Document

moving forward

AONTAS Strategic plan

2001–2003

strategic plan 30/7 27/6/03 3:08 pm Page 1


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AONTAS is now moving into its next strategic developmentphase, having completed its first Strategic Plan at the endof 2000. The new Strategic Plan entitled MOVING FORWARDwas developed during 2000 in consultation with membershipand was adopted unanimously at the Annual General Meetingon May 30th 2001. Much was gained by the adult educationsector during the past three years. The most importantdevelopment was the publication of the White Paper,Learning for Life, which was launched in August 2000 andwhich took on board many of the issues which AONTAS hadlobbied strongly for over a long number of years. AONTASwarmly welcomed the White Paper and will now strive toensure that its recommendations are implemented fully. Thisplan outlines how we propose to go about this task. Thedevelopment of a comprehensive adult education service isa challenge to all of us and will require working together inpartnership to realise this development. We look forwardto the next three years with optimism.

Berni Brady Director

foreword


mission statement of AONTAS

AONTAS is the Irish National Association of Adult Education, a voluntary membershiporganisation. It exists to promote the development of a learning society through the provision of a quality and comprehensive system of adult learning and education which is accessible to andinclusive of all.



In seeking to carry out this mission AONTAS is guided byfive key values

• The members of AONTAS share a passion for lifelong learningand a commitment to the belief that learning throughout life pro-vides a means by which people can grow and develop, and makean active contribution to the development and transformation oftheir own community and the wider society in which they live.

• AONTAS recognises the key political role adult and continuingeducation plays in combating poverty, inequality and social exclu-sion as well as promoting democracy, creativity and economicdevelopment.

• AONTAS is committed to the development of a system of AdultEducation which is accessible to and inclusive of all throughoutlife, particularly those who experience educational, social and/or economic disadvantage

• AONTAS recognises the importance of building partnershipsat local and national level which will ensure the active involvementand empowerment of adult learners

• AONTAS is committed, through a process of action andreflection to its growth as a learning organisation, as a model ofgood practice and a leading centre of expertise in the field ofadult learning

core values

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1 Promote the importance and value of adult learning as a keypart of Lifelong Learning

2 Participate in the development of adult education policy byworking towards the implementation of the proposals and recom-mendations of national policy initiatives including the NationalDevelopment Plan, the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness,White Paper, Learning for life, White Paper, Supporting VoluntaryActivity and other initiatives as appropriate

3 Support and represent the membership of AONTAS to artic-ulate the needs of adult learners and providers at local andnational level

4 Identify and strategically respond to changing and emergingneeds within adult education by promoting, piloting and lobby-ing for the mainstreaming of models of good practice

5 Build positive working relationships and partnerships withrelevant organisations nationally and internationally

6 Build the reputation and status of AONTAS as a leading playerin the field of research in adult education

7 Develop AONTAS as a learning organisation committed toembodying the principles underlying its core values

strategic organisational objectives

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Promote the importance and value of adult educationas a key part of Lifelong Learning

goal 1.1Promote national and local awareness of the key role ofadult education in the social, economic and civil developmentof Irish Society through the development of a public relationsstrategy for the organisation and its work

actionsEmploy an Information and Communications Specialist

Promote the corporate image and identity of AONTAS to com-municate its role, aims and achievements

Develop links with national and local media with a view to tak-ing a proactive role in the public arena

Monitor media coverage relating to adult education andrespond where appropriate

Organise public events and conferences as appropriate

Develop the AONTAS website to ensure its fullest effective-ness in disseminating information

goal 1.2Develop an information management strategy which willensure the strongest possible links between AONTAS mem-bers and between learners and providers

ActionsEstablish an Information Strategy Working Group, comprisingstaff and executive to develop and monitor information strat-egy and external developments, and to support staff engagedin information work

Implement an information dissemination strategy to ensurean information flow between members, and key agenciesconcerned with adult education policy

Maintain and develop ongoing communication and corre-spondence with members through quarterly mailouts

objective one


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Maintain the Membership database and directory

Continue to provide information and support to members

Develop a concise information referral pack for potentialadult learners

Develop links with the emerging adult guidance pilot proj-ects, and others engaged in giving information to learnersseeking opportunities for education and training

Participate in the development of adult educationpolicy by working towards the implementation of theproposals and recommendations of national policyinitiatives including the NDP, PPF, Government WhitePapers and other initiatives as appropriate.

goal 2.1Seek to ensure the active involvement of membership inconsultations on the development of adult education policyleading to key policy papers focusing on specific issues

actionsOrganise network meetings of membership as appropriateto elicit their views on the development of adult educationpolicy and practice

Establish mechanisms using information technology andother strategies to encourage members to articulate theirneeds

Organise an Annual General Meeting to establish policy direc-tions for the organisation

Develop and disseminate policy papers

Support members at local level to lobby for implementationof White Paper proposals and recommendations

goal 2.2Lobby Government Departments and key agencies to ensurethe rapid implementation of policy recommendations andproposals

objective two


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actionsEstablish relationships with key spokespeople of all politicalparties with a view to ensuring that they are informed andcan implement policy recommendations for the developmentof Adult Education Service

Organise as appropriate lobbying campaigns on issues ofconcern to adult learners and providers

