Showcasing Teamwork, Awarding Recognition
The STAR Awards for Adult Learning Projects
STAR – Showcasing Teamwork, Awarding Recognition The third annual AONTAS Adult Learners’ Festival takes place from 2 nd to 6th February 2009. The festival will be officially launched on Monday 2 nd February at the STAR Awards Ceremony for adult learning projects. AONTAS is now inviting nominations for the STAR Awards. Fourteen awards in total will be granted to adult learning projects based within the island of Ireland. For the purpose of the awards, AONTAS understands adult learning to be ‘all forms of learning undertaken by adults after having left initial education and training’ (Communication from the European Commission: Adult Learning: It Is Never Too Late To Learn, COM (2006) 614 final, 23.10.2006). Nominated projects can involve initiatives, resources or group work. Projects may come from adult learning organisations, community and voluntary groups, the private sector, government agencies, statutory bodies and non-government organisations. The purpose of the learning involved in nominated projects can be personal fulfilment, social change, active citizenship, environmental sustainability, cultural and intercultural awareness and knowledge, skills development, personal development, human rights education, community development, community regeneration, health and well-being and employment in related fields. This year AONTAS is introducing three additional categories to the Awards. These are as follows: Projects in Progress (i.e. learning activities not yet complete, or which started over the past two years) Once off Projects (eg production of materials such as a DVD, scrapbook or toolkit) Workplace Learning Initiatives
What are we looking for? Nominated projects should demonstrate the following criteria:
A high level of teamwork and partnership amongst participant groups We are looking for evidence of teamwork, partnership and cooperation between diverse groups. Projects should demonstrate links with a range of relevant actors, to include local Vocational Education Committees (VECs), key community and voluntary interests, learners, employers, employment services and relevant State agencies. For example, the teamwork involved could be between learners, tutors and course providers; or between community, voluntary and statutory groups.
A learner-centred approach to education provision Each nominated project should have the learner at its core. We are looking for projects that include the process of learner engagement in identifying needs. Models of participative learning should also be demonstrated and projects should be relevant to learners’ personal, social and cultural needs, prior learning and labour market needs.
Adult education practice and methodologies Nominated projects should show examples of good adult education practice, such as how the project’s curriculum was built around the learners’ needs or interests, examples of how the learners’ experiences contributed to the process or outcomes of the project, or the use of active participation and reflection during the project. Examples of how some aspects of the project contribute to social change, promote equality or social justice, or empower communities or individuals could also be used.
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Evidence or Outcomes Projects nominated for STAR awards should be in existence for at least two years. The project should ideally be able to demonstrate evidence (i.e any form of project work/evaluation/scrapbook/photographs/CD/DVD etc. Please do not send any of this information with your application. Someone from AONTAS will be in touch with you if clarification is needed on any aspect of your nomination.
Projects which were nominated for awards in previous years are eligible for nomination this year. Projects not eligible for nomination include events such as conferences or exhibitions. If you have any questions about the eligibility of your project, please contact AONTAS on 01 4068220.
Categories Projects may only be nominated in one category. Projects nominated for STAR Awards will fall into the following six categories: 1. Projects that have a nationwide or all-island reach For example: national or all-island organisations or companies, groups with a national or all-island remit or projects that are targeted at, open to or involve learners and /or practitioners from throughout the island of Ireland. One STAR Award will be granted in this category. 2. Projects that have a provincial or county-wide reach For example: Vocational Education Committees, County or City Councils, County or City Development Boards, groups providing county or province-wide services, or projects that are targeted at, open to or involve learners and / or practitioners from throughout an entire county or province. Five awards will be granted in this category – one in each of the following areas: Connaught, Dublin City and County, Leinster (excluding Dublin), Munster and Ulster. 3. Projects that have a local or community-based reach For example: community-based groups, community partnerships, adult learning colleges and organisations that have a local remit, or projects that are targeted at, open to or involve learners and / or practitioners from a specific local community. Five awards will be granted in this category – one in each of the following areas: Connaught, Dublin City and County, Leinster (excluding Dublin), Munster and Ulster. 4. Projects that are in progress For example, collaborative learning or education activities which were started over the past two years and are not yet complete. One award will be granted in this category. 5. Projects that are once off initiatives For example, production of a DVD/toolkit/ scrapbook. One award will be granted in this category.
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6. Workplace Learning Initiatives For example, Trade Unions/Chambers of Commerce/Companies/Enterprises or Businesses. One award will be granted in this category.
Nominating a project You do not have to be involved in the project you are nominating for a STAR Award. However, we welcome nominations from projects themselves or from people directly involved in the project they are nominating. To nominate a project, just do one of the following: 1. Fill in an online nomination form (available at www.adultlearnersfestival.com) and submit it through the Adult Learners’ Festival website. 2. Download a Word version of the nomination form from www.adultlearnersfestival.com and fill it in. Email it back to mail@aontas.com or print it off and post it back to AONTAS, or 3. Complete the attached form in block capitals and return it to: STAR Awards, AONTAS, 2 nd Floor, 83-87 Main Street, Ranelagh, Dublin 6, or The closing date for receipt of nominations is Friday November 14th at 5pm.
Help! Do you have questions about the STAR Awards? Are you unsure about the category into which your project best fits? Do you need assistance filling out the nomination form? If so, please contact AONTAS on 01-4068220, Email: mail@aontas.com, Address: 2 nd Floor, 83-87 Main Street, Ranelagh, Dublin 6. Further information about www.adultlearnersfestival.com.
