About
Learning
Limerick
Learning Limerick is a partnership that is collaborating to advance Limerick’s progress as a Learning Region. Membership includes Local Government, Higher Education, Further Education and Training, Local Development, Community Education, Culture and Arts, Youth Work, Social Welfare, Childcare, Migrant Integration, Mental Health Services and Limerick Chamber Skillnet.
Learning Limerick has its beginnings in the Limerick City of Learning Steering Group, which was established in 2003, as a statutory sub-committee of the Limerick City Development Board. In 2013, in advance of the merger of Limerick City and County Councils, the Limerick City of Learning Steering Group was expanded and the group was then changed to “Learning Limerick” to reflect its wider regional remit.
Learning Limerick believes that learning is not just for young people – nor does it only happen in schools, colleges and universities: it happens everywhere, every day for everyone – in homes, communities, workplaces and in all leisure and social settings.
Our Purpose
The purpose of Learning Limerick is to work in partnership with relevant stakeholders to:
1. Promoting
Promote awareness of the
importance of lifelong learning for
every person, family, community
and workplace in Limerick.2. Influencing
Influence education and
skills, policy, locally, nationally
and internationally.3. Positioning
Position learning at the centre of
development planning in the
Limerick region, in all communities,
sectors and settings.
Our
Values
Learning Limerick partners believe that learning can transform lives, workplaces and communities for the better. We seek to promote lifelong learning, in all its forms, in all settings for the people of Limerick, by being:
- Inclusive and Respectful
- Competent
- Agile and Innovative
- Creative
- Connected & Collaborative
- Learning Leaders
Limerick City and County Council
Limerick City and County Council (Comhairle Cathrach agus Contae Luimnigh) is the authority responsible for local government in the City of Limerick and County Limerick in Ireland. The authority acts as the hosting structure for the Learning Limerick steering group, and this follows UNESCO’s guidelines that Learning City-Regions are hosted by the local municipality. The authority came into operation after the 2014 local elections, being formed by the merger of Limerick City Council and Limerick County Council under the provisions of the Local Government Reform Act 2014. The city and county administration is headed by a Chief Executive, Conn Murray. The administrative centre is Limerick.
LCETB
Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board is the state education and training authority for the Limerick and Clare region. It is one of 16 statutory regional education authorities established by the Education and Training Boards Act 2013. It delivers educational services to over 34,000 students/learners across the region annually and has responsibility for 18 post-primary schools, 33 further education and training centres and works with community groups in almost 300 locations across the region. It is one of the lead partners for Learning Limerick. It currently chairs the Learning Limerick steering group and employs the Lifelong Learning Facilitator staff member who works for the project.
PAUL Partnership
PAUL Partnership is a Local Development Company, based in Limerick City. It works with local communities that have benefited least from economic and social development and aim to promote social inclusion and improve the quality of life of people living in Limerick City. It implements programmes and actions across a number of areas, including: Community Development, Employment Support, Enterprise Support, Education and Lifelong Learning, Early Years, and Health and Well-Being. PAUL Partnership hosts the staff position for Learning Limerick and is one of the lead partners for this strategic collaboration.
University of Limerick
University of Limerick (UL) with over 15,000 students and 1,400 staff is an energetic and enterprising institution with a proud record of innovation and excellence in education, research and scholarship. The dynamic, entrepreneurial and pioneering values which drive UL’s mission and strategy ensures that we capitalise on local, national and international engagement and connectivity. UL is ‘University of the Year 2019’ in the Sunday Times Good University Guide. UL’s leading position in graduate employability, its cooperative education and internship programmes, its research in partnership with industry and the opening of the €31 million new Glucksman Library were among the many reasons for the award. UL previously claimed the title of Sunday Times Irish University of the Year in 2015.
Mary Immaculate College
Mary Immaculate College, founded in 1898, is a university-level College of Education and the Liberal Arts, academically linked with the University of Limerick. The College is a multi-campus institution, with a student population of over 5,000, enrolled in undergraduate programmes in Primary and Post-Primary Education, Liberal Arts and Early Childhood Care and Education, as well as a range of postgraduate programmes at Diploma, MA and PhD levels.
Limerick Institute of Technology
With over 14,000 students on six campuses situated in four counties in Ireland’s Midwest and Midlands, TUS is Ireland’s newest and most unique Technological University; it began operations in October 2021. TUS Midwest (formerly LIT) is part of the Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest. TUS Midwest has over 6,500 students across 5 state of the art campuses in Limerick, Tipperary and Clare, and offers courses at Level 6 (certificate) through Level 10 (PhD) whilst also catering for craft apprentices and adult and continuing education.
West Limerick Resources
West Limerick Resources is a community development organisation working to achieve positive change in the lives of people and groups in West Limerick. Their efforts are directed at building a stronger community through the enhancement of personal and community identity, values, places, structure and services. Some of their programmes include: Social Inclusion Community Activation Programme (2018-2022), Rural Development (LEADER) 2014-2020, Primary Health Care Project for Traveller Health, Rural Social Scheme, TUS Programme, Jobsclub and Limerick Volunteer Centre.
Ballyhoura Development
Ballyhoura Development is a community led local development company, working to support communities, families, individuals and business. Structured as a non-profit company, with charitable status, Ballyhoura Development is a partnership of the community and voluntary sector, social partners, local government and statutory agencies. They offer information, mentoring, training, research & development and capital support. They especially wish to work with people most in need of assistance to access opportunities that will increase their economic sustainability and improve their quality of life.
