Partnerships for Learning Opportunities for Trade Unions and the University for Industry

This report focuses on trade unions in Britain as negotiators for and providers of education and training, either alone or in partnership with employers and educational institutions. Section 1 introduces the report's aims. Section 2 gives an overview of union involvement in education and training. It also introduces the tensions within current union approaches to education and training that reflect uncertainties in both workplace education and training and in plans for the University for Industry (UfI) initiative. Section 3 explains the rationale behind UfI, takes an inclusive view of UfI, summarizes the contents of the UfI prospectus, and explains how information and technologies can encourage and inhibit participation in lifelong learning. Section 4 looks at recent experiences of the Trades Union Congress and individual unions in negotiating for skills development in the workplace. It suggests how these can form a springboard from which unions can inform, influence, and contribute to the development of UfI. The section considers the following: different aspects of the skills agenda; motivation, guidance, and learning; negotiating for learning in the context of changing working practices; and priorities for trade unions. Section 5 looks at unions as providers of lifelong learning opportunities. Section 6 develops proposals for specific trade union roles within the UfI concept. Appendixes contain 18 references and resources and a glossary. (YLB)