Glossary

is designed to prepare mature students without other qualifications for entry into university or college to do a degree or higher diploma course.

is a means of crediting people for achievements, skills and knowledge that they have already gained. Credit is awarded for learning that can be demonstrated through providing evidence.

is a new service which will merge the information and advice services of learndirect and Nextstep providers in partnership with Jobcentre plus.

promotes all forms of adult learning. During the week organisations run special activities. Unions and ULRs are very involved in it's Learning at Work day, which aims to give the workforce the opportunity to learn something new.

helps adults studying full time with the costs of learning. The grant pays up to £30 per week (subject to financial assessment) for full time learners aged 19 and over who are studying for their first full Level 2 or Level 3 qualification.

A government initiative to encourage people to think about the benefits and opportunities of higher education, especially those from families with no tradition of such education. Aimhigher has run a project in the North West with unionlearn to identify higher education pathways for union members.

are programmes that allow mainly 16-24 year olds to learn on the job, while building up skills and gaining qualifications. They are funded jointly by DIUS and DCSF. Union reps and ULRs are involved in supporting apprentices. Apprenticeships lead to an NVQ Level 2. Advanced Apprenticeships last for at least two years and lead to an NVQ at Level 3, relevant key skills qualifications and a technical certificate. There are also Adult Apprenticeships for those aged over 25.

a body that develops and publishes accreditation criteria and accredits qualifications. The major awarding body for TUC Education qualifications is NOCN (the National Open College Network)

see Skills for Life.

are local agencies to provide information, advice and support to start a new business or grow an existing one, aimed particularly at small businesses.

is a national charity which aims to create a passion for learning that sustains people for life and organises Learning at Work Day which unionlearn and ULRs help run at the workplace.

can be used for financing course fees and related costs provided courses are vocational and last no longer than 2 years. The loan is repaid once the course is completed at interest set by the bank.

The unionlearn Climbing Frame is an online tool for ULRs and other union reps that holds information about a range of learning themes and opportunities. It also signposts relevant learning opportunities to members, whatever their skills levels.

are funing arrangements which aim to pool more resources into workplace learning, with the delivery of provision jointly managed by the employer and the unions. Models are being tested through a project run by unionlearn in the North West and supported by DIUS.

is a new UK-wide body with responsibilities across each of the four nations, and for skills at all levels. It will not have significant executive or operational functions. It has union representation and primarily will be advisory, shaping strategy to achieve the government's world class ambitions, challenging all parties to raise their game on skills.

Centres of Vocational Excellence: colleges and training providers are designated as excellent in defined vocational areas. A new standard wil be rolled out in 2008.

Continual Professional Development: any process or activity that provides added value to the capability of the professional through the increase in knowledge, skills and personal qualities necessary for professional and technical duties.

Deparment for Children, Schools and Families: government department responsible for the education and support of children and young people. Funds 14-19 learning but not apprenticeships.

refers to the unequal access of certain groups in society to information and communications technology, leading to barriers to the aquisition of related skills. Unionlearn has a number of projects with partnership colleges to narrow the digitial divide.

Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills: the government department responsible for learning and skills policy. Funds post - 19 provision including apprenticeships and work-based training as well as providing unionlearn core funding.

covers a wide set of applications and proccesses, such as web-based learning, computer-based learning, virtual classrooms. It includes the delivery of content via the internet, audio and videotape, satellite broadcast, interactive TV, and CD-ROM.

European Computer Driving Licence: european-wide qualification which enables people to demonstrate their competence in computer skills.

stands for equality impact asseesment for all existing adult skills policies in respect to race, disability, gender and age.

A European Social Fund (ESF) community initiative providing funds to projects which test and promote new means of combating discrimintation and inequalities in the labour market. The TUC unionlearn High Road project was funded through Equal.

stands for Employment and Skills Boards. In London, the Mayor established an ESB in 2006 to develop an adult skills strategy for the capitial. The Governmernt is planning to extend the number of such boards with a network.

