When AONTAS Star Awards winners 2012 were announced as a part of the Adult Learners' Week it was a well attended event.

Irish President Michael D. Higgins announced the winners of the AONTAS Star Awards 2012 in five categories - Munster, Leinster, Connaught, Ulster and Nationwide, and presented them with their awards at a special ceremony gathering over 250 people.

Speaking at the awards, President Higgins said, 'We know that career and indeed other opportunities are often determined by the level of educational attainment we achieve. For some the lifelong learning journey has been a natural progression through primary and second level and onwards but for others that experience may have been very different and the path of reengagement with the world of education may seem daunting and uncertain. Many of the groups nominated for the Awards today have done wonderful work within communities in helping others with previously low levels of education to resume the journey.'

Award winners this year include Age Action Ireland for their 'Getting Started' programme, Croí na Gaillimhe Resource Centre (a St Vincent de Paul centre in Galway), Limerick Community Education Network and the Knockmay Women's Quilting Project from Portaoise. 'Destined'- a bespoke learning and development programme for people with intellectual disabilities delivered by NICVA (Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action) was the recipient of the Ulster Award. Music at the ceremony was provided by the Ballymun Lullaby Choir which includes a string group, a brass group and a choir group.

This is the sixth year that AONTAS has organised the STAR Awards. Berni Brady, Director of AONTAS said 'The STAR Awards has gone from strength to strength each year. When we started the initiative back in 2007 we received 43 nominations. This year, AONTAS received 119 nominations. The nominations give an insight into how adult education can respond to the learning needs of adults. Initiatives that have been shortlisted for these awards have really demonstrated strong outcomes to their work - helping people move onto further and higher education and employment. Through collaboration at local level, these initiatives are enhancing education services for people, contributing to the development of their communities and seeding ideas for small but sustainable social enterprises. For many adults around the country who are feeling disillusioned in these difficult times, adult education is offering them a second chance.'

Some of the initiatives shortlisted were developed by local VECs. Others have strong support from the private sector through the involvement of companies like Google and Intel. A number of organisations in the community and voluntary sector also featured in the shortlist - they include Focus Ireland, Age Action and the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed (INOU).

The Judging Panel for the STAR Awards this year brings together a number of experts in adult and community education. The panel includes representation from the VEC sector, Teagasc, Pobal, the NQAI (National Qualifications Authority of Ireland), the community sector, the Small Firms Association (SFA) and academia. The Judges had a difficult task in deciding on the winners this year. The initial 119 nominations were reduced to a shortlist of 41 projects. In early February, the judges travelled around the country to meet with the shortlisted projects. Speaking on behalf of the Judges, Claire Byrne from the NQAI said 'The winning projects demonstrated a high level of collaboration, imagination, entrepreneurial spirit and actively involved learners themselves. This really gave them the X factor.'