Adult Learners’ Week: Putting learner voice at the centre of lifelong learning

Adult Learners’ Week is a national moment to celebrate the power of lifelong learning — but celebration is not enough. If we want more adults to start, stay and progress in learning, we must listen to what adult learners are telling us and use those insights to shape policy, funding and delivery.

Stronger Together: The Adult Learning Partnership Wales

In a rapidly evolving educational landscape, collaboration has never been more important. The Adult Learning Partnership Wales (ALPW) network brings together Adult Community Learning providers, Learning and Work Institute, Medr, Estyn, Welsh Government and other key stakeholders to strengthen adult learning through partnership, shared expertise and a commitment to continuous improvement.

Time to celebrate adult learning as a positive force for change across Wales

Adult Learners’ Week – September 21-27 – offers a timely chance to celebrate individuals across Wales who have changed their lives through learning and encourages more of us to do the same.

Strengthening Learner Engagement in Adult Community Learning

Adult learning in Wales: Adult Participation in Learning Survey

For nearly 30 years, Learning and Work Institute (L&W) has published its annual Adult Participation in Learning Survey. As the longest-running survey of its kind, it stands as the definitive report on who is learning across the UK, how they are learning, and what motivates them. It adopts a broad definition of learning, including formal, non-formal and informal learning, rather than just publicly offered educational opportunities for adults. In 2025, we specifically boosted our survey sample in Wales to 800 adults. This expanded dataset allows us to take a closer look at the unique successes and distinct challenges facing Welsh learners, offering an invaluable point of comparison with the rest of the UK.

More adults in Wales are learning but are we reaching those who need it the most?

Learning and Work Institute’s latest Adult Participation in Learning Survey for Wales tells a positive story of increasing engagement in learning but it also shows that those who may benefit most are missing out. Nearly half of adults in Wales (47%) have taken part in learning over the past three years, a higher rate than the UK average (42%) but stark inequalities emerge when we look at age, demographics and employment status. The definition of learning in this survey is intentionally broad and extends beyond government or employer funded opportunities to include informal and self-directed learning.

Created With Care: How young adult carers shaped Learning and Work Institute’s new toolkit for FE Colleges in Wales.