If you’re looking to learn a new skill, take up a new hobby, or brush up your knowledge, Highlands College’s Adult and Community Education department is what many would consider a good place to start.
From jewellery making to crocheting, furniture making to tap dancing, the college offers a wide selection of courses for those wanting to learn later in life.
Self-confessed “people person” Amanda Berry has been announced as Highlands College’s new Head of Adult and Community Education – and she’s set to lead the department according to her “clear and ambitious vision” for the future of lifelong learning in Jersey.
“Bringing training to where people are”
Amanda’s background spans HR, employability support and training. She has spent the last ten years at Acorn and Jersey Employment Trust, managing the shop team.
Her passions outside of work are just as focused on people and connections, as she is an “enthusiastic” member of a choir, lover of dog walks, as well as trying her hand at Spanish.
Amanda’s experience with people of differing needs and circumstances has no doubt formed the basis of her vision for Highlands College’s Adult and Community Education department.
“I would like to primarily make adult education a very inclusive and accessible place for adult learners,” she said.
That would take form in a number of ways, she added, including cost, location and accessibility.
“Travelling to different venues can be a barrier for people, so it’s about trying to bring training to where people are,” she said.
“We’d like to have a venue to do courses in the west, there’s the Portuguese Cultural Centre now, as well as Age Concern.”
Amanda said she’d also been working with equality charity Liberate Jersey to make sure the department was welcoming and accessible to “absolutely everybody in Jersey’s community”.
Cost could also be a barrier to people accessing adult education, she noted, and was why she was keen to organise education opportunities that were free and “would benefit the community”.
“Could we do autism awareness or mental health awareness that anyone could come to?” she asked.
Amanda said she would also like to offer shorter courses to make them more “affordable”.
“A ten-week jewellery course is quite a time commitment for people, and it’s also a cost all in one go,” she said.
“Can we do a morning where people can come and experience it as a try before you buy?
“And also, if you haven’t got the disposable income, you can still access different courses that way.”
Diversity, community and connections
Adult education brought about many benefits, Amanda said, whether it be for the individual taking part or for the wider community.
“Anybody learning something new, it’s going to be good for their confidence and self-esteem,” she shared.
“It just gives people a real lift, particularly if they haven’t done any courses or learning for quite a while.”
She noted that adult education was the “perfect kind of environment” for people to form connections.
“Sadly, there are lots of people in Jersey who are quite socially isolated. Adult education brings people together and gives them a new community or network of people they’ve not met before.”
It just gives people a real lift, particularly if they haven’t done any courses or learning for quite a while
Amanda Berry
This, in turn, supported local diversity.
“We have got a lovely cultural mix of people in Jersey with different demographics, viewpoints and values,” Amanda said.
“Adult education brings these people together that have a specific interest in something. That makes for a more inclusive society overall.”
“I’ll do anything to help them walk through the door”
Amanda’s vision for the future of the Adult Education department is people-centric, people-focused and people-prioritised.
It’s clear that this is what has fuelled her career and passion for her new role.
“I’m absolutely a people person,” she admitted. “I’ve done lots of mentoring, training and coaching and all the jobs I’ve done over the last 15, 20 years has been about supporting people to reach their potential.”
She spoke of the “joy” she has felt when working with individuals throughout her career.
“The absolute joy you get from seeing somebody who doesn’t feel confident to walk through the door to do a course, to them starting and seeing the progress they have made, and the difference it makes to people.”
And she pledged to remain committed to future students.
“For a lot of people, walking through the door is the hardest thing. I’m all about that, because I’ll do anything to help them walk through the door,” she said.
Looking ahead
Amanda’s commitment and passion no doubt fuels her excitement for the future of the department, of which, she said, there was much to look forward to – starting this summer.
“I want to run short taster sessions for the longer courses so people can give something a try or have a taster to inform them whether it’s something of interest,” she explained.
Music lovers might be happy to know that there will be courses dedicated to singing and guitar lessons available from September.
“Winter can be a tricky time for people,” Amanda added, “so I really want to get the mental health support courses up and running for then.”
For a lot of people, walking through the door is the hardest thing…I’ll do anything to help them walk through the door
Amanda berry
Long term, Amanda hoped the work she is putting in will result in more Islanders engaging in adult education.
“I hope to broaden the demographic and make adult education inclusive and accessible to everybody,” she said.
Feedback from those in education, interested in getting back into education, or anyone with ideas, was vital to that process, Amanda said.
“Adult education is for the community, so we need to find out what the community wants.
“I really encourage people to get in contact – I’m really open to ideas. What do people want to learn? And what’s topical?”
And if you see yourself as someone with wisdom to share, Amanda wanted you to get involved and join the “passionate and enthusiastic” tutors on her team.
“If somebody has an interest in something, a skill that they want to teach, they can also get in touch at ace@highlands.ac.uk,” she added.
READ MORE…
In the latest edition of Connect Magazine, we speak to Principal of Highlands and University College Jersey, Jo Terry-Marchant… Pick up a copy around the island or read the digital edition below…
