Today AONTAS announced the winners in its annual STAR Awards and Belfast Recovery College was the winner in the Learner Voice category. The award is in recognition of their “Making Silent Voices Heard”, a unique Learning and Leadership Initiative that places the Learner Voice at the core of the college. Through advocacy and building learner...
Launch of the Learn Well, Live Well Report
On 24th February the Impact Forum and Belfast Learning City held the online launch of their joint publication, Learn Well, Live Well: adult learning and health and wellbeing. We were delighted to have messages of support from the two Junior Ministers, Gary Middleton and Declan Kearney. We also heard from Raúl Valdés-Cotera (UNESCO UIL) author...
Building back bolder: learning for life in post-pandemic Britain.
The Centenary Commission on Adult Education has organised two debates to be chaired by former Speaker, John Bercow. On Monday 8th March, 6-7 p.m., the question will be Why does adult education matter now? John Bercow will discuss this question with: Lord (David) Blunkett, former Secretary of State for Education and Home Secretary Helen Chicot, Place Integration Lead at...
Network of Adult Learning Across Borders (NALAB)
As part of the AONTAS-led events for the 2021 AONTAS Adult Learners’ Festival, this policy event will bring the members of the Network for Adult Learning Across Borders (NALAB), Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales, together to discuss our shared vision for educational equality and explore the variety of approaches taken by each in...
Levelling up Adult Community Education
A new report out on provision in England looking at the data available and making recommendations for government, local government and adult community education providers. Very interesting set of recommendations, including – Establish a branded adult education centre in everytown. Planning rules should promote multi-usecommunity centres which can be used as outreachposts for adult education....
Launch of Learn Well, Live Well Report
The Learn Well, Live Well: adult learning and health and wellbeing report has been produced over the past few months as part of the UK programme for the European Agenda on Adult Learning (managed by the Learning and Work Institute). It has been compiled and edited by the NI Impact Forum on Adult Learning and...
Two Belfast nominations for STAR Awards
Belfast Metropolitan College – shortlisted for Social Inclusion (large organisations) The Centre for Childhood Studies at Belfast Metropolitan College, alongside the Ashton Centre and numerous other partners within the wider LEMUS project, aimed at bringing unemployed adult community learners of all ages together, from a range of religious and cultural backgrounds, across all four corners...
Higher skills ambition needed for Northern Ireland
Yesterday saw the launch of a new report from the Learning and Work Institute, commissioned by the Open College Network NI – A higher skills ambition for Northern Ireland: Skills for growth and social inclusion. Stephen Evans, Chief Executive of the Learning and Work Institute, said: “The importance of learning and skills have been heightened...
Save the Date
The first conference of NALAB will take place online on Friday 5th March, as part of AONTAS‘ Adult Learners Festival 2021 #BetterTogether. There will be contributions from all five nations. More information on content and registration details will follow.
Forthcoming Publication
In partnership with Belfast Learning City and as part of the UK EAAL Programme, the Forum will be shortly producing a report on adult learning and health and wellbeing – Learn Well, Live Well