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About NIACE
What is NIACE?
NIACE (National Institute of Adult Continuing Education) exists to encourage
more and different adults to engage in learning of all kinds. We campaign for –
and celebrate the achievements of – adult learners, young and old, and in all
their diversity. NIACE is the largest organisation working to promote the
interests of learners and potential learners in England and Wales. NIACE (The National Institute of Adult Continuing Education - England and
Wales) is a non-governmental organisation working for more and different adult
learners.
NIACE Aims
NIACE's formal aim is:
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Less formally, we interpret this to mean advancing the interests of adult learners and potential learners. Our strategic plan commits NIACE 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."
Who we are
NIACE began in 1921 as the British Institute for Adult Education: it is a
voluntary organisation, a charity and company limited by guarantee owned by its
members. We have a broad-based membership, with individual and
corporate members, ranging from universities, colleges and local authorities to the BBC,
the National Federation of Women’s Institutes, the Trades Union Congress and Ofcom.
The British Film Institute, the Arts Council and the Basic Skills Agency all
grew out of Institute initiatives. NIACE headquarters are in Leicester and
Cardiff and the organisation employs more than 300 staff.
In 2007, the Basic Skills Agency (BSA) merged with NIACE and will work in alliance with Tribal. The resulting Alliance for Lifelong Learning forms the country's leading concentration of expertise in literacy, language and numeracy across all age ranges.
What we believe
Through adult learning, we can create and maintain a more skilled and
knowledgeable workforce whilst building learning communities in which people can
explore shared enthusiasms and work together as active citizens. There is now
solid evidence that learning is good for your health, your self-esteem and your
employability. There is plenty of passion for learning once it is unlocked – and
one person’s confidence spills over onto others. People are excluded from
learning because of unfair structures and policies and we recognise the need to
fight for equality of opportunity for all adults.
What we do
NIACE works to support an increase in the total numbers of adults
participating in formal and informal learning in England and Wales, and we also
want to ensure that the quality of their learning experiences is the highest
possible. In particular, NIACE aims to:
 | encourage adults – especially people whose skill levels are low, who are unemployed or low-paid or who have few or no qualifications – to participate in learning and spread positive motivational messages about learning; and |
| 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, minority ethnic communities, older people – in activities that develop social and employment skills, confidence and ambition; and |
| support educational providers in developing high-quality provision for adults. |
How we work
NIACE seeks to influence the decision-makers who are responsible for the
policies which affect adult learning. We operate across all sectors of
post-compulsory education and training, and we work with other agencies as much
as we can to secure the interests of all adult learners. NIACE aims to achieve
its overall objectives by:
| influencing, monitoring and contributing to policy and practice; • promoting learning and strengthening the voice of learners; |
| acting in all sectors of adult education; and |
| working regionally, nationally and internationally. |
NIACE is a respected campaigning and advocacy organisation. We have strong links to adult education organisations in Europe and internationally, such as the European Association for the Education of Adults and the International Council for Adult Education
Who supports us
NIACE, and its Welsh arm, NIACE Dysgu Cymru, are core-funded by the
Department for Innovation Universities and Skills (formerly the Department for Education and Skills), the Learning and Skills Council, the Local
Government Association and the National Assembly for Wales. We undertake work
for local authorities, other Government Departments and agencies, voluntary
bodies, charitable trusts, adult education providers, unions, corporate
supporters and European funders. Right across Europe there is a determination by
governments, including our own, to embed lifelong learning. If you would like to
find out more about our work or support us towards the realisation of that
vision, please contact us on 0116 204 4200, e-mail
enquiries@niace.org.uk or visit our
website at www.niace.org.uk
How NIACE can help you
We offer:
| advocacy across the broad spectrum of adult learning policies; |
| consultancy, advice and support for your work; |
| research and development activities; |
| hundreds of conferences and seminars each year; |
| specialist information services; |
| promotional campaigns such as Adult Learners’ Week, the UK’s largest festival of learning; |
| publications, journals and resources from the leading UK publisher on adult learning; |
| links to practitioners, policy-makers and researchers: during 2004 over 1,000,000 people visited our website. |
Want to know more:
Please contact: Information Team, NIACE, 21 De Montfort Street, Leicester,
LE1 7GE.
Tel: +44 (0) 116 204 4200/1
Fax: +44 (0) 116 285 4514
Minicom: +44 (0) 116 255 6049
Website: www.niace.org.uk
Email: enquiries@niace.org.uk
NIACE Values
NIACE is the national, independent organisation for adult learning in England and Wales. As a registered charity, NIACE both represents and advances the interests of all adult learners and potential learners – especially those who have benefited least from education and training. NIACE fulfils its explicit commitment to more and different learners according to the following core values:
| The celebration and promotion of active learning as a necessary condition for personal growth, social change and economic development. |
| Equality of opportunity for all learners and those working on their behalf. |
| Professional reliability based on integrity and respect, quality and accountability, openness, honesty and leadership. |
| Political independence within the voluntary sector. |
| Democratic practice reflecting social justice and the opposition to discrimination and oppression. |
| International solidarity with those who share our commitment to adult learning in the wider world. |
| Consideration for the environment and for sustainable development in policies and practice. |
Equal Opportunities at NIACE
NIACE is the UK’s leading non-governmental organisation for adult learning. The main aim of NIACE is to promote the study and advancement of adult continuing education by securing more and different forms of adult learning for more and different adult learners, especially those who have benefited least from initial education.
NIACE activities are underpinned by our shared belief in the value of:
| The promotion of greater equity and social justice; |
| Inclusivity and celebration of diversity; |
| Helping people and communities use learning to give greater choice, empowerment and autonomy; |
| Helping people to become active and caring contributors to a democratic, pluralistic society; |
| Consideration for the environment and sustainable development. |
The active promotion of equal opportunities and diversity are indivisible from these values.
NIACE’s Equal Opportunities Policy sets out how NIACE intends to promote equality of opportunity, to celebrate diversity and to develop anti-discriminatory practices in its work.
| Statement of Intent The organisation’s explicit and public declaration of intent is: “To ensure that the work of NIACE promotes equality of opportunity, social justice, inclusion and celebration of diversity – especially in respect of people’s gender, disability, learning difficulty, age, race, colour, nationality, ethnicity, economic or marital status, HIV/AIDs status, trade union membership, sexuality, family circumstances, political or religious beliefs, language or culture” |
A copy of the full Equal Opportunities Policy is available from NIACE's Personnel Team on request. Please email your request to personnel@niace.org.uk
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Adult learning for all
A unique feature of NIACE is that its work crosses the sectoral boundaries of post-school education and training. It works in all fields of UK education and training, including local authority-organised provision, the further education college sector, higher education in universities and colleges of HE, work-based learning involving both employers and trade unions, learning in the voluntary sector and through the media, especially broadcasters.
NIACE has a particular concern for widening access to learning opportunities and increasing participation among those groups currently under-represented in education and training. We have specialist expertise in work with:
| Literacy, Language & Numeracy |
| Older learners |
| Learning through Information and Communication Technologies |
| Black and ethnic minority learners |
| Health and Disability Equality |
| Learning and the Voluntary Sector |
| Young Adult Learners |
| Women |
| Other research projects/programmes |
