AONTAS

📘 Ahead of the 56th AONTAS Annual General Meeting, the AGM Pack is available online.

The pack includes everything you need to know before the AGM, including the agenda, Board nominations, voting information and key details for the day itself. We encourage all members attending to read through the pack in advance.

📆 3rd June
🕐 10 AM – 1 PM
📍 The Dean Docklands Hotel (formerly The Mayson)

We look forward to welcoming members next Wednesday for an important conversation on shaping the future direction of AONTAS.

Access the AGM Pack here ➡️
https://www.aontas.com/agm-2026/

As the ENHANCE project comes to a close, our final blog reflects on the journey, the partnerships built across Europe, and the importance of keeping learner voice at the centre of adult education.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the project and shared their experiences along the way.

European Association for the Education of Adults - EAEA, SOLIDAR+, Stichting ABC Limburg, Schweizerischer Verband für Weiterbildung, Färnebo folkhögskola, Das Kollektiv, CINOP Global

Read the blog:
https://www.aontas.com/when-learners-lead-reflecting-on-the-enhance-journey/

Our CEO Dearbháil Lawless was delighted to be featured in ELM Magazine speaking about the importance of learner voice in adult education.

As part of the project, AONTAS has been proud to work alongside EAEA and partners across Europe to support more learner centred approaches in adult and community education.

“By listening to learners, and getting those in power to listen to learners, we can showcase the power of adult education.”

Read the interview here: https://elmmagazine.eu/dearbhail-lawless-non-formal-adult-education-puts-learners-at-the-heart-of-resilience/

Dearbháil Lawless: “Non-formal adult education builds collective resilience” Non-formal adult education is key to Europe's collective resilience, and Ireland offers valuable lessons, says Dearbháil Lawless of AONTAS. Two priorities stand out: amplifying learners' voices and strengthening government support for community education.

Lorraine, our Community Education Officer, attended the launch of Community Education Network (CEN) member, Connections Arts Centre’s Connecting Artists and Collective Impact Report 2022–2026 this week 🎨

Held in CAC’s newly refurbished Hub in Rathgar, the event celebrated five years of supporting artists with intellectual disabilities and neurodivergent artists through creativity, inclusion, and community.

Keep an eye on our socials for Lorraine’s upcoming blog reflecting on the event and the impact of initiatives like this.

The AONTAS Annual General Meeting is just one week away and there’s still time to register.

Join us for Towards 2030 – Shaping Our Future, an important consultation session where members can help shape AONTAS priorities for the years ahead.

📆 3rd June
🕐 10 AM – 1 PM
📍 The Dean Docklands Hotel(formerly The Mayson)

Register now! ➡️
https://www.aontas.com/agm-2026/

As the project comes to a close, we’re reflecting on the collaboration, learning, and conversations that shaped the project over the past number of years.

Together, partners across Europe developed learner-centred resources, created spaces for dialogue, and strengthened approaches that place adult learners at the heart of education.

Most importantly, ENHANCE highlighted the importance of listening to learners and recognising their experiences, knowledge, and voices in shaping learning.

While the project is ending, this work continues. We’ll also be sharing our final AONTAS project blog tomorrow.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the project and helped keep learner voice central to the conversation.

European Association for the Education of Adults - EAEA, SOLIDAR+, Stichting ABC Limburg, Schweizerischer Verband für Weiterbildung, Färnebo folkhögskola, Das Kollektiv, CINOP Global

Learn more and access the final project outputs: https://enhancelearnervoice.com/

Exciting news for us at AONTAS and our Community Education Network members!🌍

As an accredited KA1 organisation, We are delighted to announce new Erasmus+ KA1 mobility funding from Léargas. This funding will support meaningful learning and exchange opportunities for our members across Europe.

Our latest mobilities programme will be co-designed with the AONTAS KA1 Consortium, made up of Community Education Network members from across the country. Together, we look forward to building connections, sharing practice, and learning with colleagues across Europe.

A huge thank you to Léargas for their continued support, and to our Consortium members:
AVP Ireland, An Cosán, Blue Teapot Theatre Company, Coolock Development Council CLG, Welcome English Center, South Westmeath Employment, Education & Training Services CLG, Longford Women's Link, The Matt Talbot Community Trust, and Dublin Northwest.

Here’s to another exciting chapter of learning, collaboration, and exchange

A fantastic final conference for the ENHANCE Project 🌍

Thank you to European Association for the Education of Adults - EAEA and all project partners for bringing together educators, learners, policymakers, and organisations from across Europe to reflect on learner voice, democratic participation, and inclusive adult education.

As the Project comes to a close, we are proud to have been part of such important conversations and collaborations that will continue beyond the project itself.

A new Further Education and Training Strategy by SOLAS (This Is FET) must put learners, equality, and community education at its centre.

In our latest response, we welcome the direction of the strategy while highlighting the need for sustainable funding, stronger learner supports, and greater recognition of the vital role community education plays across Ireland.

Read our full response on our website here.
🔗 https://www.aontas.com/a-new-strategy-for-further-education-and-training/