AONTAS

The STAR Awards 2027 nomination round closes in three days. ⭐ It's not too late to put your initiative forward. The nomination round closes at 5pm on Friday 30th October. #STARAwards2027

The #FETLearnerForum gathers learners’ experiences through surveys and focus groups. Our Research Team brought findings from the Forum together in the Learner Voices Across Ireland 2025–26 report, launched at the #AONTASSummit2026 last week. Read the report ➡️ www.aontas.com/wp-content/u...

Could your group be the next STAR Awards winner in the Third-Level Access & Engagement category? ⭐ The closing date for nominations is 30th October 2026 at 5pm. Read the blog post written by our Membership and Digital Engagement Officer ➡️ www.aontas.com/the-people-b... #STARAwards2027

Our CEAD project has been nominated for a Media Literacy Award. 🌟 The Media Literacy Awards are run by Media Literacy Ireland and facilitated by Coimisiún na Meán. The winners will be announced on 11 November at Virgin Media Studios in Dublin. Read more ➡️ www.aontas.com/aontas-commu...

That’s a wrap for #AONTASSummit2026. Over 2 days, we heard new perspectives, shared ideas and explored the role of adult and community education in shaping a more inclusive, equal, and sustainable future. Thank you to everyone who contributed. The conversations don’t end here.

Day two of the AONTAS Adult Education Summit 2026 has begun. 🚀 We look forward to another day of sharing experiences, learning from different perspectives and considering how we can strengthen adult learning across Ireland and the EU. #AONTASSummit2026

That's a wrap from day one of the AONTAS Adult Education Summit 2026. 🎬 The conversations continue tomorrow. View the full agenda and brochure ➡️ www.aontas.com/wp-content/u... #AONTASSummit2026.

“I knew that community education was making a really powerful contribution to people's lives,” said Minister Marian Harkin TD during her opening address at the #AONTASSummit2026

The #AONTASSummit2026 begins now. 🙌 Over the next two days, we'll bring together learners, educators, researchers, policymakers, artists and changemakers from across Ireland and Europe to explore how adult and community education can help shape a more inclusive, equal and sustainable future.

In this blog post, our Community Education Officer, Lorraine O'Connor, reflected on the most recent Community Education Network Meeting. Read here ➡️ www.aontas.com/beyond-fundi... #CommunityEducationNetwork

Join us for the Writers’ Workshop to explore how to develop articles for The Adult Learner Journal 2027. Sign up here ➡️ www.eventbrite.ie/e/the-adult-... #TheAdultLearner2027

⏰ Two weeks left to submit your nomination for the AONTAS STAR Awards 2027! Nominations close on 30 October 2026 at 5pm. Find out more and submit your nomination ➡️ www.aontas.com/adult-learni... #STARAwards2027

As a member of @eaea.org, we stand alongside EAEA in calling for adult learning to remain a priority in the EU's long-term budget. Read EAEA's full response ➡️ eaea.org/2026/10/14/c...

Our Membership and Digital Engagement Officer, Brian Desmond, attended the recent Learn with NALA Awards and shared his reflections. Read the blog post ➡️ www.aontas.com/reducing-bar...

AONTAS stands in solidarity with our members and all other public sector workers taking industrial action.

“When we invest in the people furthest behind, everyone benefits,” said our CEO, @dearbhaillawless.bsky.social, who was quoted in a recent Irish Examiner feature on AONTAS. The article explores the value of lifelong learning and the need for greater investment in adult learning. 📰

Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung (BIBB) is hosting a Study Visit in Bonn, Germany to explore the implementation of the EU Pact for Skills. 🔗 Register now: www.na-bibb.de/registration...

Our most recent blog post explores the #STARAwards2027 Social Change category sponsored by the Department of Adult & Community Education at Maynooth University. The closing date for nominations is 30 October at 5pm. Read the blog ➡️ www.aontas.com/the-people-b...

In partnership with SOLAS, we are developing and administering an annual national FET learner survey. Last week, we held two webinars with more than 60 participants to share updates, outline next steps and gather feedback from our members. Read more ➡️ www.aontas.com/aontas-membe...

