Lord David Puttnam, noted education policy advisor, speaks to Cork City Learning Forum on the topic,
'How can we Best Prepare today’s Second Level Students for the Future they Face?’. Read Lord Puttnam's address here
Established in January 2003 under the auspices of the Cork City Development Board (CDB), the Cork City Learning Forum brings together all learning stakeholders in education and training in Cork City, from early childhood learning to higher education, community education to work-based learning initiatives.
Learning is a key strategic theme within the City Development Board's Strategy ( “Imagine our Future”), which sees Cork as a place where:
“access to learning is available to all levels and ages, where there is a provision to address the diversity of learning needs within the City, where there is an ethos of quality underpinning the provision of continuous learning opportunities for all, where the City will become recognised as a centre of learning nationally and internationally, and where information and knowledge are available to act as catalysts for creativity and learning” (Cork City Development Board, 2001).
The Learning Forum is a key mechanism in achieving this vision. By bringing together all the stakeholders – policy makers, education providers and learners – it facilitates an integrated and citywide view of issues affecting learning in the city.
The membership of the Forum is broadly based, involving early childhood education, primary and secondary education, tertiary education and training, higher education, providers and learners, community education, trade unions, the private sector, and other relevant public service providers. Members are nominated to the Forum by their representative bodies/networks and report back to their nominating body on the activities of the Forum.
A Steering Committee guides and oversee the work of the Forum, liaises with other interest groups and assists the City Development Board in monitoring the education actions within the strategy. This Steering Committee includes representatives from education providers, social partners, learners, the community sector and others.
In general the Forum meets in plenary session twice each year. Plenary meetings provide an opportunity for all Forum members to meet. Each meeting includes a report back on activities from the Forum Working Groups. In addition each meeting includes a number of keynote presentations, and workshop discussions.
Reports on Plenary Sessions can be accessed by selecting this link.
A number of Forum working groups have been established to progress particular items of the work for the Forum and report back regularly to plenary meetings. Membership is open to any Forum member or other interested party. There are currently three thematic working groups focussing on:
For further information on any aspect of the Cork City Learning Forum contact Marcela Whelan, Learning Forum Development Worker
Tel: +353 21 4924044
Fax: +353 21 4924074
email: marcela_whelan@corkcity.ie