English for Speakers of Other Languages. These courses are often offered in union learning centres to migrant workers.

stands for further education, the provision of all non-higher education courses after statutory education.

are programmes designed and delivered by partnerships of employers, employer organisations, universities and colleges to develop technical knowledge and skills and wider employability skills . Equivalent to the first two years of an honours degree.

is a framework designed to give learners and employers clear information about the performance of FE colleges.

stands for higher education, the provision of degree and degree equivilant courses.

refers to innformation, advice and guidance. Many ULRs provide front-line IAG on learning to their members.

means information, communication and technology courses, many of which are taken by union learners either in learning centres or online.

Investors in People: the national standard which sets a level of good practice for training and development of people in the workplace.

means industry training board: statutory bodies with union representation that promote and fund training through a levy on employers in the sector. At present there are two ITBs, both in the construction sector.

NVQ for it users which demonstrates competence in the use of IT in the workplace.

is the government agency which supports employers in their recruitment with labour market intelligence, provides advice on building a diverse workforce and meeting their skills needs (with the LSC). Provides support for individuals through personal advisers.

is the UFI brand name for the delivery of online learning through a national network of learning centres as well as providing a careers advice service. Unionlearn manages a network of union learning centres offering learndirect courses, particularly ICT and Skills for Life. The unionlearn advice service is a part of learndirect.

is an agreement between a union and employer which might include elements such as paid time off for study, establishing a learning centre and facilities and facility time for ULRs.

was established by unionlearn in the North West region on similar lines to the Northern Fund.

a joint forum, which allows unions and employers to deliver and monitor the learning agreement.

are rights to free provision such as Skills for Life and first Level 2 qualifications as well as to Level 3 qualifications for 18-25year olds.

was established by unionlearn in the Northern region to set up regional projects to help unions deliver workplace or community learning, funded through the LSCs and RDA.

is an assesment of the training requirements of an organisation's workforce usually carried out by interviews and/or questionnaires.

was established by unionlearn in the South West region to set up regional projects on union-led partnerships on skills, funded by the RDA.

is the government-commissioned review of skills which will be needed in 2020 and which set out recommendations on how to achieve a worldclass workforce by then.

All continuous learning after the age of 16.

are local forums for co-ordinating the activities of local providers such as further education colleges.

The Learning and Skills Council: - responsible for the funding of all post-16 education and training other than higher education in England. Funding for 16-19 education - other than by apprenticeships - will transfer to local authorities by 2010. The TUC is represented on the Council. The regional LSC boards fund a number of unionlearn projects. New regional councils will be established in summer 2008.

is a quality framework for the effective delivery of information, advice and/or guidance on learning and work. A number of union learning centres have obtained the award.

A memorandum of understanding which sets out joint objectives and programmes of action. Unionlearn has signed several with a number of partners, e.g. the Open University.

is a Learning and Skills Council service to provide information, advice and suport on workforce development to large companies and organisations with workforces of 5,000 or more

are statements of the skills, knowledge and understanding needed for an individual to meet the standards expected of them in employment. The standards are industry-led and developed by representatives of employment sectors and cover almost every occupation in the UK. They are also the basis for vocational qualifications and can be used for training, appraisal and recruitment.

are employer-driven centres of excellence delivering skills required by each major sector - the first ones were set up in 2007. They have close connections with SSC's in their sector

The Nextstep information and advice service provides free information on learning and work to anyone aged 20 or over. Will be merged into a new Adult Advancement and Careers Service.

National Istitute of Adult Continuing Education: is a voluntary organisation which works closely with unionlearn in encouraging more adults from a wide range of backgrounds to take up all forms of learning.

National Open College Network: the awarding body which provides national qualifications and programmes in a wide range of subject areas including TUC Education courses.

National Vocational Qualifications are work based qualifications in England, Wales and N Ireland. People are assessed on their competence in defined work-related tasks.

National Vocational Qualifications are work based qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. People are assesed on the basis of their competence in defined tasks.

