AONTAS launched the CEN Census survey during the event, “Community Education in a Time of COVID-19: building back better together for community education” held virtually on Monday, 12th October. The survey, which is open to members of the AONTAS Community Education Network, will remain open for one month (Deadline: 12th November at 5pm) and can be completed here.
The purpose of the survey is to map community education provision across the AONTAS Community Education Network (CEN), identifying: number of learners, available courses, funding streams, target groups and learner supports. Data is being gathered for the period of September 2019 to August 2020 and will allow for the creation of a virtual map showing the breadth of provision across the CEN.
As a pilot survey, initiated in a time of COVID-19, the research also gathers key data on the impact of COVID-19 on community education organisations in 2020. The latter half of the survey focusses on the move to emergency remote learning, changes in learner engagement, funding, staffing, and plans to ensure continuity of learning during COVID-19. Data gathered in the survey will be used to supplement qualitative research undertaken through focus groups with learners and practitioners and will contribute to a final report on “Community Education in a Time of COVID-19”. In capturing the impact of COVID-19, the research will highlight the agility of the sector in responding to the crisis and key priorities for advocacy in 2021.
For further information on the AONTAS CEN and the Census, click here. If you have any questions on this research or require assistance in completing the survey please contact AONTAS Research Officer, Eve Cobain: ecobain@aontas.com
Publications and resources developed in relation to this research can be accessed below.
- Capturing key issues in the transition to emergency remote learning: Mitigating Educational Disadvantage (including Community Education issues) Working Group “Challenges facing Learners and Community Education Providers within Tertiary Education – A Discussion Paper”. April 2020
- Listen to learners’ experiences of engaging in community education during COVID-19: “Virtual Community Education Learner Focus Group and Learner Survey”. June 2020
- Irish Times Opinion Piece by Niamh O’Reilly, informed by an interview with Southill FRC: “A new Department of Higher Education risks creating a two-tier education system”. June 2020
- AONTAS news piece, informed by an interview with Southill Family Resource Centre: “Community Education must be part of rebuilding an Ireland for all”. June 2020.
- AONTAS Blog: “Growing Evidence Base of Widening Inequalities During COVID-19 for Learners across Ireland”. August 2020