Limerick City-wide Children and Youth Forum
The Limerick City-wide Children and Youth Forum is made up of practitioners from the community, voluntary and statutory sector who work with children and young people in the city to help their development. The Forum works in partnership to share information and identify and address gaps in services so outcomes for children and young people are improved. The Forum is made up of four local fora, Garryowen, St Mary’s and the North and Southside of the City.
Limerick Childcare Committee
Limerick Childcare Committee was established in January 2014 following the merger of County Limerick Childcare Committee and Limerick City Childcare Committee. It aims to promote the development of a co-ordinated, integrated, inclusive, strategic approach to the delivery of accessible, affordable, culturally appropriate, high quality childcare services that meet the overall developmental needs of children whilst supporting parents/guardians. The role of the Committee is to support the implementation of national childcare policy at local level on behalf of the Department of Children & Youth Affairs (DCYA), in particular to provide information, training and support to childcare services and to parents.
Limerick Community Education Network (LCEN)
LCEN, established in 1993, is a network of fifteen community organisations and statutory agencies involved in the provision of Community Adult Education in Limerick City. LCEN promotes and supports adult learning in local communities, ensures there is no duplication in provision and facilitates adult learners to access accredited and non-accredited programmes across the city. LCEN provides a forum for those committed to Adult Community Education values by working together to share resources and good practice, avoiding duplication and raising awareness of the value of Adult Community Education. It ensures that community education is resourced, valued and understood and that the highest standards for learners are maintained at all times.
Limerick Integration Working Group
The values of participation, equality and respect for fundamental rights are prerequisites for integration and underline the work of the Limerick Integration Working Group (IWG). Comprising of 18 statutory, voluntary and community groups, the IWG is dedicated to promoting integration and celebrating diversity in Limerick. JRS Ireland and Doras Luimni serve as joint chairs and the group supports initiatives in the priority areas of Language and Education; Information and Support Services; Access to Public Services; Intercultural Awareness; and Active Citizenship. The 3rd Limerick Integration Plan 2018-22 Belonging to Limerick was officially launched by President Michael D Higgins on September 28th at Thomond Park. The plan manifests cultural diversity and encourages a sense of inclusion and ‘belonging’ especially aimed at increasing intercultural awareness and supporting communities.
Limerick Mental Health Association
Limerick Mental Health Association (LMHA) promotes positive mental health across Limerick City and County. Our mission is to promote positive mental health and wellbeing for the Limerick community and to support adults on their recovery journey through peer-led engagement and activities. Our vision for Limerick is a place where people value their own and each others’ mental health as an important part of living well. We promote community mental health and wellbeing through information, training, events and campaigns, including our annual Limerick Mental Health Week.
Culture and Arts, Creative Ireland Limerick
Creative Ireland is a culture-based programme designed to promote individual, community and national wellbeing. The core proposition is that participation in cultural activity drives personal and collective creativity, with significant implications for individual and societal wellbeing and achievement. The Creative Ireland programme focuses on the themes of identity, culture and citizenship and Limerick’s part in the initiative’s five-year journey began with its plans in 2017. Limerick’s ambitious Creative Ireland Culture and Creativity Strategy has sent cultural activity soaring. The county’s international profile, connection with its communities and sense of itself have all been formed through this investment in culture.
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
In 2017 the Department of Social Protection was renamed The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. The Department supports the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection in the discharge of governmental, parliamentary and departmental duties. The Department plays a key role in supporting those most in need, including children and their parents, people who are unemployed, ill, carers, people with disabilities and older people.
Limerick Chamber Skillnet
The Limerick Chamber Skillnet operates under the umbrella of Skillnet Ireland, with over 65 networks around Ireland. The name “Skillnet” reflects the marriage of the two core aspects of what we facilitate, upskilling and networking. In our non-profit capacity, Limerick Chamber Skillnet is funded by Skillnet Ireland and member companies. Skillnet Ireland is funded from the National Training Fund through the Department of Education and Skills. Limerick Chamber Skillnet offers businesses in the Mid-West subsidies of up to 20% towards Training Programmes and Staff Development. We also offer funding of up to 80-100% for Future Skills Training, Development, and Research of new programmes for various sectors and for employment activation programmes.
Irish National Organisation for the Unemployed
The INOU was formed in 1987 against a backdrop of high unemployment, low participation rates, long-term unemployment and mass emigration. At the time, the scale of the unemployment crisis was such that collective action was needed both to bring forward potential solutions and to ensure that unemployed people had access to programmes and services and reasonable social welfare payments whilst unemployed. The INOU works at local and national levels on issues affecting unemployed people. We support local groups through services such as training, information and analysis of Government policies. The INOU also participates in Social Partnership through our membership of the Community and Voluntary Pillar.
Learning
Ambassadors
Learning Ambassadors are working with Learning Limerick to help promote and celebrate learning opportunities. They will act as role models and help inspire learners. A number of participants indicated their interested in becoming Learning Ambassadors at our Partners Networking Meeting in November 2018; and follow up meetings of this group were held and the initiative was formally launched in March 2019. Learning ambassadors are keen to encourage others and can share their own stories and experiences of lifelong learning and help demonstrate that learning is for everyone! Looking forward to hearing more from our Ambassadors during this year!
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