Progression to HE and unions

1
Progression to HE and unions

• Presentation by Judith Swift, unionlearn
  Development Manager

2
Unions and Learning

• Central to core union values of Equality,
  Fairness and Fulfilment
• Unions have the trust and confidence of members
• Sound understanding of sector, workplace and
  people
• Natural relationship with employers in the
  workplace
• The vision of World Class Skills - a shared
  priority between Government and unionsUnion
  approach to learning - meeting learners' starting
  points but linked to aspirations! Positive
  messages and model
• Progression built in throughout

3
World Class Skills The Challenge

• Recognition of the need to build achievement in
  intermediate and HE levels
• 3.5 million adults with degree level
  qualifications
• Employer and employee engagement central
• More flexible routes and delivery needed
• Vocational routes into HE essential
• N.B. To reach this we need to look at starting
  points and pull through

4
Traditional picture

• There has been a deep and persistent divide in HE
  learners between the advantaged and disadvantaged
• Pathways traditionally high risk for many
  inflexible and expensive
• Getting more adults from wider cross section
  isnt an option
• Positive interventions needed to break the cycle

5
Role of the Union Learning Representatives

• ULRs are the key people who
• Encourage and support learners
• Work with employers to support workplace learners
• Work with providers of learning to ensure that
  delivery is appropriate and effective
• N.B. They are trained to carry out their role

6
Aims and purpose of unionlearn.

• Set up by the TUC in 2006 with Government support
• Builds on a long union history of learning
  central to union values
• Learning for al workers working from starting
  points but linked to aspirations
• Learning is best delivered through unions who
  represent learners interests
• Committed to Equality and Quality

7
Union Experiences of Higher Level Learning

• Partnerships essential Aimhigher, Open
  University, Foundation Degree Forward and the
  National Extension College
• Union Learning Clubs a success
• CPD important union role
• Union members do want HE!
• NW and Northern region projects
• Year on year growth in HE learning in the Union
  Learning Fund 1,753 in 05?06 and set to exceed
  this year

8
Support Tools for unions

• Unionlearn has produced a range of support tools
  to help unions in HE
• Union Climbing Frame with HE theme
• HE Toolkit
• Training module on HE learning
• Unionlearn Quality Award
• Collective Learning Funds
• Ongoing dialogue with HEFCE to support the union
  work

9
Issues and Barriers

• Need to work more closely with FE and HE
  partnerships unions integral part of Lifelong
  Learning Networks
• Learner support issues
• Time off to learn
• Making Learning affordable
• Perceived status of vocational learning
• Keeping abreast of changing nature of
  sectors-e.g. nuclear industry

10
What Next

• We have 18,000 trained ULRs
• Build on successful pilots and capture key
  success elements in the union model
• Build on MOUs with OU, NEC, Foundation Degree
  Forward
• Foundation Degrees