At the #AONTASSummit2026, Seán McCabe and Katlyne Armstrong from Bohemian Football Club will lead a workshop exploring community wealth building, an approach that emphasises local ownership, participation and decision-making. Join the waitlist at the AONTAS Adult Education Summit ➡️ lnkd.in/eEdPp374

At #AONTASSummit2026, Martha Bolger and Eve Cobain will facilitate a workshop exploring the potential for a FET Research Network — and invite participants to help shape the conversation around what that could mean in practice. Join the waitlist ➡️ www.eventbrite.ie/e/the-aontas...

#Budget2027 included some welcome measures, but it fell short of what is needed to support adult and community education and recognise the sector's wider contribution to society. Read our full response ➡️ www.aontas.com/what-does-bu...

Last week, our EU Projects Coordinator, Larisa Sioneriu, contributed to a panel at the Coimisiún na Meán workshop on the revision of the Media Literacy Policy, which explored the role of media literacy in sustaining democracy.

The #AONTASSummit2026 will explore the role of adult and community education in shaping a more inclusive, equal, and sustainable future. One session to look out for is "Adult Learning and Europe’s Future: Perspectives from across the EU." Register now ➡️ www.eventbrite.ie/e/the-aontas...

📣 Have your say on the future of FET learner voice! AONTAS is hosting two webinars to share updates on the new national FET learner survey and hear your feedback and ideas. Register for one of the sessions ➡️ www.aontas.com/events/natio... #FETSurvey

Last month AONTAS EU Projects Coordinator Larisa Sioneriu and Nick Doran, Education and Enterprise Coordinator with Sligo East City and Cranmore Regeneration Project facilitated a training in Sligo for adult educators on recognising and tackling disinformation. #NEAAL

This week our CEO @dearbhaillawless.bsky.social travelled to Strasbourg on behalf of EAEA to attend the General Assembly of CINGO at the Council of Europe. The discussions will inform AONTAS’s ongoing advocacy & the role of education in supporting democracy, participation and social inclusion.

We are now accepting submissions for the 2027 edition of The Adult Learner Journal. 📖 This year’s edition will explore how the adult and community education sector is responding to the climate crisis. The deadline to submit is 1st February. Learn more ➡️ www.aontas.com/research/adu... #ALJ2027

The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has published a new strategy setting out a vision for the future of tertiary education in Ireland. Read our response ➡️ www.aontas.com/a-new-strate...

Last week, our EU Projects Coordinator, Larisa Sioneriu, joined #NEAAL National Coordinators from across Europe in Brussels for the second National Coordinators Meeting. #NEAAL #AdultLearning #LifelongLearning

Our Community Education Officer, Lorraine O'Connor, attended the launch of Cork Simon Community learner Evelyn Mason's book at Cork City Hall earlier this month. Read Lorraine's reflections ➡️ www.aontas.com/celebrating-... #CEN #CommunityEducation #CommunityEducationNetwork

Bradley, one of 11 participants in the #LearnersAsLeaders 2026 Programme recently organised a Recovery Café with the The Bridge Project. This is a wonderful example of leadership in action, demonstrating how learners can use their experiences, initiative, and passion to make a meaningful impact.

It was a pleasure to welcome Wouter Gorissen and Eddy Demeersseman from Catholic Education Flanders on a recent #KA1 visit. We enjoyed learning more about their 8 adult education centres, the challenges and opportunities they face, and the very interesting #EUProjects they are involved in.

📢 Help shape the new National FET Learner Survey Join AONTAS for one of our upcoming online webinars to find out more about the new survey, hear the latest updates and share your feedback. 📅 7 October at 2pm 📅 9 October at 10am 💻 Online 👉 Register here: www.aontas.com/events/natio... #FET #Adult

Have you booked your place yet for this year's AONTAS Adult Education Summit? On Day 2, Felicia Hedström will be facilitating an interactive session, where participants can explore the Swedish folk high school system's teaching methods. Register now ➡️ www.eventbrite.ie/e/the-aontas... #AONTASSumm

How does #LearnerVoice contribute to democratic learning? This question was explored by a panel organised by our Head of Research, Thomas Murray, and Research Officer, Philip Finn, at the 4th International Conference of Scuola Democratica. Read Philip's reflections ➡️ www.aontas.com/sharing-lear...

