11
Adult Learners’ Week
News Focus
Celebrating Adult
Learners’ Week under
the golden arches
The largest festival celebrating adult learning in the UK arrived last
month. Anita Peach explores some of the campaigns and issues
surrounding Adult Learners’ Week
O
rganised by the National Institute But despite the celebrations, a recent survey from a pool of 34,000 visitors, there
of Adult Continuing Education has revealed a very urgent need to continue is plenty of scope to encourage more
(NIACE), Adult Learners’ Week promoting adult learning, with a further fall employees to take up learning.
is a time when thousands of people in the number of learners in the past year.
consider a return to learning and begin The findings come from the annual Adult
Offering employees a host of qualifications
a journey that can completely transform Learners’ Week survey by NIACE and shows
and recently receiving awarding body
their lives for the better. the proportion of adults currently learning,
status, McDonald’s understands the
or having done so in the last three years,
importance giving people the opportunity
This is illustrated perfectly by the Adult
has fallen three per cent from 41 per cent
to develop at work.
Learners’ Week Award winners who
in 2007 to 38 per cent in 2008.
are recognised for their remarkable
“I think once people start learning they
achievements through learning. This year’s The survey illustrates there is also a sharp
want to learn more. It’s always been a big
awards will be presented to, amongst drop in the number of adults planning to
factor in our success that we have people
others, a former school cleaner who’s now take up learning in the future (45 per cent
who are not only engaged in their work,
a school teacher, a deaf man who has in 2006, 43 per cent in 2007, and 36 per
but motivated because they feel confident
completed his FA coaching qualifications cent in 2008).
in the job that they are doing. We pride
and now coaches the Royal Society for the
ourselves on equipping staff with skills that
Deaf football team and a 95-year-old man
Businesses need to ensure they are taking they can use later on in life, skills that are
who’s learning how to use computers.
this information on board and acting absolutely transferable,” she added.
on it. Those that have signed up for the
During last year’s Adult Learners’ Week Government’s skills pledge – to ensure that
over 8,000 learning events took place, employees reach at least Level 2 (equivalent
attracting around 100,000 visitors and to five good GCSEs), a key recommendation
participants. Events included; Medieval in the Leitch Review – must themselves
martial arts, singing, holiday languages, ensure they uphold that promise.
forensic science, welding for women,
horse riding and family history alongside
At McDonald’s, learning and
computers and digital photography, development has been high on the
creative writing and architectural drawing. agenda for some time now. “We signed
For more information on the McDonald’s
the skills pledge and so we’re looking
‘our lounge’ lifestyle website visit
Rachel Thomson, Senior Campaigns
for more ways that we can build on www.ourlounge.co.uk
Officer at NIACE, said, “Adult Learners’
that going forward,” said Sue Husband,
Week is the time for you to see the
Education Manager at McDonald’s.
NIACE is the leading non-government
positive impact that learning can have on
organisation for lifelong learning in
England, and exists to encourage more
your life. The remarkable stories of the During Adult Learners’ Week McDonald’s
and different adults to engage in better
inspirational learners we celebrate with has been promoting ‘our lounge’, a
quality learning of all kinds. Visit
our awards illustrate just how learning lifestyle website where staff can register
www.alw.org.uk or call learndirect free on
can completely transform your life for to learn and gain qualifications like maths 0800 100 900 for more information.
the better.” and English. With 3,000 registered learners
Learning Magazine
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