Adult Learners' Week | He Tangata Mātauranga

September 8–14, 2025 Celebrating the Joy of Learning

Adult Learners' Week He Tangata Mātauranga is a UNESCO initiative celebrated in more than forty countries. In 2018, it was re-branded as the Festival of Adult Learning Ahurei Ākonga. This year we are once again uniting under the Adult Learners' Week banner, acknowledging that we’re part of an international movement dedicated to self-determination through learning.

ACE Aotearoa has celebrated this festival across the motu for more than twenty-five years. It’s a chance to showcase the learning on offer in our communities, acknowledge the achievements of learners who have returned to learning, and have fun.

Adult learning can take place in many different spaces and at many different levels of the community. Every week thousands of adults are learning together in places like libraries, community centres, church halls, schools and marae. This year’s theme is a reminder that learning is joyful, directly linked to wellbeing, and even more powerful when we learn with others – building relationships and strengthening community as we go.

The aims of Adult Learners' Week are to:

• Celebrate learner success
• Raise the profile of community education and its benefits
• Encourage learning and make it accessible to all

Big Idea 2025 - Let's Kōrero!

As educators we love talkng about learning! During the 2025 festival we want to indulge our passion by gathering like-minded people together in free community spaces like pubs, libraries and halls to explore "hot" learning topics. We suggest inviting a panel of experts to share their thoughts and then get a discussion going. With local body elections taking place in communities later this year, there is an opportunity to explore the learning needs of your community and the vision of local candidates.  Start thinking about your version of Let's Kōrero! and share it with us. 
marygavigan5@gmail.com 

My Learning Why!

Our "Big Idea" for 2024 in which adult learners shared their learning why ie their motivation for learning was a huge success. Learners all over Aotearoa were recorded sharing why they were learning and their contributions were posted on facebook and other platforms. We encourage you to keep recording and posting your inspiring learner stories to highlight the joy and diversity of lifelong learning.

What You Can Do to Get Started

• Start talking to your team about how you can participate in the festival
• Think about spaces in your community that would work for a Let's Kōrero event

Funding for Festival Events in 2025
Funding applications for festival events are open.
Please return your application as a Word Document. Applications are CLOSED.

Adult Learners' Week Festival of Adult Learning Ahurei Ākonga 2025 events in your region will be added closer to the event.

All our promotional resouces have been refreshed and are available for download. 
Resources to download: 

• Regional Networks and Event Organisers Information Guide
• Printable Certificates
• Editable Certificates
• Digital Collateral
• Media Release
• Funding Application
• History

Information Guide

The Adult Learners' Week He Tangata Mātauranga Regional Networks and Event Organisers Information Guide has been to designed to give you help in media planning, a style guide for publicity materials, event planning, the awards process, sponsorship and funding, reporting and documenting activities and a sample project plan.

Printable Certificates

Many ACE practitioners like to acknowledge the efforts of their students through local awards. Below are certificates which can be downloaded and presented to students. Organisations and communities are free to develop their own criteria for nomination and presentation of awards.

Editable Certificates

Digital Collateral

Download our digital content for the Adult Learners' Week Festival of Adult Learning Ahurei Ākonga 2025.

Media Release