Adults Learning Throughout Life

Adult Learning Manifesto

Introduction

Northern Ireland’s education and learning systems are rightly lauded for their successes, however theyalso continue to fail to support many to reach their true potential.Evidence shows that those who initially succeed in education continue to access learning through their lives to progress further, but those who do not succeed in the schools system are highly unlikely ever to access learning again. Learning for adults is transformative, contributingto social justice, building social capital, and enabling all members of ourcommunity to bring about and shape change in their lives, the lives of their families and communities and the economic and cultural well being of our society.

We believe there should begreater opportunities for learning throughout life and a wider range of ways for adults to participate. The benefits of a lifelong learning society would be huge – stronger communities, better attainment by children, improved health, more tolerance and higher levels of well-being. Not to mention the economic benefits with investment in skills leading to higher productivity and successful enterprises.

Government needs to work with educational providers from across the sectors to build a culture of learning that embraces all citizens and their whole-life needs. The benefits of lifelong learning need to be recognised across all departments and they need to work together to achieve it.

Northern Ireland is unique in the UK in not having a resourced organisation to act as a voice for adult learners, build collaboration across sectors, support adult learning providers in terms of research and resources and coordinate an annual celebration of adult learning.

FALNI (Forum for Adult Learning in NI) has developed this manifesto after consultation with its members. FALNI was established in 2010 and is a network of organisations from across the sectors involved in adult learning. It seeks to facilitate discussion on adult learning and related issues, to lobby for greater recognition and resourcing and to celebrate adult learning achievements. Activities are largely carried out through the voluntary contributions of members.

FALNI members are doing what they can to address these needs, but we need your help to ensure that adult learners and learning providers in Northern Ireland receive support to fulfil their potential in contributing to the economic growth, health & wellbeing, stability and cultural creativity of our society.

Policy asks

  1. Establish a cross departmental working group

This group would develop an AdultLearning Strategy and follow through on implementation. Adult learning and its benefits cuts across several departments (e.g. Department of Health, Justice, Economy, Communities) and there needs to be a more coordinated approach to fully realise the benefits and potential impact on all areas of life. A similar approach should be taken with councils’ community plans, to recognise the cross-cutting and underpinning benefits of learning provision.

  1. Introduce a framework for adult learning.

The framework for adult learning would identify and map all opportunities for adults to access and progress learning across further and higher education, work based learning, community learning, peer and social learning, accredited and non-accredited provision. Adults should then be given appropriate support and guidance to navigate the system to achieve their economic, well-being or cultural goals.

  1. Redress the age imbalance inresourcing learning

There are age inequalities in terms of resourcing learningand providing fair access across all age-groups. While acknowledging the importance of investing in children and young adults, a slight shift of funding would recognise the significant societal changes in employment patterns and demography.

  1. Provide individual learning accounts.

Learn from the practice of the Scottish Government. ILAs would allow people to learn new things or upskill. This can help them get back into work, progress their career or make a change. ILAs are valuable for employers too, giving people the skills they need to enter, re-enter or progress in the workplace.

  1. Offer a career review for all adults

Research by the UK Commission on Employment and Skills shows that between 2008 and 2018 there are likely to be 13.5m jobs opening, but only 7 million new entrants to the labour market. People are working longer and changing jobs more often, yet adults have little access to advice and guidance about skills and careers. Personal mid-career/life reviews should be made available to bring together information on education and skills to help people decide what future skills development they need.

  1. Improve access to learning opportunities for families and communities.

We need to make learning accessible to everyone in the community. This could be done through better use of community assets and infrastructure, strengthening their function and reflecting their importance in the community. For example better use of libraries, community centres and schools as community learning hubs. This will impact positively on achievement across all ages.

  1. Recognition forequivalences and quality of provision

Consultation with providers and awarding bodies in terms of recognising equivalences in qualifications so that appropriate standards are set for funded provision. Recognition also that quality of learning is not restricted to formal and statutory providers.

  1. Support the promotion, research and advocacy of adult learning

Resources need to be invested to create an effective voice for adult learning and learners in NI, to bring us in line with our neighbours in the UK and Republic of Ireland. This organisation would work with government departments, build greater collaboration between learning providers, research the impact of and promote and celebrate adult learning.

List of all FALNI members

Action on Hearing Loss NI
Advice NI
Age Sector Platform
Ashton Community Trust
Association of Teachers & Lecturers
Ballybeen Women’s Centre
Ballymoney Community Resource Centre
Beacon Wellbeing
Belfast Central Mission
Belfast Metropolitan College (BMC)
Big Lottery Fund Northern Ireland
Blackie River Community Groups Association
Bryson Charitable Group
Chrysalis Women’s Centre
College of Natural Therapies and Self Development
Communication Workers Union
Communitus
Community Arts Partnership
Consumer Council
Conway Education Centre
Disability Action NI
Donegall Pass Community Forum
Footprints Women’s Centre
GEMS Northern Ireland Ltd
Graham-Bam Health Care Partnership
HSC Leadership / ICTU
Libraries NI
Limavady Volunteer Centre
NIAMH - Beacon Day Support
NICVA
NIPSA
Now Group
Oasis - Caring in Action
Open College Network Northern Ireland
Reed in Partnership
Shankill Women's Centre
South Eastern Regional College
Strabane & Lifford Women’s Centre
The Fermanagh Trust
The Open University
The Women’s Centre Derry
Ulster Teachers' Union
University and College Union
University of the Third Age (Newry)
University of Ulster
USDAW
Voluntary Arts Ireland
Wade Training
Windsor Women’s Centre
Women’s Centre Derry
Women’s Resource & Development Agency

For more information contact Colin Neilands, FALNI

References

  • Learning Through Life: Inquiry into the Future of Lifelong Learning NIACE 2009
  • Skills Development Scotland SDS Individual learning accounts
  • European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA) Manifesto for Adult learning in the 21st Century
  • Learning and Work Institute

Manifesto English.pdf