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Lifelong Learning Information
   

Lifelong learning information sheet

What is Lifelong Learning?

Course participantsThe government's Lifelong Learning policy for Scotland is about ‘personal fulfilment and enterprise, employability and adaptability, active citizenship and social inclusion'. What does that mean?

For UNISON it means trying to encourage a culture in which education and training is available and accessible for everyone.

UNISON has been at the forefront of developing lifelong learning for people called non traditional learners, that is people who have had a poor experience of learning in the past, people who lack confidence in their own abilities or who feel school was so long ago that they could never study again.

However by learning UNISON doesn't mean just getting the skills needed to do a particular job. Lifelong Learning should mean learning in the broadest sense, gaining skills and confidence to progress and participate in work, in the union and in the wider community.

UNISON wants to make sure that as many members as possible have opportunities for learning at work. This is why UNISON has put so much time and money into the development of the Return to Learn programme. Increasingly Return to Learn is being delivered in the workplace through partnership with the employers and the Workers Educational Association. This approach enables UNISON to reach many of the ‘non traditional learners'. As part of this approach UNISON has developed the role of Union Learning Representative.

For more information on Lifelong Learning and how to organise training please contact Nancy Kelly. Tel: 0845 355 0845, email: n.kelly@unison.co.uk Learning & Organising Unit UNISON 14 West Campbell Street Glasgow G2 6RX.

What do Union Learning Reps do?

UNISON recognises that this is an opportunity to draw in a new group of activists and we provide training for them in their role as ULRs.This is not some sort of pseudo careers adviser but someone who can talk with their colleagues about training and education, who knows and can promote UNISON courses, who knows where to direct people who need information about further education or how to access funding for learning.

Other work can include:

  • Encouraging colleagues to join courses such as Return to Learn and supporting them while they are learning

  • Helping to identify and highlight the learning needs of people in their workplace

  • Raising awareness of lifelong learning issues in their UNISON branch

  • Working with the branch to encourage learners into branch activity

  • Liaising with employers and experienced branch negotiators on lifelong learning opportunities
    in the work place

  • Negotiating a learning agreement with your employer

  • Working with branch officers especially the branch education officer to promote lifelong learning opportunities

For more information on Lifelong Learning and how to organise training please contact Lucanne Strachan Learning & Organising Unit UNISON 14 West Campbell Street Glasgow G2 6RX l.strachan@unison.co.uk or 0845 355 0845.

Lifelong Learning -The Role of the Branch

The easiest way for a branch to get to grips with Lifelong Learning is for experienced branch activists, especially the branch education officer, to liaise directly with ULRs.

They can also target groups of members e.g. Return to Learners and offer them the chance to train as ULRs once they have completed R2L and seen how pleasurable and fulfilling learning can be.

A crucial role for ULRs is to make the link with the bargaining agenda. By using information gathered from colleagues training issues can be raised directly with the employer and linked with existing issues i.e. the Knowledge and Skills Framework.

Information gathered can also be used to begin negotiations with employers on the establishment of a Workplace Learning Agreement that would guarantee equality of access to training for all not just those who already have qualifications.

Regular contact between ULRs and the branch is very important. The great strength of the ULR is their ability to promote education to the very groups that make up the majority of UNISON members but who are in the minority at activist level-low paid, part time, women and ethnic minorities.

As ULRs gain confidence they will be recognised in their workplace as a very positive face of UNISON, bringing positive benefits to the branch and to UNISON in general.

For more information on Lifelong Learning and how to organise training please contact Lucanne Strachan Learning & Organising Unit UNISON 14 West Campbell Street Glasgow G2 6RX l.strachan@unison.co.uk or 0845 355 0845.

 

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