Further education and lifelong learning are a very important part of many people’s lives in the twenty-first century. The days when people left school or college and thought that their education was over are now gone. In today’s modern work environment rapid technological and scientific developments mean people often return periodically to education and add new skills and qualifications to their CV to ensure they have challenging and rewarding careers.

While survey data has shown in the past that adults in Northern Ireland are less likely to take part in organised learning than counterparts in other areas of the UK, this situation is now changing. Official statistics show that over 105,000 people were taking a further education course in Northern Ireland in 2005 – or almost 10% of the entire population.

These students were taking advantage of the wide range of adult or further education options available. This includes courses offered by the ANIC (Association of Northern Ireland Colleges) colleges, Open University, Queens and the University of Ulster, and the Workers Educational Association.

Why take a further education course?
Further Education colleges play an important role in preparing Northern Ireland’s young people for working life. Over a quarter of all school leavers (and one third of 16-17 year old school leavers) attend a further education college. A career-based or pre-university course allows the student to take on a subject area in which they are interested, and be introduced to the themes, ideas and skills that are needed for a career in that particular area. Students can then go on to university, or go straight to the workplace where their new skills and qualifications should help them secure employment.

Further education courses are not just for young school leavers however. These courses are also increasingly popular and necessary options for adults who are looking to boost their career prospects and add to their CVs. For many reasons people may not have had the opportunity earlier in their lives to pursue academic qualifications. Or people might decide to learn a new skill that is more relevant in today’s technologically advanced workplace. Others decide to take a part-time evening course to help them move careers or put themselves in place for a promotion at work. Other people take a course with less serious motives - relaxation, recreation, companionship or fun.

What are the courses like?
The range of subjects and course topics on offer is impressive - including science and technology, IT, business, languages, art and design, health and wellbeing, the humanities and many others.
Students join a class at a level suitable to their needs, previous experience or prior qualifications. For most courses there are no entry requirements, although some career-orientated programmes impose certain entry criteria. Many courses only require that the student be over 16 years of age and show an interest in the subject during an interview.
Courses can take place one night a week for a few months or last for up to two years – or three with a “sandwich” work placement in industry. The costs involved in further education are often relatively reasonable. Many courses are offered for free, or at a nominal charge, and there are many funding opportunities available – especially to aid people looking to learn a new skill to return to the workplace or who have experienced disadvantage for any reason.

The Further Education Colleges
The largest providers of further education in Northern Ireland are the six (Association of Northern Ireland Colleges) institutions, which are throughout the province. The range of courses provided by ANIC colleges includes Essential Skills, vocational and academic programmes at levels 2 and 3 and Higher Education programmes.

Northern Ireland’s universities also offer further education options. Courses range from half-day seminars, to part-time academic courses spread over a number of years. These courses typically take place in the evenings or at weekends and cover a huge range of subject options including academic subjects such as philosophy or biology, professional development courses in IT or business subjects and more hobby type courses in arts and crafts or health and fitness subjects.

The WEA (Workers Educational Association) also provide adult and further education in Northern Ireland. The WEA use education to address problems in society (e.g. learning difficulties, sectarianism, neglect of older people). WEA courses are organised around specific initiatives such as Second Chance Initiative, Essential Skills for Living and Creative Learning. Courses take place in local centres and range from basic literacy and numeracy classes to more career orientated subjects such as multimedia and tourism.

Distance learning is an increasingly important part of the further education scene in Northern Ireland. Not everyone is able to commit to a regular course in a set location, due to many work, family, distance and other reasons. Distance learning has become increasingly sophisticated in recent years, with many courses available over the Internet, using email, online classrooms and podcasting to deliver the course. Learndirect is a UK government initiative that offers thousands of courses online in many subjects at levels from basic up to professional qualifications. The Open University is of course another distance learning option.

Useful links:
www.femeansbusiness.com

www.wea-ni.com

www.learndirect.co.uk

www.open.ac.uk