Kieran Keogh, Co-chair for the Adult Learning Partnership Wales and Director of Quality at Gower College Swansea
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.
By creating opportunities to learn from one another, develop effective practice and address common challenges, ALPW is helping to build a more connected, responsive and ambitious adult learning sector across Wales.
Developing a Tool for Effective Practice and Delivery
One of ALPW’s most significant recent achievements has been the development of the Adult Community Learning Partnerships Tool for Effective Practice and Delivery.
Led by the Learning and Work Institute and developed collaboratively by partnerships across Wales, the tool provides a structured framework for self-assessment and continuous improvement. It supports partnerships to evaluate their effectiveness across key areas including strategic leadership, learner engagement, partnership working, workforce development and learner outcomes and progression.
The framework enables partnerships to identify strengths, target areas for improvement and share effective practice in a consistent way across Wales, while remaining flexible enough to reflect local priorities and community needs.
Reintroducing the National Adult Learning Conference
Collaboration across the sector has been further strengthened through the successful reintroduction of the Annual Adult Learning Conference for Wales, made possible through the support and investment of Medr and the leadership of the Learning and Work Institute.
The conference provides a national platform for practitioners, leaders and policymakers to come together to share ideas, explore emerging issues and shape the future of adult learning. It offers opportunities to hear directly from Welsh Government and Medr, explore research and policy developments, learn from international perspectives, participate in practitioner-led workshops and strengthen professional networks across Wales.
Importantly, the conference has helped create stronger links between policy and practice, ensuring that the needs of learners and communities remain at the centre of sector development.
Sharing Best Practice Across Wales
At the heart of ALPW’s success is a strong culture of collaboration and shared learning. Partnerships regularly exchange resources, experiences and practical solutions, enabling successful approaches to be adapted and adopted across different regions.
Areas of shared learning include responding to Estyn inspection findings, strengthening community engagement, and increasing participation.
“Often, the greatest value comes from simply learning how another partnership approaches a challenge differently, providing fresh ideas that can be adapted and applied locally.”
A Shared Commitment to Adult Learning
The strength of ALPW lies in its collective commitment to championing adult learning and improving opportunities across Wales. By bringing together providers, third sector organisations, policymakers and public sector partners, the network creates a strong, united voice for adult learning and a collaborative space where organisations can share expertise, address challenges and drive improvement together.
As adult learning continues to evolve, ALPW provides a vital platform for innovation, partnership and continuous improvement. Through a shared vision and collective action, the network is helping to create a more connected, inclusive and responsive adult learning sector that better meets the needs of learners and communities.
Collaboration is our strength: delivering greater opportunities for learners and lasting benefits for communities across Wales.