💬 "Community education is one of the smartest investments we can make in people, our communities and our economy." AONTAS is calling on the Government to establish a €500,000 Shared Island Community Education Fund in our Pre-Budget Submission 2027. 📢 Read more: www.aontas.com/advocacy/bud... #

The Further Education cuts in Northern Ireland reduce access to essential adult and community education programmes that learners depend on. Read our full statement ➡️ www.aontas.com/aontas-state...

🌟 In case you missed it… the STAR Awards 2027 nomination round is now open! 🎉 Thinking about putting forward an outstanding adult learning initiative, project or individual? Now’s your chance! 🙌 👉 Find out more about the STAR Awards and how to nominate here: www.aontas.com/adult-learni... #STARAw

Our CEO @dearbhaillawless.bsky.social participated in the @eaea.org Board meeting in Dublin this week with @nalaireland.bsky.social, @maynoothuniversity.ie Dept of Adult & Community Ed, Galway City Partnership, and EU Presidency Unit to give recommendations on the EU’s new MFF, including Erasmus+.

📚 Adult Learner Journal Launch 2026 This year, the AONTAS Adult Learner Journal will launch at our Adult Education Summit 2026. 🎉 🤝 Join us on Day 2 with authors from Ireland’s leading peer-reviewed adult and community education publication. 🎟️ Tickets: lnkd.in/eiUXHEvd #AONTASSummit2026

The Community Education Network came together last week to explore our organisations’ training needs at the launch of the Training Links Programme. 🤝 Find out more about our Community Education Network here: www.aontas.com/adult-learni... #CommunityEducation #TrainingLinks #TheWheel #DFHERIS #Adul

Which category does your project fit into for the STAR Awards 2027? With six categories to choose from, our Membership and Digital Engagement Officer, Brian Desmond, is highlighting some of the projects previously nominated in the Social Inclusion category: www.aontas.com/the-people-b... #STARAwar

📣 Learner Voices Across Ireland Report 2026 Launch Day 1 of the AONTAS Adult Education Summit 2026 will see the launch of our latest Learner Voices Across Ireland report. 📚 Our research team will share the key findings.. 🎟️ Get your tickets: www.aontas.com/summit2026/

📣 Have your say on the future of FET learner voice! AONTAS is hosting two online webinars to share updates on the new national FET learner survey and hear your feedback and ideas. Join us to learn more about the survey and how you can help shape it. Register here: www.aontas.com/events/natio...

“Focusing solely on the economic function of adult learning risks failure if the social fabric surrounding it is fraying.” 🤝 Yesterday, our Head of Advocacy and Policy, Conor Thompson, took part in a panel discussion at the Centre for Cross Border Cooperation in Dundalk. #AdultLearning

STAR Awards 2027 nomination round is now open 🌟 We’re inviting adult learning initiatives across the island of Ireland to nominate their projects for a STAR Award. ✨ ➡️ Nominations are open until 30 October. Submit yours here: bit.ly/4hluLgC #STARAwards2027 #AdultLearning

🎶 Bringing Music to Day 2 🎶 We’re looking forward to welcoming Paul Kelly and John Ryan, two accomplished Irish musicians, to the AONTAS Adult Education Summit 2026. If you'd like to join us, tickets are available here: www.aontas.com/summit2026/

✨ Only one day to go until nominations open for the AONTAS STAR Awards 2027! 🌟 Tomorrow, Thursday 17 September, nominations will open for the biggest showcase of adult learning across the island of Ireland. 🎓✨ 🔗 Find all the details on how to nominate here: bit.ly/4qXgxFU #STARAwards2027 #AdultLe

Which category does your project fit in? 🌟 There are six main categories to enter for the STAR Awards 2027, including Social Change, Learner Voice and Global Citizenship Education. 🌍 Nominations open in just 2 days! ⏰ Explore the categories here: www.aontas.com/adult-learni... #STARAwards2027