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Putting the life back into adult learning - a manifesto for change
On Wednesday 9th March around fifty learners, community activists and education workers from the North of England came together in Manchester to produce a manifesto to put the life back into adult learning. This manifesto has now been published by the Workers’ Educational Association (WEA).
Discussion at the meeting, which was facilitated by NIACE and supported by the WEA, was lively and invigorating. Everyone agreed that adult learning matters because it gives people the knowledge, belief and confidence to change things – in their own lives and for the wider benefit of their communities and workplaces.
Download the Manifesto here (PDF file)
PDF Help
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Joint NIACE/OECD Conference Offers International Perspective on adult learning in the UK
Some of the leading figures in adult education will be assembled at a conference in London on Monday 9th May 2005.
Organised by the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) and the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD), the International Trends in Lifelong Learning and their Implications for the UK, Conference will provide an opportunity for policy-makers and practitioners to reflect on the implications of international developments for adult learning policy and delivery in the UK.
Alan Tuckett, Director of NIACE, said:
“This conference is a key development for everyone involved in adult learning. The OECD wants to promote its view of lifelong learning in the UK and the UK’s comparative performance against other OECD countries. This is going to prove critical in defending adult learning over the next 3 or 4 years. This will be one of the most important conferences of the year.”
The conference will review the Centre for Educational Research and Innovation’s (CERI) recent work on recent work on lifelong learning, looking specifically at its development of futures thinking, the implications of brain science for lifelong learning, and its work to strengthen evidence based policy-making. Research into the benefits of learning will also be discussed.
Conference speakers include:
 | Tom Schuller, Head of the Centre for Educational Research and Innovation, OECD; |
| John Field, Deputy Principal, University of Stirling |
| Ursula Howard, Director NRDC, Institute of Education |
| Andrew Pollard, ESRC University Cambridge, Director – Teaching and Learning Research Programme |
| Beatriz Pont, Analyst, OECD Directorate |
| Janice Shiner, Director General, Lifelong Learning, DfES |
| Chris Humphries, Director General, City and Guilds |
| Alan Smith, Director for Education, DG Education and Culture, European Commission. |
The International Trends in Lifelong Learning and their Implications for the UK Conference will take place at One Whitehall Place, Whitehall, London SW1A 2HD.
Click here for more information or to apply online
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NIACE evidence highlighted in the Report of Lord Griffiths' Commission on Personal Debt
NIACE has made an important contribution to the work of the Commission on Personal Debt led by Lord Griffiths of Fforestfach.
In the recently published report, an entire chapter is given over to Financial Education, which the Commission saw as a particularly important element in dealing with personal finance problems.
The NIACE evidence was given by Howard Gannaway, NIACE Research Fellow in Financial Education, whose work is supported by Prudential plc and who attended a meeting of the Commission in London. The Commission's report is one of the most comprehensive examinations of personal debt to emerge in recent years and will undoubtedly be of great use to policy makers.
The members of the Commission gathered evidence from office based interviews, written submissions and visits to housing estates to meet tenants. One of the Commission's recommendations from their work on Financial Education is that money education should form part of the post-14 core curriculum, which has also been recommended in the Tomlinson Report.
Click here to download Lord Griffiths' full
report (PDF file)
PDF Help
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The UK’s Largest Festival of Adult Learning is on the way
The countdown has begun to the start of the largest festival of adult learning in the UK. Adult Learners’ Week, which runs from 21st – 27th May 2005 and is organised by the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE), is the perfect opportunity for adults to embark on learning journeys to transform their lives.
During Adult Learners’ Week, there will be thousands of events across the country, with people learning in colleges, local shops and supermarkets, factories and businesses, libraries and museums, community centres and adult education colleges.
The Week is also the time to celebrate the achievements of adult learners – young and old and in all their diversity – through the Adult Learners’ Week Awards. The adults NIACE celebrate are fascinating and inspirational examples of how learning really can transform your life – and the lives of others around you.