Office for Standards in Education: the regulatory authority which inspects all publicly funded education and training providers, including those delivering work based training, further education, e-learning and adult and community-based learning.

see e-learning

is leave provided by employers during working time for their workforce to study at a college or workplace learning centre.

are public service agreements which set out government targets for achievement across the four qualification levels by 2011.

The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority: government body responsible for regulating qualifications, including vocational ones.

There are six levels: Entry Level: provides a common path of progression to qualifications at foundation level Level 1: foundation GNVQ/NVQ1/Skills for life Level 2: 4 GCSEs A-C/intermediate GNVQ/BTEC First Diploma/NVQ 2/Skills for Life Level 3: 2 A'levels/BTEC National Diploma/NVQ 3 Level 4: first degree/HNC/HND/NVQ 4 Level 5: postgraduate qualification/NVQ

is a new system of recognising skills and qualifications. It does this by awarding credit for qualififctaions and units (small steps of learning). It enables people to gain qualifications at their own pace along flexible routes. The framework includes TUC Education courses.

is unionlearn's award to providers who demonstarte who demonstrate that union learners are considered in design, development and delivery of courses and programmes. The award will help signpost ULRs to union friendly provision.

are short, exciting books by bestselling authors and celebrities for adults who are new to reading, have lost the reading habit, or who prefer a quick read. Unionlearn promotes the books through its learning centre network.

Regional development agencies: public bodies with union representation that aim to develop and implement regional strategies including skills to meet the needs of regional economies.

Regional Skills Partnerships: forums where businesses and skills organisations including unions work together to meet the skills needs of regional economies. They set out how the delivery of adult skills, workforce development, business support and labour market services can provide the best support for regional economic strategies.

are agreements that map out what skills employers need for their workforce and how they are to be supplied. Trade unions are involved in drawing them up and helping to deliver them.

are a new initiative whereby learners including the unemployed will have access to a range of support and advice within the new Adult Advancement and Careers Service which will help them access the right provider. Learners will have access to their own learner record to help them through their career paths.

are independant advisers to help employers to assess their training needs and arrange provision under Train to Gain. They will be expected to work with ULRs in carrying out this role.

is a national network of the 25 sector skills councils.

is the Government's natioanl strategy for improving literacy and numeracy and includes ESOL. ULRs are active in supporting Skills for Life learners.

is a senior union officer who champions literacy, numeracy and ESOl within the union movement.

a public commitment by the leadership of a company or organisation to support all its employees to develop their basic skills including literacy and numeracy, and to work towards qualifications to at least Level 2. ULRs will work with employers to deliver the pledge.

small-and-medium-sized enterprises with less than 250 employees.

stands for sector skills councils: employer-led bodies with union representation established to increase opportunities to boost the skills of the workforce in the sector.

Scottish Vocational Qualifications: work based qualifications in Scotland modelled on NVQs.

is a government brokerage scheme to increase employer demand for workplace training, particularly those employees without a Level 2 qualification. Unions and ULRs have been given a role in supporting the programme.

is a levy on employers within a sector to fund training administered by an ITB.

University for Industry: brand name for learndirect.

is an acronym for union learning representative: a representative whose role is promoting, brokering and helping to deliver learning at the workplace.

is a database of ULR contact details held by unionlearn.

is the centre established at a workplace, union office or college to provide learning facilities. Many union learning centres are in the unionlearn learndirect network, offering online courses.

was set up by the Government in 1998 to fund union-led projects aimed at increasing union capacity in learning and skills. The fund supports £15m of union-led projects annually.

is the TUC's learning organistion, established in 2006, whose responsibility includes TUC Education, support for unions and their ULRs and the Union Learning Fund.

is operated for unionlearn by learndirect as a free, impartial and confidential service. Its aim is to help union members to develop new skills, improve their job prospects or change jobs.

Workers' Education Association: runs about 10,000 courses a year for adult learners and works in partnership with unions to deliver workplace learning, particularly in health service and in local government.

refers to learning activities that increase the capacity of individuals to participate effectively at the workplace.