Widening participation in adult education Friday, May 18, 2012 - 09:00

A national policy conference to explore current and emerging challenges and approaches to widening participation in adult education, was held by NIACE and The Open University on Tuesday 15 May, as part of Adult Learners' Week (12-18 May 2012).

The conference was one of a series of national events to celebrate Adult Learners' Week (12 - 18 May 2012), the first being a national ceremony for award winners held in London on Monday 14 May, which received a message of support Rt Hon David Cameron MP, Prime Minister and Conservative Party Leader:

"Adult learning is part of this country's life-blood. Every year millions of vocational learners, apprentices and other adult learners develop important skills that contribute to the economic recovery and promote growth in our country."

"Adult Learners' Week is our largest annual celebration of adult learning in all its forms, reminding us that new knowledge and skills can open up new horizons and new chances in life, creating new bonds across communities and between people of all ages, backgrounds and heritages. I would like to congratulate the outstanding individual learners and inspiring learning projects that have been nominated and receive awards. I hope their example will inspire as many people as possible to go out and see how learning can change their own and their families' lives for the better."

Those who attended Widening participation in adult education: vision, reality and policy were amongst the first to hear the findings of NIACE's 2012 annual participation survey, which tracks the current and recent participation of adults in all types of learning.

The conference included inputs from John Hayes MP, Minister of State for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning, as well as responses from Gordon Marsden MP and Baroness Sharp of Guildford.

Delegates also heard from a range of speakers including:

• David Hughes, Chief Executive, NIACE (co-chair)
• Will Swann, Director, Students, The Open University (co-chair)
• Rajay Naik, Director, Government and External Affairs, The Open University
• Ruth Spellman, Chief Executive, Workers' Educational Association
• Michelle Dawson, Community Manager, Hammerson plc
• Dr. Fiona Aldridge, Head of Workplace Learning, NIACE

Will Swann, Director, Students, at The Open University, said:

"We are delighted to be supporting Adult Learners' Week to celebrate the achievements of adult learners and to highlight the importance of widening participation in education. Widening participation is at the very heart of The Open University's mission and since the University was set up 43 years ago, 1.7 million people have studied with us. Currently, 37 per cent of students are studying part-time to develop themselves professionally and personally. We are proud to have helped so many achieve their educational dreams and hope that this year's Adult Learners' Week inspires many more to take up studying."