1. 1 VTOS – 20 Years On... Helen Keogh National Co-ordinator VTOS Thursday 5 th February 2009

2. 2 Happy Anniversary China... Platinum...

3. 3 Congratulations! Durability Service Learner-centred Staffing Flexibility Expertise Impact

4. 4 Growth of VTOS in the 33 VECs (formerly 38 VECs) 1989 247 1990 613 1991 872 19921649 19932893 19944604 19955000 20095000 (5400)

5. 5 Service 106 Centres Levels 3 – Levels 5/6 A few at lower levels

6. 6 Learner-centred A micro-environment of learning, care, support, guidance A personal service – relatively small numbers Personalised education and training Tutor-student support Student-student support

7. 7 Keeping the adult at the centre of VTOS provision ADULT LEARNER 1. Information & guidance 3. Access, transfer & progression opportunities 4. Income maintenance + additional supports 6.Flexible teaching & learning methodologies 7. Learning Supports – guidance; literacy; individual learning plans; assistive technology; transport; childcare; 8. Assessment within NQF & progression opportunities 9. Opportunities for feedback & internal evaluation 10. Staffing – CPD 11. External monitoring & evaluation 2. Needs analysis 5. Relevant/useful learning content

8. 8 Staffing September 2008 – 738 staff in core centres 128 PWT 221 CID 122 PRPT 163 Part-time 90 Co-ordinators (excluding 4 VECs with dispersed mode) 14 Assistant Co-ordinators

9. 9 Flexibility Course(s) and level(s) at which you will succeed Learning supports Guidance support Other supports – childcare; transport; library; mentoring

10. 10 Expertise Has moved from the heroic phase to a more professional service – staffing; management Experience Longevity Responsiveness Action Research -> generation of ‘ theories-in-use ’ (Brookfield) and shared meanings CPD – in-service; diplomas; Master ’ s courses Publications

11. 11 Impact VTOS has been and is... An education and training opportunity to enable eligible individuals to gain qualifications at lower, upper and post-secondary levels - ABC An income maintenance scheme to enable individuals in receipt of qualifying social welfare payment to continue their learning on a full-time basis A funding framework to provide VECs with resources to respond to the learning needs of unemployed adults so as to facilitate their return to employment

12. 12 Impact.. Up-skilling 5000 + members of the labour force not in employment - since 1995 Addressing low educational levels of 5000 + of the 1 million adults aged 16-64 with less than upper secondary education Social inclusion for 5000 + and their families

13. 13 VTOS Impact Qualifications – c. 50,000 Progression – c. 35,000 directly Professional Expertise – body of knowledge Guidance service – professional staff

14. 14 VTOS Impact Intergenerational effect... Community effect... Local, national and international contribution

15. 15 Towards 2019... Maintain specific distinguishing characteristics eligibility criteria – age; social welfare status full-time provision needs-based provision ‘ learner-centred service ’ learning supports - guidance etc focus on certification focus on progression Firmly locating the programme in local adult learning service and relationship to other programmes in VEC and elsewhere

16. 16 Towards 2019... Locating VTOS within emerging landscapes Responding to economic downturn Contributing to upskilling labour force Contributing to social inclusion Focusing on your USP – unique selling point – locally and nationally – within the context of AE and FE programmes

17. 17 Towards 2019... Maintain clear vision and mission to steer by in choppy waters of change, debate, uncertainty Imagineer – imagine, engineer... Use your experience, track record, longevity, strengths, successes, skills to Shape the development of adult learning in your VEC Make alliances with other colleagues Continue to keep the adult learner at the centre of all you do....