Education that Inspires
Celebrating over 50 years of Adult Learning since 1969, the Centre for Adult Learning and Professional Development has been working with communities, individuals and regional agencies to ensure professional and personal development opportunities are available to those who wish to upskill or to those who might otherwise face barriers to university education. From the early beginnings of outreach, extra-mural courses to fully accredited flexible programmes which are on offer today in areas such as Business, Humanities, Advanced Manufacturing, Information Technology, Languages, Community Education and many others, the Centre for Adult Learning and Professional Development has accumulated a wealth of experience and knowledge in the development and delivery of foundation level studies through to masters awards. Through its lifelong learning programmes and outreach strategies, the University is committed to the values of openness and accessibility supporting regional development and meeting the educational needs of individuals and communities across the region and country. The University’s flexible learning programmes allow students to study anytime, anywhere and anyhow. It’s Strategic Plan has committed itself to the value of an Open University of Galway and increasing access and lifelong learning opportunities for all learners. During the academic year 2024–25 just ended, the University of Galway provided Access and part- time courses through the Centre, to over 1,500 students across the region. Many of these students had been absent from formal education for a considerable length of time, but all recognized the importance of up-skilling in order to remain competitive and equipped to meet the needs of the ever-changing workplace while others undertook their programme of study for self-development and personal interest reasons. Our programmes New programme developments have focused on making courses more accessible and manageable for students by offering staged awards at Certificate, Diploma, Degree, Masters and even at individual module (i.e. micro-credential) level, to ensure that these educational opportunities reach as many people as possible from all representative groups. Conscious of the need for students to constantly upskill and apply their learning to the workplace, these new programmes have addressed emerging skills needs in industry in areas such as business management, leadership development, advanced manufacturing technology, Information Technology and many others. Recent new programme developments at the Centre for Adult Learning and Professional Development, in partnership with the University academic community, include a series of one-year blended learning Diplomas in Advanced Manufacturing Practice focusing on the digitalisation of manufacturing processes, digitally enabled connected medical devices, intelligent manufacturing and sustainability of manufacturing systems. It has also launched two postgraduate courses, in Construction Innovation (PG Diploma) and Modern Methods of Construction (PG Certificate), to develop sustainable technological solutions to the challenges facing the construction and built environment sector in Ireland and elsewhere.
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