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Awards 2011Nomination Form

www.adultlearnersfestival.com

The STAR Awards 2011 | Showcasing Teamwork | Awarding Recognition

The fifth annual AONTAS Adult Learners’ Festival takes place from 21 -25 February 2011 as part of the Adult Learners’ Festival. The Festival will be officially launched on Monday, 21 February at the STAR Awards Ceremony for adult learning projects.

AONTAS is now inviting nominations for the STAR Awards.

1. What are the STAR Awards?The STAR Awards (Showcasing Teamwork, Awarding Recognition) are an awards initiative coordinated by AONTAS as part of the annual Adult Learners’ Festival to acknowledge the fantastic work undertaken by adult learning projects throughout Ireland. The awards celebrate the positive contribution that these projects make to

The STAR Awards 2011 | Showcasing Team | Awarding Recognition 2

our society, our economy and our local communities. 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).

2. Who can nominate a project?We welcome nominations from projects themselves or from people directly involved in the project they are nominating. You do not have to be involved in the project you are nominating for a STAR Award but it is important to inform the project that you are nominating them.


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. This year, special consideration will be given to projects which support people through the social or economic impact of recession at a personal or community level.

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.

3. 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 collaboration 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 formal arrangements between community, voluntary and statutory groups.

A learner-centred approach to education provisionEach 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 methodologiesNominated 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, address the root causes of poverty and social exclusion, promote equality or social justice, or empower communities or individuals could also be used.


Evidence or outcomesIn general, Projects nominated for STAR awards should be in existence for at least two years. The ‘Projects in Progress’ category invites nominations from projects in existence for a shorter timeframe. Projects in other categories should ideally be able to demonstrate evidence (i.e any form of project work/evaluation/scrapbook/photographs/CD/DVD etc. Outcomes may also be identified through existing evaluation commissioned by your project. Please do not send any of this information with your application, simply refer to the outcomes in the answer to the question. Someone from AONTAS will be in touch with you if clarification is needed on any aspect of your nomination.

4. What categories are there?


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 reachFor 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 reachFor 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 reachFor 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 progressFor 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 initiativesFor example, production of a DVD/toolkit/ scrapbook

One award will be granted in this category.


6) Learning for workFor example, workplace learning initiatives within Trade Unions/Chambers of Commerce/Companies/Enterprises or Businesses, as well as upskilling or retraining initiativesOne award will be granted in this category.

5. How do I nominate a project?


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 [email protected] or print it off and post it back to AONTAS.

6. What is the deadline for nominating project?The deadline for nominating projects is Friday, 26 November 2010 at 5pm . Nominators are encouraged to nominate their projects as early as possible!

7. Who judges the STAR Awards?


mailto:[email protected]

http://www.adultlearnersfestival.com/


The independent STAR Awards Judging Panel includes representation from a number of key stakeholders in the adult and community education sector in Ireland. This year these include NUI Maynooth, FETAC, AEOA, the VECs, FAS, the NQAI, Active Retirement Ireland, ICTU Union Skills Network, www.BlueBrick.ie, SFA (Small Firms Association), the National Centre for Partnership and Performance, VTOS and Pobal. In addition, the panel includes individuals with direct experience of learning as adults. There are sixteen judges in total. More information about the judging panel is available from www.adultlearnersfestival.com.

8. Why should I nominate a project for a STAR Award? In the current climate it’s important that we continue to showcase the value of adult and community education in responding to the needs of individuals, communities, society and the economy. The STAR Awards is the perfect opportunity to highlight



the important work your project or initiative undertakes to politicians, the media and the wider public.

9. Help!A sample completed nomination form and details of last year’s winners are available online at www.adultlearnersfestival.com.

If you have any further questions about the STAR awards, if you are unsure about the category into which your project best fits or need assistance filling out the nomination form, then please contact AONTAS on 01-4068220, Email: [email protected], Address: 2nd Floor, 83-87 Main Street, Ranelagh, Dublin 6.

The STAR Awards are judged by an independent panel of judges.



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, 21 February 2011 at Dublin Castle Publicity for the winning projects on the AONTAS websites, in the AONTAS

magazine, Explore, the AONTAS Update, and external media coverage.


Terms and conditions: The closing date for receipt of nominations is Friday, November 26 2010 at

5pm Entries will be accepted by email (to [email protected]), online submission

(through www.adultlearnersfestival.com) or post (to AONTAS, 2nd 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

The project is judged solely on the information provided in the nomination form. 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



mailto:[email protected]

The judges’ decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into before or after the judging process

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 not be notified in advance of the ceremony 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


PLEASE TYPE OR FILL OUT THIS FORM IN BLOCK CAPITALS. IF POSSIBLE SUBMIT YOUR NOMINATION ONLINE AT WWW.ADULTLEARNERSFESTIVAL.COM

Please note: Your project / initiative will only be judged on the information contained in this nomination form. Please give as much detail as you can about

your project.

Section 1: Contact Details


http://WWW.ADULTLEARNERSFESTIVAL.COM/

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)


2. My own contact details are:

Name:


Address:

Tel Work:

Tel Home:

Mobile


Email

My relationship to the nominated project is:

CoordinatorEmployeeLearnerTutorOther (please specify):


3. I have informed the organisers of this project that I am nominating them for an award…

YesNo

Section 2: Category


4. I am nominating this project in the following category:(Please select ONE category only)

1. Provincial or county-wide reach – Connaught

2. Provincial or county-wide reach – Dublin City and County

3. Provincial or county-wide reach – Leinster (excluding Dublin)


4. Provincial or county-wide reach – Munster

5. Provincial or county-wide reach – Ulster

6. Local or community-based reach – Connaught

7. Local or community-based reach – Dublin City and County

8. Local or community-based reach – Leinster (excluding


Dublin)

9. Local or community-based reach – Munster

10. Local or community-based reach – Ulster

11. Nationwide or all-island reach

12. Projects in Progress – All areas


13. Once Off Projects – All Areas

14. Learning for Work – All Areas

Section 3: Project Details

Answers should be no more than 300 words per question.

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?


Certification of Accuracy


I certify that the contents of this nomination form are true and accurate.

Nominator Signature:

Date:


Section 4: Further Information

A. Where did you hear about the AONTAS STAR Awards?

Newspaper / MagazineRadioWebsiteLeaflet / PosterE-mailThrough another organisationOther (please specify)


B. AONTAS are looking for people whose learning achievements will inspire others to return to learning and who have gained a positive or life-changing experience from returning to learning. If you are a learner or know of a learner who would like to share their story, please complete the section below:

Learner’s Name

Contact DetailsPhone:E-mail:County:


Learner’s story

Please note that this section is for AONTAS use only and will not be sent to the STAR Awards Judging Panel. AONTAS may use the information provided for

promotional or media work but will always contact the learner first for consent.

C. Are you currently a member of AONTAS?

YesNo


D. Would you like to receive further information on becoming a member?

YesNo

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 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 may use our project name and any other


information contained in this nomination for publicity purposes and within AONTAS publications.

YesNo


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