In partnership with The Open University in Wales, Learning and Work Institute was pleased to present this year’s Annual Raymond Williams Memorial Lecture delivered by Dr Sabrina Cohen-Hatton, KFSM, Chief Fire Officer, West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service. Including Q&A with Vikki Howells, Minister for Further and Higher Education.

One of the most senior women in the fire service across the whole of the UK, Sabrina holds a PhD in Psychology and a number of honorary doctorates, including from The Open University. Her personal story – growing up in Newport, becoming homeless at 15, a firefighter at 18 and combining her frontline service with a passion for lifelong learning – is a clear demonstration of the power of adult learning in the face of life’s many challenges.

The Raymond Williams lecture is a prestigious opportunity to reflect on the life and work of Raymond Williams, particularly in the context of adult learning and its transformative potential. The lecture draws a large and well-informed audience of professionals from across civic society in Wales and beyond.

Raymond Williams was one of Wales’ and Europe’s greatest social thinkers, but his work presents as many paradoxes as possible solutions.

23 March 2026

Retiring MS honoured with outstanding contribution to lifelong learning award

Wales should set a bold ambition for at least three quarters of working-age people to be in work, closing the employment gap with the rest of the UK, argues a new report from Learning and Work Institute (L&W). The report finds this would boost the Welsh economy by £1.4 billion and save taxpayers up to £500 million per year.

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18 March 2026

Challenging times? Time for a challenging curriculum.

Post-16 education in Wales is going through a period of innovation and change.

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14 January 2026

Adult Learning Partnerships in Wales

Adult Community Learning (ACL) provides flexible learning opportunities for adults and families, delivered in venues in the community to meet local needs. There is an Adult Learning Partnership in every Local Authority area and a lead for adult community learning in each Local Authority and Further Education Institution.

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13 January 2026

Inspire! Adult Learning Awards

Nominations have opened for the 2026 Inspire! Adult Learning Awards. The annual awards are organised by Learning and Work Institute in partnership with the Welsh Government, and they celebrate the exceptional achievements of individuals and community projects in Wales that demonstrate outstanding passion, commitment, and drive to improve themselves and their community through lifelong learning.

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1 January 2026

Inspire! Tutor Awards

The annual Inspire! Tutor Awards recognise the valuable work of tutors and mentors in supporting lifelong learning across Wales. We are inviting nominations on behalf of outstanding individuals whose commitment, knowledge and teaching skills have given adults the confidence to engage with learning and transform their lives.

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17 December 2025

Motivations, Aspirations & Barriers to Adult Learning

This research was in partnership with the Learning and Work Institute Cymru to gain greater insight into adult learner experiences of further and higher education in Wales as this is largely a missing voice from the recent literature.

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3 December 2025

Family Learning

Family learning changes lives. Evidence shows that when learning opportunities for adults are linked to the education of children in the family, it builds motivation, confidence and a commitment to learning.

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7 November 2025

Spotlight on Newport – Place within a place

Ufi VocTech Trust, in partnership with Adult Learning Wales, Newport City Council and Learning and Work Institute, have launched an innovative place-based collaboration to integrate education and skills development opportunities within the communities of East Newport.

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7 November 2025

Shine a light on the heroes of adult learning – celebrate the tutors who inspire, support, and transform lives every day.

Learning and Work Institute announces the launch of the Inspire! Tutor Awards 2026, celebrating the dedication, passion, and impact of adult learning tutors across Wales.

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