Thematic report |
Evaluation of the quality and value of the education and training funded through the Wales Union Learning Fund - May 2009
Many employees have returned to education and training for the first time since leaving school, with some gaining a formal qualification for the first time in their lives, as a result of over £6million funding from the Welsh Assembly Government. The Wales Union Learning Fund (WULF) has helped contribute to an increase in the take-up of learning by people who have no previous tradition of learning as well as an overall improvement in skills within the workforce.
Recommendations
The Welsh Assembly Government, in partnership with Wales TUC needs to:
- extend WULF projects up to three years to make sure employees receive at least two full years of education and training;
- improve the bidding process to make sure that trade unions and learners maximise the WULF funded education and training opportunities available; and
- work with employers and unions to improve the sustainability of WULF programmes at the end of their funding period.
The Wales TUC needs to:
- improve partnership working across unions to enable them to effectively share good practice and resources.
WULF project managers need to:
- make sure that all employees receive basic skills support at a suitable level; and
- fully engage with employers to maximise the availability and sustainability of learning opportunities for employees and their families when WULF funding has ended.