Adult Learners'
Week: A Celebration of Learning Adult Learners Week; A Celebration
of Learning
Now in its 19th year, Adult Learners' Week (ALW) is celebrated
in over 50 countries across the world. Founded and co-ordinated
by the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE),
Adult Learners’ Week is the UK's largest learning campaign,
and promotes education and training for adults, provides access
to information and guidance, motivates more adults to participate
in learning opportunities and celebrates the learning achievements
of adult learners through national and regional awards and in Bedfordshire
and Luton local awards are also celebrated.
It is a collaborative venture between education and training providers,
broadcasters, and national and local government.
Held each May, Adult Learners' Week recognises the achievements
of outstanding individuals, groups, families and projects through
national and regional awards. During this week-long festival of
learning, events take place in workplaces, libraries, cafes, prisons,
museums and colleges across the country, inspiring adults to take
up new activities.
From learning Pilates to gaining a PhD, Adult Learners’
Week celebrates learning and learners in all their diversity, inspiring
thousands of people each year to try something new. The campaign
promotes the benefits of all kinds of learning, whether it is for
fun or leading to a qualification.
There are themed days during ALW which include Cultural Diversity
Weekend, Learning at Work Day and Silver Surfers Day.
ALW begins with a celebration of Britain’s diversity of learners
and learning by:
• Raising awareness and understanding between different
cultures
• Celebrating the similarities and differences between cultures
• Encouraging community cohesion and action citizenship
Learning at Work Day is an opportunity for workplaces to:
• Offer informal learning activities as part of ALW, and
• Encourage further learning and skills development
Research shows that investing in staff learning and development
contributes to reduced staff turnover and increased staff motivation
and productivity.
Silver Surfers Day promotes digital literacy, particularly computer
literacy, to raise skills amongst older people.
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