Rachel Thomson, Senior Campaigns Officer at NIACE, said:
“Each Adult Learners’ Week proves - through hearing the stories of the outstanding learners we celebrate through our awards - that learning is good for you health, your self-esteem and your career. And these stories really do inspire others to follow in their footsteps.”
She continued, “Whatever you want to achieve in life, learning can steer you in the direction you want to go in. With thousands of events taking place across the country, this is the perfect time to find out how learning could unlock the door to your future. To find out more about what’s on offer where you are during this year’s Adult Learners’ Week, visit our website www.alw.org.uk or call learndirect free on 0800 100 900.”
| Source: NIACE Press Release: " The UK’s Largest Festival of Adult Learning is on the way (PDF file) Released On 17/04/2005 |
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World War II focus for rural learning campaign
With the 60th anniversary of VE Day approaching, the organisers of the largest celebration of adult learning in the UK – the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) - are hoping to encourage more people to engage in learning through events, being held at National Trust properties across the West Midlands, with a World War II theme, ranging from rural crafts to family history.
As a prelude to the hundreds of learning events that will take place during Adult Learners’ Week (21st – 27th May), NIACE has organised several celebrations looking at life during World War II. The first of these starts this weekend (16th –17th April) in Herefordshire at Berrington Hall, with others to follow in Worcestershire and Shropshire.
Jo Knight, West Midlands Promotions Co-ordinator for NIACE, said:
“Learning can take place anywhere and at any time but what kick starts our learning journeys depends on our curiosities and inspirations. Learning about our history, especially if it links directly to our family, acts as a catalyst for so many people to pursue different interests.”
She continued, “These events will give a different focus to learning about World War II because they will look back at how civilians lived during wartime. We’ll cover topics from farming and food production to nursing and health care. By discovering what happened during the war, by looking back into the past, we hope to inspire people – young and old and in all their diversity - to venture more confidently into the 21st Century.”
Janice Miller, Assistant Archivist, The Co-operative College, said:
"This is giving us a great opportunity to show visitors the wealth of material in the National Co-operative Archive relating to every aspect of life on the Home Front - rationing, photographs, wartime recipes, packaging etc and also hear peoples' memories of the co-operative movement.”
Sarah Franklin, Shropshire Network Officer for Women In Rural Enterprise (WIRE), said:
“I am pleased that WIRE are taking part in the Rural Learning Campaign. A number of WIRE members will be exhibiting at the events at Attingham and Croome where we will be comparing current business activity with similar enterprise during the war. Visitors will be able to meet a diverse mix of creative and interesting businesswomen whilst learning about different aspects of Women at War - from Social Change and the Land Girls to Fashion and Home Furnishings in the 1940’s.”
| Source: NIACE Press Release: " World War II focus for rural learning campaign (PDF file) Released On 15/04/2005 |
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Roles of Learning Support Workers
NIACE is a member of an advisory body for a new research project which the Learning and Skills Development Agency (LSDA) is funding on the roles of learning support staff across the Learning and Skills Sector.
The work includes a survey of providers and interviews with teachers, learning support workers and learners. It aims to build an account of how learning support works in different post-16 contexts and will suggest strategies for evaluating its effectiveness.
The project is scheduled to run from April 2005 to March 2006 and is led by Jocelyn Robson at the Institute for Policy Studies in Education at London Metropolitan University.
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Using Technology for Innovative Adult Learning
Two conferences, organised by the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE), investigating experimental and innovative project work in the use of technology in adult learning, are taking place in Bristol and Leeds on Thursday 14th and Thursday 21st April 2005 respectively.
The Innovative e-learning Projects in Adult and Community Learning Conferences will bring together 32 different projects to share experiences through showcasing and celebrating their innovation.
