NATIONAL/REGIONAL NETWORKS

HELLIN – Higher Education Lifelong Learning Irish Network

Contact details:

Patricia-Anne Moore, Chair
Department of Lifelong Learning and Outreach
University of Limerick
Limerick
Ireland

Tel. +353 61 202494
Fax +353 61 330316

• 7 universities in Ireland, 2 in Northern Ireland (UK).
  
  
• 1998 Green paper Irish government regarding adult education (white paper “LLL for all” in 2000). It noted the following:
  
  
• HE low participation rate for adults.
• Reasons – young population (binary secondary school went into HE).

• 1997 Irish Universities Act (required adult + CE opportunities by universities). Government funding for widening access to universities + some including regarding adults (greater socio-economic mix now coming into HE, including CE).
  
  
• ‘AONTAS’ organisation for promotion of adult education and lifelong learning - adult basic education and community focused organisation, main function lobbying, been there for some time, corporate, institutional and individual membership.
  
  
• White Paper 2000 "Lifelong Learning for Life" white paper on adult education Chapter 7 refers to policy changes indicated fro higher education institution including access transfer and progression.

• HELLIN formed initially in 2001 to represent HE / third level practitioners of Higher Education seeks to provide:

• Professional support for members including training
  
• Good relations with HE management to help lobby government
  
• Lifelong learning practitioners working in higher education

PLANNED ACTIONS:

• Website
  
  
• National conference
  
  
• Research into profiling the adult learner and his/her needs in Ireland