By the end of the hour, enough interest was sparked that some learners were making plans to mark Bloomsday.     Luke kicked off the tour with a description of the building, which started as a Georgian townhouse before becoming the campus for the Catholic University of Ireland, and later University College Dublin. He showed us a photograph of one of the University’s most famous graduates, James Joyce, lounging against a tree with his classmates – and then pointed out the window to the Museum’s garden, where the self-same ash tree stands today. Naturally, that ..read more

It featured speeches and inputs from policymakers, adult learners, and educators, as well as Barbara’s presentation on our research findings into what is needed to better support adult learners, and potential adult learners, across the island of Ireland.  The research findings focus on the impact of the cost-of-living crisis and the housing crisis on learners, and also the gaps in Government funding for adequate and affordable State-funded childcare and transport costs. It also shows that information and processes on funding for adult and community education can be difficult to access, li ..read more

Based in the University of Limerick, CWELL helps people to manage their physical and mental wellbeing and empowers people to develop life skills to achieve their goals. To date, 55 students have graduated from the programme with a further 24 on it at the moment. Some people progress to further education and jobs. For other people, CWELL provides a grounding in better mental health, how to have a more active lifestyle and gain self-confidence and self-worth. Speaking with Oliver Callan live on radio, Mary described how she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) at age 46. A couple of years ..read more

This category is open to adult learning initiatives that help people with access into university or promote partnerships between higher education and local communities. Let’s take a closer look at the shortlisted initiatives for the category of Third-Level Access and Engagement.  Here are the nominees:  Community Wellness, Empowerment, Leadership and Lifeskills (CWELL) Diploma - University of Limerick  The Community Wellness, Empowerment, Leadership and Lifeskills (CWELL) diploma was designed with local communities in Limerick to address their needs including managing physi ..read more

This is the first of three such mobilities, with two more taking place this year. One of these will be specific to adult learners, many of whom have had little opportunity for learning of this sort in the past.    These 8 CEN members all work in community education with groups of people from under-resourced communities or people who are marginalised in our society.   Speaking about the project, our Community Education Officer Lorraine O’Connor said:  “This project is extremely important in providing a unique international learning experience for our members. On our job shad ..read more

Let’s take a closer look at the shortlisted initiatives for the category of Social Inclusion.  This category, which is sponsored by Open College Network Northern Ireland, is open to adult learning initiatives that support people to be included in and contribute to social and cultural life in their local communities.  Here are the nominees:   Digital Skills for Adults - Leitrim Library Service  The project addresses digital exclusion and unmet digital needs of adults living in County Leitrim. They offer one-to-one sessions in 8 library branches across County Leitrim eve ..read more

Let’s take a closer look at the shortlisted initiatives for the category of Learner Voice.  This category, which is sponsored by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), is open to adult learning initiatives is open to adult learning initiatives that have a real impact when they place the voice and experiences of the learner at the heart of their work, and how that can help other learners, communities, and influence education policy.     Here are the nominees:    Cork ETB Learners' Voices - Cork College of FET, Bishopstown Campus  Cork Education an ..read more

We held the meeting at NICVA, the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action, bringing together community education practitioners, policymakers, and all those interested in adult and community education to share practices and identify priorities for the sector.  We heard from four speakers, Emma Shaw of the Phoenix Education Centre; John Morgan from Recovery College, Belfast Trust; Pauline Kersten from the Conway Education Centre; and Nick Doran from Development Perspectives who spoke about the Global Citizenship Education strategic partnership programme SAOLTA.   S ..read more

Let’s take a closer look at the shortlisted initiatives for the category of Health and Wellbeing.  This category, which is sponsored by Mental Health Ireland, is open to adult learning initiatives that support increased health and wellbeing for participants, including mental and physical health, recovery from addiction, nutrition, and sports.  Here are the nominees:   Community Food Club - Dublin Northwest Partnership  The Community Food Club is a pilot initiative taking place in Ballymun Child and Family Resource Centre, which provides people and families with access ..read more

Let’s take a closer look at the shortlisted initiatives for the category of Global Citizenship Education.  This category, which is sponsored by SAOLTA, is open to adult learning initiatives that empower people into active citizenship roles in their own communities.  What is Global Citizenship Education?   Global Citizenship Education looks at making people more aware of the world around us, and what it means to be a global citizen. We might see ourselves as citizens of our country, but not necessary of the whole world. But there are big global challenges facing us, and this ..read more