Establish relationships with Government Ministers who haveresponsibility for the development of Lifelong Learning

Maintain existing relationships and develop new relation-ships with Government Officials with responsibility for thedevelopment of Lifelong Learning

Ensure that policy papers developed by AONTAS are broughtto the attention of Government Ministers, Officials and keyagencies involved in the development of Lifelong Learning

Support and represent the membership of AONTAS toarticulate the needs of adult learners and providers atlocal and national level

goal 3.1Ensure that AONTAS as a leading centre of expertise in thefield of adult learning, is represented in its own right onemerging National Structures and Working Groups relatingto Lifelong Learning

actionsRepresent AONTAS on the National Adult Learning Counciland other national structures as deemed appropriate

Develop strategic links and working mechanisms with keyorganisations and agencies who represent relevant sectoralinterests

RepresentAONTAS onTaskforcesorCommitteesestablishedto focus on particular issues concerning the development ofLifelong Learning

objective three


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goal 3.2Support members to work with key organisations and agen-cies to ensure full participation at local level

actionsEnsure that members have the appropriate information toenable them to identify structures at local level on whichthey need to be represented

Support locally based member groups to access appropriatetraining to fulfil their local representative role

Assist local groups in establishing connections with appro-priate local agencies to ensure their views are represented

Consult with Local Adult Education Organisers and the newCommunity Education Facilitators with a view to establish-ing the best way to support their work

Develop strategic links with tertiary education institutions

Identify and strategically respond to changing andemerging needs within adult education by promoting,piloting and lobbying for the mainstreaming of modelsof good practice

goal 4.1Mainstream support for the strengthening of the communitybased women’s education sector through the developmentof a support infrastructure for Women’s Networks

actionsBring together the Women’s Networks regularly on a regionalbasis to identify issues of common concern, and develop pol-icy recommendations and strategies to support the work ofthe Women’s Networks as key players in addressing women’ssocial exclusion and educational disadvantage

Provide information and training workshops at regionallevel with a view to developing the skills of the Women’sNetworks in representation and policy work

objective four


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Develop links between Women’s Networks and key agenciesat national level which facilitate the raising of policy issueswith key Government Departments

Bring key personnel in the Networks together to promotediscussion and good practice including the development ofaccreditation and progression routes

goal 4.2Explore in collaboration with emerging groups and networksstrategic ways to become involved with the promotion ofeducation and training for marginalised men.

actionsIdentify in consultation with members emerging issues whichneed to be addressed by AONTAS

Promote and develop links with established and emerginggroups whose concern is the inclusion of marginalised men,with a view to exploring how best to support them

Research models of good practice which address the needsof these groups and bring these to the attention of policymakers

Build positive working relationships and partnershipswith relevant organisations nationally and interna-tionally

goal 5.1Establish formal working relationships with identified keyorganisations in the external national environment

actionsExplore mechanisms for working with key players in varioussectors concerned with adult education ie. statutory, highereducation, private business, social partner and the commu-nity and voluntary sectors

Explore mechanisms for working with groups and organisa-tions engaged in issues related to developing civil society

objective five


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Ensure that policy paper papers are disseminated to keyplayers in the above named sectors

Organise discussion fora as appropriate with the key players inthe above named sectors

goal 5.2Develop formal working relationships with identified keyorganisations in the international context

actionsIdentify key organisations and agencies in the internationalarena which are engaged in the promotion of a culture of life-long learning

Explore European Funding Initiatives such as Grundvig andEqual with a view to establishing working transnational part-nerships

Continue AONTAS involvement in and support for the activi-ties of the European Association for the Education of Adults

Build the reputation and status of AONTAS as a leadingplayer in the field of research in adult education

goal 6.1Establish a Research Working Group which would identify areasof research which would contribute to the body of knowledgeof policy and practice in adult education

actionsSeek funding to engage in research on an annual basis

Commission research into strategic issues which enhancethe development of Lifelong Learning and Civil Society

Disseminate research with a view to stimulating debateand discussion and formulating policy recommendations

objective six


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Develop AONTAS as a learning organisation committedto embodying the principles underlying its core values

goal 7.1Strengthen and develop organisational, financial, technicaland human resources in order to achieve its objectives.

actionsContinue to develop membership of the Executive Committeeas a learning process for its elected members by providing aninduction process for its new members, adopting a processof action and reflection and encouraging maximum partici-pation in policy formulation

Establish appropriate mechanisms for the most effective useof the expertise of the Executive Committee and the staffteam

Maintain and develop the Human Resources ManagementStructures of AONTAS with a view to achieving maximum useof the wide range of knowledge and expertise of the staffteam

Source sufficient funds and adequate premises to ensurethat AONTAS fully gains from the potential of the staff teamin their implementation of the Strategic Plan

Strengthen and improve administrative structures, systems andtechnical resources to enable the staff team to fulfil itsfunctions to the highest level of excellence

Identify specific training needs of staff and Executive andimplement provision to address those needs

Engage the services of an external consultant to monitor,reflect on and evaluate the progress and process of theStrategic Plan

objective seven



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Documents

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pm page

strategic developmentphase

value of adult learning

mission aontas

nationaldevelopment

adult educationsector

members of aontas