Today Bill Rammell MP, Minister for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education, will give his backing to unionlearn (the TUCís learning and skills organisation) and unions on their achievements in getting their members into higher education. The Minister is the guest speaker at a national conference hosted by unionlearn and the higher education project, Aimhigher entitled, Helping Union Learners Aim Higher. The conference draws together experts in higher education to examine how unions can continue helping their members into degree-level courses, through the work of over 18,000 Union Learning Reps (ULRs).
Bill Rammell, said: ìI wholeheartedly support the work that Union Learning Reps are doing throughout the country to encourage people in work to engage with education. Although there has rightly been a tremendous amount of work done around basic skills, more and more people are gaining the confidence to go further and aim higher. Projects such as AimHigher, working together with unions, unionlearn, and employers are supporting people in their educational aspirations and encouraging individuals to discover their full potential.î
At the conference a new partnership agreement will be signed between unionlearn and Foundation Degree Forward. This follows similar agreements signed by unionlearn with the Open University and the National Open College Network earlier in the year. Unionlearn will also unveil its strategy to support unions and union learners to access higher education, building on its work with Aimhigher and its partnerships with providers such as the University of Bath and Liverpool University.
Learning Unlimited: A survey of union members and higher education opportunities, a new piece of research commissioned by the Open University and unionlearn will also be launched at the high-profile conference. The survey-based research highlights union membersí increasing awareness that higher level skills will be required in the workplace, and almost all respondents agreed that it was important to be continually learning. The survey revealed that two in five were already engaged in further education, training or development. More than two in five had an A Level or equivalent qualification and were ready for higher education.
Unfortunately, the research revealed high barriers to accessing the learning required and desired. Sixty per cent felt that getting time off was a problem and over 80 per cent agreed that their employer providing time off to study would determine whether or not they took up courses. Predictably fees and course costs were another barrier and almost three quarters expressed an interest in learning if the employer paid all or part of the fees. Other incentives that would encourage learning, included help with childcare, travel, and study costs.
Traditional methods of learning proved to be a turn-off for many union learners, who wanted to learn in small groups and were not keen on lectures. The research found that in order to satisfy these preferences and this potential demand, there will need to be more incentives for employers to provide paid time off to learn and contribute to fees. There also need to be rights for unions to negotiate these types of opportunities. Since much more flexibility in the delivery of learning is required, Union Learning Representatives are and can in future play an important part in helping and supporting their members to access higher education. The Open University, AimHigher, unionlearn and trade unions are helping this by holding taster sessions in learning centres and union learning clubs.
Unionlearn director, Liz Smith said: ìI warmly welcome the Ministerís support for trade union learners. As our latest piece of research shows, union learners are ready, willing and able to move on to the next challenge, which is higher education. Unionlearn has extremely valuable partnerships with leading providers in education, and is providing ways in which union members can taste higher education before they hopefully go on to access courses.î
Minister and senior trade unionists urge union members to aim at higher education
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