Students studying in the Department of Adult and Community Education come from a wide range of backgrounds in the world of the education and development of adults, including work with marginal groups, post-Leaving Certificate work, community settings, higher education and training.
They participate in the programmes in order to critically reflect on their work, to theorise their experiences and to develop their practice.
The Department seeks to provide students with the knowledge and confidence to transform their lives and contribute to the advancement of a society based on social justice, equality and human rights. The collective and democratic nature of participants’ engagement with each other and with staff is a central element in all the course initiatives offered by the Department. Staff and students work together, exchanging ideas and supporting each others’ learning to form learning communities. Through this process concepts are explored and learning horizons are expanded for individuals and for the group.