unionlearn - New Trade Union Education Centre opens at Ruskin College



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Title New Trade Union Education Centre opens at Ruskin College The Trades Union Congress (TUC), in partnership with Ruskin College is opening a new Trade Union Education Centre with a ribbon cutting ceremony at Ruskin's Walton Street site in Oxford, at lunchtime on Friday 5^th December. Guest of honour, Brendan Barber, General Secretary of the TUC, will cut the ribbon in front of distinguished guests from the UK, European and international trade union movement, as well as Oxfordshire trade unionists, who will then join him for a 'beer and sandwiches' celebration to fittingly mark the launch of the new TUC centre. The guests will be shown around the new specialist education centre which will offer a full range of TUC Education courses for trade union reps, health & safety reps, and union learning reps. Brendan Barber said: 'The TUC and unionlearn* its learning and skills organisation, are very excited that we can now deliver courses for union reps through Ruskin College.' 'Both the TUC and Ruskin share long-held beliefs about the importance of learning for working people. Our combined efforts will make a real difference to the trade union movement in Oxfordshire.' Ruskin is internationally famous as a college serving Labour's grass roots through the trade union movement . Many leading figures in British and overseas trade unionism passed through Ruskin as a 'finishing school' which was seen as essential on the CV of anyone with serious ambitions to climb the career ladder within a trade union. Some of Ruskin's famous alumni include; Rodney Bickerstaffe - former General Secretary of Unison, Michael Leahy - General Secretary of Community, Norman Willis, former General Secretary of the TUC, and last but not least, John Prescott who got into politics through his trade union activism with the then National Union of Seamen, and who was recently in the media admitting just how much he personally owed Ruskin College. Ruskin was established over 100 years ago in 1899, and is fiercely proud of its century of history but is not looking backwards or resting on its laurels. Responding to the priorities of the 21st century, Ruskin now has progression pathways covering learning needs from short courses for members and representatives right up to postgraduate degrees. These programmes of study are deeply embedded in trade union issues at all levels. Ruskin's new TUC Centre is unique in offering the chance to move on to take a degree (BA or MA) in International Labour and Trade Union Studies. Nigel Williams is the TUC Programme Co-ordinator for Ruskin College and is responsible for liaising with trade union branch officials and representatives from TUC affiliated unions throughout Oxfordshire. Williams who delivers courses to trade union reps, health and safety reps and union learning reps said: 'It's fantastic that the TUC is building on the historic links between the College and the Labour Movement.' 'As a former Ruskin Student myself, I am delighted and humbled to be given the opportunity to come back and work here. Every trade unionist should come to Ruskin to celebrate our proud heritage and to help make their own contribution towards the trade union movement of the future.' Ends For more information, images or to arrange an interview with Nigel Williams please contact: Briony Roberts at Blue Bear Communications 01367 252 889 briony@bluebear.co.uk Editor's notes: Ruskin College is an independent residential college offering a second chance to adults with few or no educational qualifications, helping them to progress to higher education levels. It is funded by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). Ruskin and the TUC have a long history of contributing to lifelong learning, widening participation and social inclusion. They have strong international links with the Labour and Trade Union movement and their representatives. Unionlearn is the TUC's learning and skills organisation, which also encompasses the highly successful Trade Union Education. Last year Trade Union Education trained over 52,000 trade union reps. Unionlearn and unions have trained over 20,000 union learning reps who have encouraged over 200,000 trade union members back into learning. Press release (700 words) issued 5 Dec 2008 top of page Email this page to a colleague TUC Education in the Midland region 19 December 2008 ONLINE PENSIONS COURSES FOR UNION REPS 15 December 2008 Pension Champions online course 11 December 2008
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