NEWS RELEASE
14th September 2004
Scottish Union Academy a STUC Priority
The Scottish TUC and the TUC Education Service in Scotland, with the support of the Scottish Executive, are seeking tender for the conduct of a feasibility study into the potential for a new trade union learning Academy in Scotland.
Deputy General Secretary Grahame Smith said:
"Lifelong learning is a key area of activity for the STUC and we are very proud of our achievements on behalf of Scottish workers."
"Trade unions are delivering greater access to learning opportunities and the development of specific academy will increase our capacity to assist in the development of skilled workers who are so vital to the Scottish economy."
This concept is being developed jointly by the STUC and TUC and a separate feasibility study has been commissioned by the TUC (details below) to consider issues in the context of the funding and policy environments in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, while also addressing the interface with devolved government and union structures in Scotland.
Ends
For further details contact:
Grahame Smith John Park
Tel: 0141 337 8100 / Fax: 0141 337 8101 www.stuc.org.uk
Notes to Editors
Today (Tuesday) the TUC publishes ambitious new plans for a Union Academy, which will offer working people learning where and how they want it, commissioning courses from colleges, universities and other providers. Set up, owned and run by unions, the Union Academy aims to transform access to learning for people at work.
In a consultation document published today, the TUC sets out its vision for a new Union Academy that will help employers meet skills needs, assist working people get on at work and in their personal life and spearhead the drive for the nation to overcome chronic problems, such as the five million people with basic skills difficulties. The Union Academy will also play a leading role in promoting social mobility and social justice, equipping individuals to take a fuller part in public and civil life.
For some time now the trade union movement has been at the forefront of improving key skills amongst British workers. What the TUC dubs `a quiet revolution' has led to over 100,000 members being trained every year and over 7,000 union learning representatives qualified to help their colleagues. Government, employers and organisations such as NIACE, the Open University, learndirect and City and Guilds have already given the Union Academy strong backing.
The Office for Public Management Ltd (OPM), an independent, not-for-profit organisation, won the right to conduct the feasibility study into the Union Academy.
Copies of the TUC's consultation document are available from the TUC stand at Congress and can be downloaded from http://www.learningservices.org.uk/extras/publications/academy.pd f.