1. Seirbhísí Aosoideachais VEC Adult Education Service. Eithne Nic Dhonnchadha Adult Education Officer Co. Galway VEC

2. Ethos/ Vision/ Mission. To create learner centred educational opportunities in line with economic growth which will sustain communities into the future. Nathaniel Gage reminds us of importance of acting on the findings of our educational research as it is ‘no mere spectator sport, no mere intellectual game it has ‘moral obligations’ especially to those children/adults who need our support, those at risk, those whose potential for a happy and productive life is all too often going desperately unrealized.’ Nathaniel Lees Gage (1917 - August 17, 2008)

3. VEC Adult Education Service. “ For the purpose of this Act the expression “ continuation education” means education to continue and supplement education provided in elementary schools and includes general and practical training in preparation for employment in trades, manufacture, agriculture, commerce, and other industrial pursuits,and also general and practical training for improvement of young persons in the early stages of such employment” Vocational Education Act 1930. In our current economic climate this is more pertinent than ever.

4. Key Questions for us as Educators Who? Who are we providing the courses for? What? What level are the courses at? Where? Where are the courses being delivered? When? When are the courses being delivered? Why? Are they addressing a need ?

5. VEC Adult Education Service VEC ADULT EDUCATION SERVICE ADULT GUIDANCE SERVICE BACK TO EDUCATION INITIATIVE (BTEI) COMMUNITY EDUCATION SERVICE SENIOR TRAVELLER TRAINING CENTRE EVENING CLASS PROVISION VOCATIONAL TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES SCHEME VTOS YOUTHREACH ADULT LITERACY SERVICE

6. What is Adult Education? – VECs Training for Transformation in a Local Setting. – Thinking globally and acting locally.

7. Grundtvig learning Partnership Purpose – to share experiences To explore future collaborations

8. What Methodologies do we Employ? Reflective Practice Restorative Justice Experiential Learning Blended Learning

9. VEC Adult Education Service POLICY FRAMEWORK Informing Our Work Memorandum on Lifelong Learning (Lisbon Agenda) – White Paper on Adult Education – National Skills Strategy (FORFÁS) – National Development Plan (2007 – 2013) – Towards 2016

10. VEC Adult Education Service KEY ELEMENTS OF PROVISION – Integrated and Responsive – Flexibility of Delivery – Certification (FETAC) Levels 1 – 6 NFQ – Quality Assurance – Support Structures – Progression – Partnership Approach

11. Our Challenge According to the OECD’s thematic review of adult education in nine countries published earlier in November 2003, “the development of democratic values and the improvement of skills to participate in the labour market are all stated as vital reasons for government participation in adult learning”. ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP, ADULT LEARNING AND ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP, LIFELONG LEARNING AND ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP, Key note speech, By Michela Cecchini, EAEA Conference, November 2003