STUC Learning Conference

The seventh annual STUC Learning Conference was held on 15 November 2007 at Hampden Park in Glasgow. Addressing the Conference, Cabinet Secretary for Education & Lifelong Learning, Fiona Hyslop MSP announced that the Scottish Government is committing just under £4.25m over the next three years to union learning in Scotland.

This year’s Conference theme was “Reaching Out: Union Learning.” Conference delegates participated in various workshops throughout the day, including sessions on working with migrant workers, everyday skills and funding. The STUC Learning Conference supports trade union learning activity by targeting national key stakeholders in union learning, such as ULRs, learning providers, and representatives of affiliated unions. The STUC Learning Conference encourages awareness of policies and initiatives and to share achievements, experiences and best practice between trade unions and their partners.

The STUC Skills & Lifelong Learning Team supports ULRs in developing and sustaining a strong Scottish ULR network. Approximately 200 participants, including Scottish Union Learning Fund (SULF) Project Workers and union officials from all over Scotland, attended the conference.

For more information, contact the STUC Skills & Lifelong Learning Team by email at learning@stuc.org.uk.

Trade Union Week

The STUC Skills & Lifelong Learning Team will hold meetings on Wednesday, 16 January 2008 during Trade Union Week at the Scottish Parliament in Room Tg20/21. The STUC Highlands & Islands Skills & Lifelong Learning Team are organising an interactive session on the ESF “Sign Here” Project on British Sign Language. This session will take place between 10:00 am – 11:00 am. Additionally, a workshop on Dyslexia will run between 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm. This session is being held to discuss issues surrounding dyslexia in the workplace, and how we can achieve a ‘dyslexia-friendly workplace’. It will be a launch for establishing a Scottish trade union strategy for adults with dyslexia, and is supported by the STUC Disabled Workers’ Committee. During the afternoon the Team will be available for drop-in visits from MSPs, researchers and staff.

For more information on Trade Union Week, contact the STUC Skills & Lifelong Learning Team on 0141 337 8100 or by email at learning@stuc.org.uk.

STUC Highlands & Islands Local Learning Forums

The Inverness Cross Union ULR Forum met in October and December. In October the Forum saw a demonstration of Mini MOLI and invited the Vice Principal of Inverness College, David Hosey and Harry Cunningham from TUC Education to speak at the December meeting. The Inverness Forum is in the process of organising a Fusion Cooking evening class at Inverness College for local union members (and possibly IT courses) sometime in Jan/Feb 08. Details of these courses will be advertised locally as soon as they are finalised.

The Caithness Cross Union ULR Forum met for the first time in October and the meeting included a presentation from Colin Reed from ILA Scotland on registering ILA applications online and a demonstration of Mini MOLI. The Forum met again on the 4th December and Graham Young from Highlands & Islands Enterprise attended the meeting providing Forum members with information about Learning Works. Caithness Forum has reserved three places for local union members on each of the following North Highland College evening classes: German for Beginners; Italian Conversation; Basic Digital Imaging; Bird Watching; and Art for Fun, which will run in February and March 2008. For further details about these courses, please contact your local ULR or Pam at the STUC.

The Orkney Cross Union ULR Forum met on the 20th November 2007. ULRs in Orkney were joined by video conference by Terry Anderson, STUC Union and Community Development Officer and Colin Reed, ILA Scotland. Lorna Hirst from Orkney Learning Centre also joined the ULRs in Orkney. The Orkney Forum, in conjunction with Orkney Learning Centre, is offering union members in Orkney 2.5 hour evening workshops on digital photography on the following Thursdays: 17th, 24th and 31st January 2008. For further details about these courses, please contact your local ULR or Pam purquhart@stuc.org.uk at the STUC.

The next meeting of the Inverness, Caithness, Orkney and Shetland Cross Union ULR Forums will all take place on Wednesday 12 March between 11am and 2pm. The forums will link into to each other via video conference. Venues will be advised this month.

Everyday Skills Event

The STUC Everyday Skills Event will take place on Thursday, 28th February 2008. The venue is likely to be The Tollbooth (TBC) in Stirling. A key aim of the STUC Skills & Lifelong Learning Team is to support Union Learning Representatives in promoting the Everyday Skills agenda to increase awareness across the country. The event is aimed at ULRs, potential ULRs, SULF Project Workers, Tutors and others who have an interest in everyday skills issues. The one day event will provide participants with practical information and skills through workshops and presentations. For more information contact Wendy Burton, Development Officer – Everyday Skills, by phone on 0141 337 8121 or by email at wburton@stuc.org.uk.