Colleges provide adults with excellent professional and technical education and training as well as skills for life. We represent our members by working with policymakers and other stakeholders with an interest in adult education.
To ensure strong college involvement in the development of skills, AoC:
In the area of skills, AoC works with the following key stakeholders:
AoC also works with other representative bodies to ensure a strong voice for skills providers including AELP and HOLEX.
By helping policymakers recognise it's value and commit the resources it deserves, we can unlock its full potential to transform lives, empower communities, and drive sustainable growth. When we prioritise adult learning, we create opportunities that benefit individuals, employers, and society alike.
The AoC Adults (inc. ESOL) Reference Group provides a forum to work with Government Departments, agencies and partner organisations on policy formation and implementation issues.
This policy paper aligns with the Opportunity England recommendation, 'a curriculum for all'.
These recommendations would significantly enhance the effectiveness and reach of adult education, addressing key challenges of funding, accessibility and bureaucratic complexity. By doing so, they align with the Opportunity England vision of a more inclusive and equitable education system.
Funded by Erasmus+ and lead by MBO Raad, AoC and equivalent partners in 11 countries across Europe took part the Promoting Adult Learning in Networks (PRALINE) project.
"Further education colleges have an important role to play in implementing recommendations in the Adult Social Care Workforce Strategy for England, and ensuring the new government can deliver on its ambitions to transform the NHS and social care sector. "Colleges across the country are already doing fantastic work in training and developing the social care workforce but could be doing so much more if the systems and funding issues they face were addressed.”
