The WEA embeds vital skills, such as literacy, use of information technology, confidence and critical understanding, into courses covering all subjects and issues.
The approach includes:
- Valuing and making use of students' life experience
- Involving students in organising provision and planning their own learning
- Targeting students who have benefited least from the school system and from opportunities for further and higher education
- Collaborating with other organisations and agencies to meet the needs of adult learners for educational guidance, equal access to provision, and for relevant, progressive learning opportunities
- Offering high-quality learning experiences underpinned by regular monitoring and evaluation of the programme
- Encouraging student ownership of the learning process, providing explicit outcomes to learning programmes, recording achievement, and, where appropriate, offering external accreditation
- Employing appropriately qualified and experienced staff
- Providing staff development opportunities for professional staff and training for voluntary members
- Promoting and supporting the voluntary movement by which the association governs itself and decides its future strategy.
Operating nationally and locally, the WEA is organised to locate and respond to the needs of adult learners. Our voluntary structure and flexibility are invaluable in achieving our aims and objectives. Out national dimension uniquely allows us to share hands-on experience.