Unite’s finance sector ‘United in Learning’
project, with support from unionlearn with SERTUC’s’ Accessing
Higher Education (HE)’ in the workplace project, held an event at
Unite’s London Woodberry office in March. The event aimed to raise
awareness of the Higher Education opportunities available and equip
Union Learning Reps (ULRs) with the information needed to support
learners wishing to undertake higher learning.
Speakers from a number of universities gave
presentations about their institutions and courses. The Open
University (OU) spoke of their partnership with unionlearn, the
financial support available to students and their new financial
services foundation degree. (More information can be found here:
http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/qualification/g16.htm
) The KUBIS initiative was highlighted by Kingston University and
Anglia Ruskin University informed the audience about their Higher
Skills @ Work programme and their discounted rate on two of their
foundation degrees for union learners. Finally, Birkbeck emphasised
their long history of adult education and ability to be flexible to
accommodate the needs of adult learners.
Following the presentations, a Q and A session
was held. Issues raised included the practicalities of the course,
managing the expectations of individuals, the bite size/modular
approach, confidentiality, the flexibility of HE, the accreditation
of prior learning and experience, universities involvement in adult
learner’s week, the availability of HE tasters, the Information
Advice and Guidance (IAG) available to ULRs and trade unions,
employer engagement, the cost of HE, and the financial support
available to learners.
In the afternoon, delegates from the Finance
Sector also learned about the Financial Sector Skills Council
(FSSC) ‘Directions’ website, a specialist source of careers
information for those working in, or aiming to work in the Finance
Sector. Directions provides information on careers in financial
services, accounting and finance around the UK. Unite recommends
that all ULRs, workplace reps and learning organisers who want to
know more about careers in the finance sector visit the
Directions website (www.fssc.org.uk/directions)
as it is an excellent source of information.
Feedback from the event was positive with both
universities and ULRs stating that they had learnt a lot from the
day. One Rep stated that “it was good to learn about the various
courses on offer, I knew very little about these possibilities
before, but now I can confidently pass on reliable information to
our members who want to make progress in their career” whereas
another said “I was impressed by the professionalism of the
university representatives; I will certainly aim to include this
information in our next newsletter”.
Furthermore, the Higher Education Institutions
(HEIs) found that the meeting provided “universities with a great
opportunity to meet with union officials especially ULRs who have
direct access to union learners and to showcase the opportunities
and the support available to these learners to progress to higher
education” Akin Shoetan, from the OU, continued by saying that “we
need more events like this that bring HEIs, trade unions and even
employers together if we are to achieve the Leitch target of 40% of
the UK workforce being educated at HE level by 2020 as it is a
win-win for all parties”
Eileen Francis, Project Development Officer,
initiated and chaired the event . Eileen said “This was a great
opportunity for Unite Representative’s, Learning Organisers and
Officers to meet key people from four Universities each offering
flexible Higher Education courses that can benefit our members”
If you would like to hold a HE awareness
session and/or find out more information about the ‘Accessing
Higher Education in the Workplace’ project, please contact Sean
Ruddy (Project Worker) on 020 7467 1368 or via sruddy@tuc.org.uk
Eileen Francis, Unite Project
Development Officer