The 32 projects - who have been funded through the TrEACL (Technology to Enhance Learning in Adult and Community Learning) funding stream - took place throughout the country, in urban and rural settings. Projects included:
| those targeting hard to reach learners; |
| using digital photography, interactive whiteboards and digital video; |
| using technological tools for learner self-assessment e.g. languages and Skills for Life; |
| using technology to record achievement and progress, e.g. blogging and the creation of digital diaries; |
| using technology to support learning outside the classroom e.g. development of modern language CDs; |
| using technology to showcase learners’ work – online and on CD and online courses e.g. creative writing, Spanish, permaculture and parenting. |
Alastair Clark, Development Officer, NIACE ICT and Learning Team, said:
“One of the most important aspects of experimental and innovative project work is the sharing of experience – learning from things that went well as well as identifying what could have been done differently. And that’s what these conferences are all about. Workshops will feature presentations from projects around the themes of content creation, new delivery methods, new ways of providing learner support, and wired and wireless infrastructure in learning provision. There are some really great examples of adult tutors discovering new and exciting ways to enhance their learning with appropriate use of technology.”
| Source: NIACE Press Release: " Using Technology for Innovative Adult Learning (PDF file) Released On 13/04/2005 |
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Projects gain funds to promote adult learning
Eighteen projects from across the country have been selected to receive funding of up to £1000 from the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) - supported by the European Social Fund (ESF) - to run activities to engage more and different adults in learning as part of Adult Learners’ Week 21st – 27th May 2005.
The successful projects - who were chosen from almost 100 who applied for funding - are, Adult Education Soham, BME Lone Parents from Islington, Council of the Isles of Scilly, Eccles College in Salford, Everything’s Possible in Leeds, Guild Care in Worthing, Haltwhistle Partnership in Northumberland, Hamp Community Association in Bridgwater, Ice and Fire Theatre Company in London, Leeds Library and Information Service, Norwich International Cultural Integration, Portsmouth Foyer, Positive Participation in Wolverhampton, The Single Homeless Project in London, Spacex in Exeter, Swindon Learning Ambassadors, Wayland Partnership in Norfolk and Willow North Hull Women’s Centre.
Sica Martinez, Publicity Co-ordinator at NIACE, said:
“Adult Learners’ Week is the perfect time to attend events and find out how learning can transform your life. One of the aims of The European Social Fund is to help people who need additional support to enter jobs, improve their skills, and develop their potential at work. Ultimately these grants, for Adult Learners’ Week, can provide support to organisations, who creatively help some of the most excluded people in society achieve those aims.”
| Source: NIACE Press Release: " Eighteen projects gain funds to promote learning to more and different adults (PDF file) Released On 12/04/2005 |
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Have A Go And Write About It - Inspirational Big Book Tour Success
A giant mobile book toured the English regions, giving local people a unique opportunity to unleash their creativity and get writing. The big book tour electronically captured pieces of inspiring writing from people as part of Write About It - a national writing campaign created by NIACE, the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education.
Write About It aims to enthuse adults to write about their lives and their interests in ways that are creative, imaginative and fun. By focusing on creative writing, rather than reading or form filling, this campaign hopes to encourage people who don’t think they can write to have a go.
Toby Walker, Campaign Co-ordinator of Write About It, said:
“We are really pleased with the response we’ve received from the public, we’ve had adults of all ages who have been really enthusiastic about taking part. Everyone has something to write about, we all have experiences that we want to share - perhaps a memorable holiday or our favourite football team winning against all the odds. We hope this campaign has helped adults to express themselves by putting a pen to paper and having a go at writing about it.”
The book tour, supported by the European Social Fund and the Department for Education and Skills, started in Carlisle on March 16th. By March 31st the book had visited hundreds of people in towns and cities across the country before concluding in Bournemouth. The pieces of writing it has collected not only provides some real insights into our everyday lives but the creativity people will have discovered could open up all sorts of new possibilities.
> PDF file showing what people wrote on the giant book (PDF Help)
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