Adult Educational Guidance Initiative (AEGI)

1. Adult Educational Guidance Initiative (AEGI) Jennifer McKenzie National Co-ordinator

2. Adult Educational Guidance Initiative – Historic Context • NCGE report ‘Guidance in Adult and Continuing Education’ (1998) • Green Paper on Adult Education: Adult Education in an Era of Lifelong Learning (1998) • White Paper on Adult Education: Learning for Life (2000)

3. Historic Context • The AEGI was set up and funded by the Department of Education & Science under the National Development Plan 2000-2006 • NDP 2007 - 2013Social Inclusion Priority • The National Centre for Guidance in Education (NCGE), an agency of the Department of Education & Science, has been given the lead role in co-ordinating and supporting the AEGI.

4. Co-ordinating the development Co-ordination of monitoring and reporting of AEGI activities Staff development & support & AEGI staff in-service training programme Co-ordinate Service visits and evaluations Provision of technical support National Advisory Group – convene on behalf of DES Report to and advise DES Represent AEGI on other national Advisory groups Educational Management of Adult Guidance (EMAG) Course NCGE role in AEGI

5. Aims of AEGI services • To provide adult educational guidance, to support participants in 4 priority target groups • To develop and document models of good practice • To address gaps in the provision of adult educational guidance • To build local capacity, to develop support structures and to encourage local partnerships

6. Structure of AEGI’s • 38 AEGI’s managed and administered by VEC’s / WIT • Local management / advisory / consortium group • Phased introduction Phase 1 – 2000, 8 projects: Phase II -2001,8 Projects: Phase III – 2002, 8 Projects: Phase IV 2006/6 - 15 projects • Staff: Adult Education Guidance Co-ordinator / Guidance Counsellor, Information Officer ( min 2 staff)

7. AEGI Priority Target Groups • Literacy 1-1’s, groups, FETAC groups, Junior / Leaving Cert, Computers etc • VTOS (Vocation Training Opportunity Scheme) Core / dispersed, return to education Groups / FETAC accredited courses etc • Adult Community Education Accredited / non accredited / BTEI / VEC / Non VEC • Education Finance Board Former residents and their adult family members

8. Literacy – evening work, awareness raising, appropriate to students level and skills, scheduled not “add- on” VTOS – integrated, scheduled into weekly timetable, access to students Adult Community education - outreach, appropriate, Confidential Outreach Flexible Accessible Adult friendly Innovative approaches Client –specific models of guidance “Non-traditional” Networking – FAS, LES, Teagasc, Social Welfare etc Models of Guidance

9. Details of Client /Group meetings Target group Education/ Employment details Referral History Local Analysis information Progression details Over 30,000 clients recorded 2000-06 General Public Queries Outreach Local Networking Marketing ICT use Any gaps in Provision in Area? Key barriers for clients in Area? Key issues raised Best Practice Monitoring / Reporting – Quantitative & Qualitative Data

10. AEGI developments 2007 • AEGI and ITABE ( Intensive Tuition for adult basic education) • Guidelines for Guidance / Literacy • Integration into literacy programme from beginning • Training seminar on Barriers to Progression • Client Feedback Form pilot • Guidelines for working with clients of Education Finance Board • AEGI handbook ( revised) • Phase IV Evaluation Report

11. AEGI 2007-2013 • €1million extra funding announced 2006 • Expansion of services -demographic and geographic spread • National Guidance Forum recommendations • Self evaluation process