the Adult Education Officers
in each Education and Training Board
and requested that they nominate
learners to attend the Forum.
Due to the enthusiastic response
from providers, the first Forum event
proved a great success, with over 70
learners in attendance. There was
also a balanced learner representation
from across a range of SOLAS FET
programmes throughout Ireland,
ensuring a good spread of urban and
rural participants to capture the range
of learner experiences.
We are currently compiling the report
from the Forum. We hope that, with the
support of FET providers, the Forum will
grow from strength to strength.
2. European Agenda for Adult Learning
Another key area of collaboration
"One of the outcomes of the ETB promotional activities included
over 1,300 learners participating in events organised by ETBs,
with many of these learners enrolling onto courses as a result of
attending events."
between AONTAS and ETBs has been
the European Agenda for Adult Learning
(EAAL) project.
The EAAL highlights the need to raise
awareness and increase participation
in adult learning. The project is funded
by the Erasmus+ programme of the
European Union and co-financed by the
Department of Education and Skills,
through SOLAS.
Since 2012, AONTAS – along with
partners NALA (The National Adult
Literacy Agency) and ETBI – have been
involved in carrying out activities under
the EAAL Project: AONTAS managed
the One Step Up initiative, NALA were
responsible for the training of Learner
Ambassadors, and ETBI promoted adult
learning activities at a local level.
In 2014, AONTAS was nominated by
the Department of Education and Skills
to become the National Coordinator for
the implementation of the EAAL.
During the second phase of the
project, ETBs were one of the main
stakeholders and their involvement
was key to success. One of the main
activities included AONTAS supporting
each ETB to organise a promotional
event or produce a promotional tool,
for example, a video featuring learners
showcasing a range of education
opportunities within their service.
The ETBs were also instrumental in
engaging with learners who acted as
advocates at promotional events or
took part in promotional videos.
The building of relationships with
ETBs has been extremely important in
contributing to the success of the EAAL
project, especially at a time of radical
change and transformation in the Irish
further education and training sector.
The EAAL project gave an opportunity
for each ETB to benefit from the
promotional fund available and
supported them to carry out
promotional activities. AONTAS ran a
wide-ranging promotional campaign
that further highlighted the services
provided by ETBs.
One of the outcomes of the ETB
promotional activities included over
1,300 learners participating in events
organised by ETBs, with many of these
learners enrolling onto courses as a
result of attending events.
AONTAS has been successful in our
application for a further two-year project
(2015–2017), ‘Learning Today for a
Better Tomorrow’, which will continue
to build on our EAAL work to date. As
part of this, there will be continued
opportunities to highlight the valuable
work undertaken by ETBs.
Conclusion
The adult learning sector has faced
huge changes in recent years. However,
I believe that by collectively working
together, we can build a better further
education and training service that is
inclusive, equitable and supportive,
and enables people to fulfil their
educational aspirations.
Further information about AONTAS is
available at www.aontas.com, www.
facebook.com/AONTASAdultlearning
or by following @aontas on Twitter.
Section 1 | National and European Events issue 3 – 2016 ETBI 33