FAQs
Q. What is Adult Learners'
Week?
A. Adult Learners' Week is quite simply the UK's largest and
longest running not-for-profit learning celebration.
Q. What does Adult Learners' Week do?
A. Adult Learners' Week encourages thousands of adults, whatever
their age and background, to give learning a go: whether it's
learning for pleasure, catching up on skills missed out on at school
or getting that new job or promotion. It also celebrates the
learning achievements of those adults already learning and brings
their inspirational stories to a wider audience.
Q. So, who organises Adult Learners' Week?
A. Adult Learners' Week began in 1992 as a collaborative venture
between education and training providers, broadcasters and national
and local government. It is co-ordinated by NIACE, the National
Institute of Adult Continuing Education, and is supported by the
Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills and the European
Social Fund. It has additional support from learndirect and Ofcom..
Q. What else can you tell me about NIACE?
A. NIACE has been in existence since 1921 and promotes adult
learning in every way imaginable. The Institute is especially
interested in advancing the interests of adult learners and
potential learners. NIACE's strategic plan commits it to:
"support an increase in the total numbers of adults engaged in formal and informal learning in England and Wales; and at the same time to take positive action to improve opportunities and widen access to learning opportunities for those communities under-represented in current provision."
For more information visit NIACE's website
Q. How can Adult Learners' Week help me?
A. Adult Learners' Week has been helpful to many different types
of people and organisations. The most obvious being adult learners,
adult education organisations but also employers and businesses.
For example, Adult Learners' Week is an opportunity for all
organisations that offer any form of adult learning activity to
either present a special promotional activity, or to label their
existing learning activities as 'Adult Learners' Week' activities.
With its nationwide promotional campaign and its high profile
activities, Adult Learners' Week offers organisations a framework
within which to promote what they do.
Q. What are the benefits for employers and businesses?
A. Training activity leads to improved business performance. The CBI
(Confederation of British Industry) recently estimated that poorly
educated staff is costing the UK economy up to £10 billion a year.
By getting involved in Adult Learners' Week employers can improve
the productivity of their business, face up to the skills shortage
and contribute to the general well being and happiness of their
staff all at the same time.
Q. What are the Adult Learners' Week Awards?
A. Each year NIACE seeks out the stories of the most remarkable
adult learners in the UK - those whose stories will especially
inspire others to give learning a go. There are four main types of
awards: Individuals, families, groups and projects.
Q. On what criteria are the Adult Learners' Week awards
judged?
A. Adults that have shown extra special creativity, imagination
and/or energy in their learning experiences are the best candidates.
Q. What do the winners receive?
A. Well, that depends on the category they were nominated for.
Prizes range in value from £200 to £1500.
Q. So, is Adult Learners' Week just celebrated in the UK?
A. Not at all. In fact, the Week is now celebrated in over 40
countries around the globe.
You
can find out more about Adult Learners' Week overseas here