Learning for a better world

Ahead of Adult Learners’ Week 2013 which begins on Saturday, Grundtvig senior project manager, Ieva Mais, visited the NIACE Learning for a Better World Conference in Cardiff.

Learning for a better world

I attended the Learning for a Better World conference organised by NIACE in Cardiff on 28-29 April. It brought together practitioners, policy makers, researchers and adult learners from several European countries to discuss the UK’s contribution to the Agenda in three main areas:

• Linking adult learning to wider social and economic policy
• Raising awareness of the value of adult learning
• Increasing participation of low skilled adults in learning and the wider society

One of the big questions asked by David Hughes, the Chief Executive of NIACE, was:

how do we motivate people to participate in learning and convince them that it’s a positive thing?

Adult learning practitioners, researchers and adult learners do not need to be persuaded that learning in later life positively contributes to our wellbeing, social integration and employability. Nevertheless, how do we inspire adults to take up learning if, for example, they didn’t have good experiences in their initial education?

Learning and the wider society

We don’t need to look too far for inspiring examples of how formal or informal learning can positively change people’s lives. For example, a heartwarming Silver Lining project video played by Shaun Hegarty form the Sage Gateshead  showed elderly in a residential care home reminiscing, dancing and singing accompanied by ukulele instruments played by project volunteers, care staff and family members.

The project, run by the Sage Gateshead in partnership with NIACE and the Adult and Community Learning Fund, brought together professional musicians, volunteers and care staff to support people with dementia to access forgotten memories through songs. According to Shaun, a split second when a personality of someone with dementia suddenly comes back to how they were before is priceless.

The value of adult learning

An overarching discussion throughout the conference was opportunities to learn should be available to everyone and that adult educators need to make a better case for investment in the sector.

Ricarda Motshilnig, Policy Officer from the European Association for the Education of Adults, EAEA, presented the EU-funded project entitled Wider Benefits of Lifelong Leaning (BeLL) that will be looking at relationship between learning and concrete benefits it brings for the wellbeing of the participants and the societies they live in. Ricarda called the conference participants for more research-based evidence to support the EAEA in their role of policy advocacy for lifelong learning at the European level.

What do you think?

We really do like to hear about your projects, so get in touch if you would like to share your experiences of adult learning through Grundtvig , or any other project activity by tweeting us @llpukecorys.