STUC. Scottish Union Learning. The learning force behind Scotland's workers.

Background

The fourth STUC Highlands & Islands ULR Conference "Making the case for learning in the current economic climate" took place on Friday 12th June in Eden Court Theatre, Inverness.

The conference, sponsored by SQA, was aimed at Highlands & Islands ULRs, union members interested in becoming a ULR and SULF project workers with project activity in the Highlands & Islands.

The main objective of the conference was to provide ULRs with information to assist them make the case for learning against the backdrop of the current economic climate.

Conference Programme

The morning session of the conference started with words of welcome from Sylvia O’Grady, Manager of Scottish Union Learning who chaired the conference. Sylvia introduced the first conference address of the morning, Stephen Boyd, STUC Assistant Secretary who set the scene by providing delegates with an overview of the economic climate and the challenges and opportunities facing trade unions.

Stephen was followed by a speed networking session. Delegates were divided into six teams for the session and spent 9 minutes at each table. The tables were hosted by Highlands & Islands Enterprise; ILA Scotland; SCQF; SQA; Aberdeen College/Ethos Courses & Careers Scotland. The organisations hosting the tables provided delegates with information about 3 things their organisation could do to support workers if they were feeling vulnerable about their job in the current economic climate/looking to update their skills/learning.

The morning session concluded with a conference address from Grahame Smith, STUC General Secretary who provided delegates with both a national and Highlands & Islands perspective on learning and skills against the backdrop of the current economic climate.

Following lunch, delegates participated in 2 out of 3 workshops. The three workshops were:

Meeting your learning needs (North Forum): This workshop as well as looking at how to meet the learning needs of the local community in the current economic climate also considered how to fit learning into workers’ lifestyle.

Engaging Learners (WEA): In this session, consideration was given to the many demands and pressures on workers in the current economic climate and how do ULRs make the case for learning to their members? This workshop also considered some of the different ways you can engage learners to start and encourage them on their learning journey.

Everybody Counts (Adult Literacies Renfrewshire): This session explored some tips, tricks and strategies that ordinary people invent and use to do maths in everyday life. These strategies are not usually taught at school – they approach maths from a different perspective, and are designed to be easy to apply and remember. And, in light of the current credit crunch, the workshop also discussed sources of assistance for people in terms of finance and budgeting.

Following the workshops there was a coffee break and distribution of the updated 2009 Highlands & Islands ULR Resource Pack.

The final session of the day, ‘Putting the pieces together,' was run by Scottish Union Learning in the Highlands & Islands. This was an interactive session testing delegates’ (working in teams) knowledge about the functions of Scottish Union Learning with the aid of jigsaws!

Sylvia closed the conference with thanks to all the speakers, workshop facilitators and speed networking hosts.