Barriers to accessing education and pathways to learning were explored at a Learning Limerick event titled ‘Learning for Inclusion’ in ENGINE Collaboration Centre. 21st Century skills, minding ourselves and our mental health, digital learning and tackling misinformation through education were all up for discussion at the half-day seminar on Friday 29th September.
The event opened with stands staffed by all Learning Limerick partners. There was also a panel discussion as part of the event; and a video featuring three of Learning Limerick’s Learning Ambassadors was showcased.
Speaking at the opening of the seminar event, Mayor of the City and County of Limerick, Cllr Gerald Mitchell, said:
“Limerick City and County Council signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the other four cities in the Irish Network of Learning Cities (Dublin, Cork, Belfast and Derry Strabane) last year in May 2022. This is an important agreement to commit each city to work together and provide mutual support to help deliver on the vision of a Learning City for all. Peer support and empathy are key drivers of our partnership. We are delighted to be committed to being close working partners with our Learning City friends in the Irish Network of Learning Cities. The event this morning is part of celebrating Irish Learning Cities Day yesterday (September 28) and involved all five cities celebrating our partnership.”
Eimear Brophy, Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board and Chair of the Learning Limerick Steering Group, also speaking at the event said:
“The Learning Limerick Steering Group is a proud member and award winner of the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC). We were delighted to welcome our keynote speaker Ailbhe Smyth to our event today. Ailbhe is a high-level campaigner and former academic, with long-standing strategic, political and organisational experience. She has had wide involvement in NGO and community sectors. She was the founding director of the Women's Education, Resource and Research Centre (WERRC), University College Dublin. Following her talk, Ailbhe posed a number of questions to the audience including ‘Where does learning happen?’ and ‘What are some of the steps toward achieving inclusive learning?’”
Overall, the event served as an excellent opportunity for networking, and to reflect on what inclusion means to us all; and how we can improve our inclusive practice in our work and sector. It was inspiring to share learning and discuss inclusion and inclusive learning.
