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Intergenerational Knowledge & Skills Gap Seminar

Intergenerational Knowledge & Skills Gap Seminar

Professor Maria Slowey, Director of the Higher Education Research Centre at Dublin City University will chair a seminar at the Royal Irish Academy on Thursday 22nd May, entitled “How to tackle intergenerational equity gaps in knowledge and skills? Ireland in international perspective.”

This seminar will bring together experienced researchers and senior practitioners from the policy community with a shared interest in enhancing the levels of knowledge and skills of the adult population.

The OECD Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) assesses levels of competence of over 160,00 people in 24 countries across three main domains: literacy, numeracy and problem solving. While the strengths and weakness of the methodology are open to discussion, the results provide a useful baseline for comparative analysis and policy development.

The relatively poor results for adults in Ireland point to the need to find ways to widen access to education and training across all levels, and at all stages of life - a ‘second chance’ for many who never enjoyed a ‘first chance’.

The symposium will offer a unique opportunity to locate Ireland in a wider international context.

Contributors will include:

• Professor Andy Green, Director LLAKES (Centre for Learning and Life Chances in Knowledge Economies and Societies) Institute of Education, London.

• Donal Kelly, Central Statistics Office, responsible for administering the PIAAC survey in Ireland.

• Victor Dukelow Joint Head of Analytical Services, Department for Employment and Learning, Northern Ireland.

• Professor Anne Ryan, Department of Adult and Community Education, Maynooth.

• Professor John Field, Emeritus Professor of Lifelong Learning, Stirling University.

• Fiona Hartley, Executive Director, SOLAS.

Date: 22 May 2014
Time: (Registration 14.00) 14.15-17.30, followed by reception
Venue: Royal Irish Academy, 19 Dawson Street, Dublin 2


To facilitate in-depth discussion, places are limited. If you are interested in attending please register here.