A Case Study of Ballyhoura Development and University College Corka partnership approach to adult ed

1
A 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

2
Introduction

• 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

3
Background

• 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

4
The 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

5
It 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

6
Model 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

7
Impact 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

8
Strengths 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

9
Weaknesses

• 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

10
Opportunities

• 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.