Education Partnership for NWRC & Irish Congress of Trade Unions

North West Regional College has signed a new partnership agreement with the Northern Ireland Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions(NICICTU) which will see the further and higher education college act as the sole provider of education programmes for union representatives across Northern Ireland. The partnership means that NWRC is the only college in the UK to be designated as an exclusive provider for trade union education in its region.

The partnership was officially launched by Minister for Employment and Learning Dr Stephen Farry.  The Minister said: “Improving the skills of employees is one of my Department’s key priorities, and I know that everyone here understands the absolute importance of developing the capability of all managers, irrespective of whether they come from a union or non-union background.  The programmes that the Northern Ireland Committee run on behalf of my Department make an important contribution to the wider skills agenda.  I applaud the efforts of NICICTU and North West Regional College in developing the Trade Union Studies & Lifelong Learning programme, and I hope the partnership launched today will be a long and productive one.“

ICTU runs the trade union education programme for all union representatives in Northern Ireland, comprising a wide range of programmes to up-skill and further educate union representatives, health and safety reps, union learning reps, equality reps, and disability champions.  In recent years North West Regional College has built a reputation for providing high quality, bespoke programmes with union reps from various companies and organisations, and is delighted to be embarking on this new exclusive partnership with ICTU.  

Trade union education makes a significant contribution to many aspects of life and work by providing appropriately skilled union representatives who can work to resolve workplace issues and bringing people back into adult learning.  Many of those who enrol on the programmes remain in lifelong learning and gain confidence to better undertake their role.

The programmes in the Trade Union Studies & Lifelong Learning (TUSALL) portfolio will be delivered by the College’s specialist trade union tutors, who have many years’ experience within the sector, and will be providing programmes in out centres best suited to the participants.  The courses are accredited by the Open College Network and are offered from Award (Level 1) to Diploma (Level 3), which allows them to build credits for progression to further courses.

Speaking at the launch of the partnership North West Regional College Principal and Chief Executive Seamus Murphy highlighted the College’s key aim to provide quality education and training for all;

“This partnership allows union representatives across Northern Ireland to access the high quality tailored courses that our staff can provide.  At NWRC, we are committed to providing programmes that respond flexibly to the educational and training needs of its students, and we are pleased to offer this now to ICTU and its members.”

ICTU Assistant General Secretary Peter Bunting added;

“We are very pleased to be launching this new partnership with the NWRC today.  The ICTU  is committed to providing quality training for union representatives across all workplaces. Well-trained union representatives make a huge contribution to efficient and rewarding workplaces. We can develop a more sustainable economy with programmes such as this which involve workers, employers, government and trade unions.”

Full details of the partnership can be found by visiting www.nwrc.ac.uk/tusall