The future of education  in Ireland to be explored during Cork conference

CORK Education and Training Board (Cork ETB) and Cork’s historic City Hall will host the annual Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI) conference which takes place across two days this year – on Wednesday, September 27 and Thursday, September 28.

The two-day conference is set to examine and discuss the future of education in Ireland, with the theme of this year’s conference ‘The ETB of the Future’, with all items on the agenda aligned to reflect this important topic.

At Cork ETB and ETBI, we have lined up a number of keynote speakers who will explore and share their valuable insights and perspectives. We will also host engaging panel discussions with key opinion leaders and change makers from across the industry to offer a ‘big picture’ perspective for those working in the sector.

How can Ireland’s education sector continue to utilise technological advancements to its advantage? 

What does the classroom of the future look like? 

Who is in it, and how are they being taught? What do we need from our funders, stakeholders and staff to help us get there?

These are all relevant questions that continue to arise for education professionals throughout Ireland. The objective of the conference is not to answer these questions, but we are keen to offer a vital space to discuss them.

It is now ten years since the formation of the ETBI and in that time there has been substantial reforms to our education system across primary, post-primary, FET and adult learning institutions at Cork ETB and in the 15 other ETBs across Ireland. Processes of teaching and learning, as well as the learning experience of students have changed irrevocably for the better throughout the last decade.

With this in mind, it is even more prudent for us to continue with a future-orientated approach to ensure that we continue to improve how we engage with all of our learners across all walks of life.

Just last year, Cork ETB published our Strategy Statement for 2022-2026 and the key vision and key priority that emerged from this for us was that education and training “must have relevance to the world that they live in.” This conference will help us to explore the changing world that we live in and how we can best navigate through it and continue to be the driving force in best practice education and training across Cork city and county.

We are deeply rooted members of the community in Cork, as through our 88 entities we engage with people from all walks of life.

All of our valued staff members have shown remarkable resilience and an outstanding ability to adapt to considerable change, particularly in recent years, and will continue to do so in the years to come.

We are deeply committed to supporting learners through all stages of their educational journeys.

Our goal to provide a pathway for every learner remains, and we want to utilise advancements in technology and communication to reach even more learners.

The influential Austrian-American author, mentor and consultant who is considered the father of modern business management, Peter Drucker once said: “We now accept the fact that learning is a lifelong process of keeping abreast of change. And the most pressing task is to teach people how to learn.”

We embrace this challenge wholeheartedly at Cork ETB and have always placed the needs of our learners and our staff at the forefront of all our considerations.

The topics at this year’s ETBI conference are directly aligned with Cork ETB’s ethos to continue to meet learners where they are on their journey – both now and in the future, and the topics discussed at the conference are as follows:

· Artificial intelligence and technology, and their role in education · Future Skills & Innovation

· Inclusion & Special Education

· Technology & Artificial Intelligence

· Pathways & Connections

· Resilience & Human Connection

Though the conference is aimed at those within the education sector, it is open to all with an interest in the future of education in Ireland and I would encourage attendance to anyone who is considering so.

In addition to the keynote speakers Joanne O’Riordan, Niall Collins TD, Alexa Joyce, John Lonergan and Bernie McNally, Secretary General of the Department of Education, there will be up to 40 additional speakers in attendance on the day.

Over 300 people are expected to attend and as the second largest ETB entity in Ireland, we will be delighted that Cork has the opportunity to become the focal point for the Irish education sector.

Those interested in attending or seeking further information about speakers, the line up or agenda can visit: https://events.etbi.ie/ETBIAnnualConference2023