Are you passionate about creating meaningful learning experiences for adults in your community, workplace, or organisation? The Certificate in Adult and Community Education is a Level 9 postgraduate award designed for professionals who want to deepen their understanding of how adults learn—and develop the skills to design, deliver, and evaluate powerful educational programmes.
This part-time, 10-credit certificate offers a dynamic, thought-provoking introduction to the theory, policy, and practice of adult and community education. Whether you are working in community development, social care, human resources, youth services, or further/higher education, this course will help you grow into a confident, reflective educator who can make a real difference.
Why Choose This Programme?
✔ Develop real-world teaching and facilitation skills
Learn how to design inclusive learning programmes, facilitate adult learning groups, and evaluate teaching sessions effectively.
✔ Understand the bigger picture
Explore the history, policy landscape, and philosophical foundations of adult and community education—so you can act with insight, purpose, and critical awareness.
✔ Learn from influential thinkers
Engage with leading educators including Freire, Mezirow, Knowles, Hooks, Rogers, and others who have shaped modern adult learning theory.
✔ Examine emerging trends
From digital learning to the professionalisation of the sector, you’ll analyse contemporary issues that are reshaping adult and community education today.
✔ Ideal for busy professionals
Delivered part-time with a strong focus on applied learning, this certificate is designed to fit around work and life commitments.
Who Is This Course For?
This programme is perfect for those who currently work—or aspire to work—in:
Community education and development
Adult learning services
Social care, youth work, or family support
Workplace learning and staff development
Further and higher education
NGOs, voluntary, and advocacy organisations
If you believe education can change lives and strengthen communities, this course will help you contribute with confidence and credibility.
What You Will Learn
By the end of the certificate, you will be able to:
Analyse key theories and policies shaping adult and community education
Develop, deliver and evaluate an adult/community education programme
Critically examine the adult learner and diverse learning contexts
Explore how adult education influences communities, families, and society
Reflect on your own values and professional practice as an educator
How You Will Learn
You’ll engage in a rich blend of:
Case studies
Class discussions
Reflective writing
Practical programme design
Guided reading and independent study
Assessment is 100% continuous, allowing you to apply your learning directly to real-world practice.
Online Support
Students will have full access to a range of supports available online and through Blackboard, our virtual learning environment. These include our new online programme, PACE, which is designed to support students to access and effectively use library resources in order to complete assignments. Additional supports include an Academic Writing Centre and Maths Support Centre, freely available to all students.
Delivery
This programme will be delivered in an online format and will be delivered via our Virtual Learning Environment
Adult & Community Education in Ireland Historical development of adult and community education. The role of the women’s movement. Inequality and education in Ireland. Policy underpinning adult and community education. Current structure of adult and community education provision. The Adult Learner The concepts of informal, non-formal, formal learning, experiential learning. Lifelong learning: the history and meaning of the concept. Theoretical perspectives on adult learning (e.g. Malcolm Knowles; Jack Mezirow; Carl Rogers; Naomi Horrocks; Eduard Lindeman). Theoretical perspectives on teaching adults (e.g. Paulo Freire; Malcolm Knowles; Ivan Illich; Stephen Brookfield; Bell Hooks; Nell Noddings). Practical Approaches to Adult and Community Education Group work and its relationship to adult and community education. The characteristics of adult learning groups. Styles and skills in group facilitation Teaching and learning methods of learning in adult and community settings. Designing an inclusive learning programme. Evaluating a teaching and learning programme for an adult and community setting Emerging Issues in Adult and Community Education Technology as a tool in adult and community education. The professionalisation of adult and community education: exploring the debates.
All applicants will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Lifelong Learning reserves the right to require applicants to attend for an interview to determine their suitability for the programme
This is a minor award which is part of our Master of Arts in Child, Youth and Family Studies. Successful completion of this course will allow the learner to contribute 10 credits towards the Major award.
Explore our Postgraduate Prospectus to view the full range of postgraduate study options, including course details, entry requirements, and progression routes. Download the prospectus to help you choose the programme that best suits your goals.
