Meeting the Policy Agenda
Adult Learners’ Week is built on a simple formula, copied now in nearly 50 countries across the world. Existing learners in all their diversity inspire others to give learning a go. The key messages – that learning is good for your health, your self-esteem and your employability – are backed by solid evidence. There is plenty of passion for learning once it is unlocked – and one person’s confidence spreads swiftly from one to others. There is a growing acceptance that learning contributes to successful economies – stimulating families and communities alike. Right across Europe there is a determination by governments, including our own, to embed lifelong learning and the outstanding adult learners celebrated during Adult Learners’ Week are key ambassadors for the realisation of that vision.
Adult Learners’ Week – the national dimension
NIACE, the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education, is the
largest organisation working to promote the interests of learners
and potential learners in England and Wales and, since 1992, we have
brought together a diverse range of private, public and voluntary
bodies to celebrate learners and recognise their achievements during
Adult Learners’ Week. Through high-profile media campaigns,
conferences and parliamentary activity, the Week is an important
means of showcasing the ways in which we can create and maintain a
more skilled and knowledgeable workforce whilst at the same time
building learning communities in which people can explore shared
enthusiasms and work together as active citizens.
The Week has the backing of the Department for Education and Skills
and the European Social Fund and is also supported nationally and
locally by a raft of prestigious organisations as diverse as
national non-governmental organisations, commercial companies,
supermarkets, distance learning providers, museums, libraries,
broadcasters and adult education funding bodies.
With events taking place across the country – in shops, cafes,
museums, libraries, prisons, colleges and parks – and with a
dedicated telephone helpline for learners which receives up to
20,000 calls during the Week, the benefits of taking part in
courses, events and activities during Adult Learners’ Week are
highlighted to a huge range of audiences – young and old – in
communities the length and breadth of the country.
Adult Learners’ Week – the regional and local dimensions
NIACE exists to encourage more and different adults to engage in
better quality learning of all kinds and campaigns for – and
celebrates the achievements of – adult learners.
Strong regional and sub-regional networks have been developed to
support Adult Learners’ Week. Groups consisting of practitioners
from all sectors, media people, representatives from Learning
Partnerships, prison education and Government Offices - amongst
others - meet to consider how to maximise the national promotional
campaigns at local or regional levels.
NIACE contracts with regional personnel to ensure the promotional
work of Adult Learners’ Week takes place in each Government Office
region and a further regional perspective has been developed by
NIACE through its Regional Development Officers in each region.
Briefings and materials are distributed to these personnel to pass
on through meetings, conferences and local contacts.
The breadth of NIACE’s Adult Learners’ Week promotional work
Specific objectives are to:
-
engage 30,000 participants in events organised as part of Adult Learners’ Week by Further Education centres, Higher Education institutions, adult & community learning, business and voluntary sectors, unions and local government;
-
promote the free helpline service to encourage progression to more structured forms of learning;
-
receive 20,000 calls to the helpline relating to Adult Learners’ Week;
-
survey participants and callers to gather information about their progression or intentions to progress to further learning opportunities;
-
stimulate the demand for learning through awards and case studies – using learners and providers as advocates to encourage target groups including the low-skilled, unemployed and low-paid and those with few or no qualifications and spreading positive motivational messages about learning;
-
write, produce and distribute press packs for national and regional press, television and radio;
-
2,000 press articles to appear in local, regional and/or national press;
-
secure coverage on the major national broadcast channels together with both independent and BBC local radio;
-
engender new partnerships and support emerging policies, using existing and new networks as conduits for information and support;
-
organise and promote national award ceremonies during Adult Learners’ Week and other high-profile policy events/conferences during the year, securing Ministerial attendance as appropriate; and
-
produce and distribute publicity material nationally (newsletters, posters, flyers etc) promoting Adult Learners’ Week – both in hard copy form and on the campaigns website.
2007 marks the sixteenth Adult Learners’ Week and the overall purposes of the campaign are to raise demand for learning and skills and to support the Skills Strategy more widely – particularly given the UK’s commitment to the Lisbon Goals to make the EU the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world and a socially inclusive community.
In addition, NIACE’s campaign:
-
encourages target groups including low-skilled, unemployed and low-paid adults and those with few or no qualifications to participate in learning and spread positive motivational messages about learning; and
-
seeks to encourage providers to engage the most isolated and excluded learners (including prisoners and residents of other secure settings; people with health problems, disabilities and/or learning difficulties; refugees and survivors of torture; minority ethnic communities; older people) in activities that develop social and employment skills, confidence and ambition.