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The STAR Awards are judged by an independent panel of judges.
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PLEASE FILL OUT THIS FORM IN BLOCK CAPITALS Contact Details 1. The project I am nominating for a STAR Award is: Project Title: ____________________________________________________________ Contact Person for Project: _________________________________________________ Project Address: _________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ Tel Work (for project contact person): ______________________________________ Tel Home (for project contact person): ________________________________________ Mobile (for project contact person): ___________________________________________ Email (for project contact person):____________________________________________ Project Summary: (Please include details of the project’s aims, purpose, history, target group(s), etc. Project summaries should be short – approximately 250 words – and to the point) _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________
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2. My own contact details are: Name: _________________________________________________________________ Address: _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ Tel Work: ______________ Tel Home: _______________ Mobile: __________________ Email: _________________________________________________________________ My relationship to the nominated project is: Coordinator
Employee
Learner
Tutor
Other (please specify): ____________________________________________________ 3. I have informed the organisers of this project that I am nominating them for an award… Yes No
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Category 4. I am nominating this project in the following category: (Please select ONE category only) 1.
Nationwide or all-island reach
2.
Provincial or county-wide reach – Connaught
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Provincial or county-wide reach – Dublin City and County
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Provincial or county-wide reach – Leinster (excluding Dublin)
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Provincial or county-wide reach – Munster
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Provincial or county-wide reach – Ulster
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Local or community-based reach – Connaught
8.
Local or community-based reach – Dublin City and County
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Local or community-based reach – Leinster (excluding Dublin)
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Local or community-based reach – Munster
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Local or community-based reach – Ulster
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Projects in Progress – All areas
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Once Off Projects – All Areas
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Workplace Learning Initiatives – All Areas
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Project Details If you find you do not have enough space to complete questions 5-10, please complete your answers on additional sheets and include them with your nomination form when returning it to AONTAS. Answers should be no more than 300 words per question. Entries should be typed if possible or completed in block capitals. 5. Describe the high level of teamwork and partnership involved in this project (include details of all the various project participants and / or collaborators): _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ 6. How is the nominated project learner-centred? _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ 7. What adult education practices and methodologies are used by the nominated project? _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ 8. Can you describe particular outcomes of the project? _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ 9. When was the nominated project established? _______________________________________________________________________ 10. Why do you feel this project should receive a STAR Award? _______________________________________________________________________
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_______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________
Certification of Accuracy I certify that the contents of this nomination form are true and accurate. Nominator’s Signature: ___________________ Date: __________________________
Further Information Where did you hear about the AONTAS Adult Learning Awards? Newspaper / Magazine
Radio
Website
Email
Through another organisation
Leaflet / Poster
Other (please state): ____________________________________________________ Are you currently a member of AONTAS? Yes
No
Would you like to receive further information on becoming a member? Yes
No
STATEMENT OF NOMINATED PROJECT LEAD OR ORGANISATION MANAGER: Please read the following statement and sign it:
I have read what has been written about my project in this nomination and confirm that all statements made in relation to the project are true and accurate. The different participants in this project collectively agree to be nominated for a STAR Adult Learning Award. We understand that AONTAS and FETAC may use publicity from this nomination form in advertising or other media and that we may be referred to in local and national media, and we agree that AONTAS and FETAC may use our project name and any other information contained in this nomination for publicity purposes and within AONTAS and FETAC publications. Yes
No
Signature: __________________________Date: ___________________________
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What do we offer? A specially commissioned award for the coordinating organisation of the winning projects One year’s free membership of AONTAS for all winning projects STAR Awards certificates for all nominated projects An invitation to those involved in winning projects to the STAR Awards Ceremony on Monday 2nd February 2008 at Dublin Castle Conference Centre. Publicity for the winning projects on the AONTAS websites, in the AONTAS magazine, Explore, the AONTAS Members’ E-Bulletin, and external media coverage Terms and conditions: The closing date for receipt of nominations is Friday November 14 th 2008 at 5pm Entries will be accepted by email (to mail@aontas.com), website submission (through www.adultlearnersfestival.com) or post (to AONTAS, 2 nd Floor, 83-87 Main Street, Ranelagh, Dublin 6) You will receive official notification from AONTAS once your nomination form has been received and formally verified for entry to the STAR Awards. If you do not receive notification within one week of submitting your nomination form, please contact AONTAS to confirm receipt Please do not send additional/supporting information or documentation with your application. AONTAS will contact you if any aspect of your completed nomination form requires additional clarification The judges’ decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into before or after the judging In certain circumstances, the judging panel may decide that some nominated projects deserve to be highly commended. If this situation arises, special certificates will be issued to recognise the achievements of such projects Award-winners will be notified by January 5th 2009. Winning projects will be given the opportunity to have an exhibition space at the STAR Awards Ceremony, where they can highlight and promote their work Highlighting winners’ achievements is a key part of promoting adult education and encouraging people to engage in adult learning. We may edit the information you send us and use it for publicity purposes in advance of the Awards Ceremony. We may also use information about nominated projects in AONTAS publicity materials and on the AONTAS website. Unless you request otherwise, it will therefore become available to the public
AONTAS, National Adult Learning Organisation, Chy. Reg. 6719, Co. Reg. 80958
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You can return your nomination form to AONTAS immediately by attaching a stamp below, sealing the form with the side flap and popping it in the post…
Affix stamp here
STAR Awards, AONTAS, National Adult Learning Organisation, 2nd Floor, 83-87 Main Street, Ranelagh, Dublin 6
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