Longford Westmeath ETB takes to the stage at annual education conference
'The impact ETBs have had on the learners but also on the wider communities they serve has been transformative'
Antonine Healy, Director of Further Education and Training at Longford Westmeath Education and Training Board (LWETB) was a featured speaker at this year’s Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI) Further Education and Training conference which welcomed 250 delegates from across Ireland to Athlone last week. The title for this year’s conference ‘Pathways – Pathways to FET, Pathways in FET, Pathways from FET.’.
Also contributing to the conference from LWETB was Deborah Murphy, a tutor for speakers of other languages, and James Reilly, tutor at LWETB and former FET learner, on a panel discussing the pathway from FET learner to FET practitioner.
The event brought together over 250 representatives from across the sector and featured a line-up of over 30 speakers. Simon Harris, Minister of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, addressed the conference on Thursday (22.02.24), giving the official Ministerial conference address.
Speaking ahead of the event, Minister Harris said: “Over recent years we have worked incredibly hard to ensure no one is left behind when it comes to education. No matter who you are, what your background is or what your interests are you get an opportunity to reach your full potential. This conference is a timely opportunity. The impact ETBs have had on the learners but also on the wider communities they serve has been transformative. This two-day event is an invaluable opportunity to come together to learn from each other, to discuss the challenges and opportunities in the year ahead”.
Commenting on the future of education, General Secretary of ETBI, Paddy Lavelle said: “The FET Strategy – Future FET Transforming Learning, acknowledges the key role of FET in driving both economic development and social cohesion. This roadmap for the sector is built around three core pillars of building skills; fostering inclusion; and facilitating pathways. This conference deals with one of those three Pillars - pathways.”
Dr. Joseph Collins, Director of Further Education and Training (FET) at ETBI, said: “We can see clearly that Minister Harris has made significant inroads in developing an integrated, coherent and well-articulated further and higher education system in which there are no dead ends for learners. We have pathways from school to FET, within FET, between further and higher education, pathways into work and lifelong pathways which can bring people back to learning at any stage of their career or life.”
The conference took place over two days, with a full line-up of keynote speakers and panel discussions.