Title: A Case Study of Ballyhoura Development and University College Corka partnership approach to adult ed
1A Case Study of Ballyhoura Development and
University College Cork-a partnership approach to
adult education as a mechanism for social change
- Mary McCarthy Patricia White
- Margaret Fenton Tara O Doherty
2Introduction
- BDL Ltd is located in South East Limerick and
North East Cork - Rural area with 50 communities
- Community Partnership which has administered
successive LEADER programmes and the Local
Development Social Inclusion Programme - Strong and committed history to adult education
which has manifested itself in a partnership
approach with UCC
3Background
- The mid nineties saw significant changes in the
co-ordination and structure of local development - Saw the position of Community/Voluntary sector
being elevated to that of a partner in the
process rather than the subject - This was not accompanied with equal authority or
a requisite level of support to carry out its new
functions
4The Adopt Model
- Adopt is a development model which was developed
to strengthen the community sectors engagement
in local and community dev.elopment process - Began in Ballyhoura Country with UCD over four
years as action research project - Designing and testing a community development
model aimed at promoting social inclusion,
enhancing social capital and providing agreed
vision - Significant learning emerged from this process
- Namely that of large gaps in knowledge and skills
among community activists to engage in local and
community development
5It was in this vein, that the partnership
approach was developed with UCC
- Certificate in Community Development was
designed and outreached into local area - Modules such as Community Development Models,
Local Development in Ireland, Group work,
Community profiling research methods - 2001-2005, 77 community activists have
participated in adult education training - 16 have gone on to complete the diploma in Youth
and community-which will be outreached again this
year
6Model adopted a pluralistic approach to design
and delivery of the course which involved the
development officer in area sharing design and
delivery thus improving the theoretic and
academic approach to delivery in a community
setting
- Developing of adult education training has been
broadened due to further consultation processes
in the community - Outreaching of the Certificate in Disability
Studies in which 18 women participated-diploma
discussions taking place - Outreaching of Diploma in Womens Studies into
two areas which has facilitated training of 35
women
7Impact of training on life long learning and
social change
- Development of District Forums-feed into the
board of BDL and back to communities - Representation on County Limerick Community and
Voluntary Forum - Development of Special interest groups e.g.
womens groups and youth groups - Research projects translated themselves into
community projects e.g. Charleville playground
8Strengths of partnership approach
- Challenging structural inequalities in terms of
Access-(i) at the level of it being local and
(ii) supported with funding - Support of development worker while training and
in using training in community setting
9Weaknesses
- Limited access to resources such as books,
journals and other materials - Internet usage and access an issue in rural areas
- UCC working with district libraries
10Opportunities
- Vehicle for social change and life long learning
- Progress to further adult education-credits to
degree courses - Threats
- Reliance on funding
- Increasing professionisation of
community/voluntary sector-training used in this
way takes the onus away from developing capacity
of community/volunteers to engage in their own
right.