Over the past few years, Lifelong Learning has
given many Usdaw members the confidence to take up the challenge of
Higher Learning. Whether it’s to improve their qualifications,
enhance their job prospects, develop their knowledge or simply
learn for fun, more and more members realise that they can succeed
at the highest level.
This article lets you know where you can find
out more information on Higher Learning, and what kind of financial
support is available particularly for Open University (OU)
courses.
But you need to be quick. Changes in the
funding arrangements for popular courses at the Open University
mean that members considering OU study need to act soon if they are
to get the best deals.
The Open
University
There are many different routes to this
particular summit but the Open University (OU) has always been
popular with Usdaw Learners. It offers all adults the chance to get
a University degree without giving up their job by studying over
time to build up the credits they need.
The OU is well known for the support it gives
to learners who have no previous academic qualifications. Many
Usdaw members have put their toe into the water by completing a
short “Openings” course before taking the plunge and signing up for
a longer course. If you want to get a feel for what Open University
study is like, you can look at free course material at Open Learn.
Go to http://openlearn.open.ac.uk/
Financial support for OU study for
Usdaw members
Usdaw offers fully paid up members with
12 months’ continuous membership a Grant Scheme to support OU study
that forms part of a degree (so not the short Openings
courses). The Union will pay members £130 for each 60-point
course they study and £65 for each 30-point course up to a maximum
of £780 over the course of their study. Grants will be made
annually on the evidence of satisfactory completion of study. You
can download our leaflet explaining all this: The Open University - your questions answered
(Leaflet 367)
The TUC’s Learning Organisation, Unionlearn,
has also negotiated a deal offering all Union members a 10%
discount on their first Open University 60 point course. You can
find out more about this and other questions about the OU at
http://www.open.ac.uk/union
Changes to OU
funding
However recent changes to funding will bring
OU funding into line with other Higher Education providers. This
may triple OU fees in the near future - by September 2012. However,
there is some good news. Existing OU students or anyone
studying towards a named qualification before September 2012 can
tie themselves into the existing pricing structure until 2017. Fees
will only increase by inflation (to be technical
the Retail Price Index or RPI).
The other change is that OU students, who
don’t already have a degree, will be able to take out Tuition Fee
Loans from Autumn 2012, providing that they are studying a minimum
of 30 credits per year towards a named higher education
qualification.
Usdaw members currently studying with or
considering studying with the Open University should check their
eligibility or consider signing up. This is a complex situation and
if you would like further information and advice speak to your
Lifelong Learning Project Worker or visit the OU website to find
out more at http://www8.open.ac.uk/study/explained/fees-2012
Usdaw have produced an information sheet on
this issue which you can get from your Project Worker or the
Education Department.
Unionlearn
website
However there are many other routes into
Higher Learning and Unionlearn has recently launched a website to
help interested members. Higher learning at work (http://www.higherlearningatwork.org/)
provides a wide range of information, advice and support. This
includes case studies, free resources, explanations on higher
education and things such as foundation degrees and pathways into
higher education.
The website will be particularly useful to
Usdaw Reps advising members who are interested in progressing to
higher learning. There is also a direct link to the unionlearn
advice line which offers free career and learning advice to Union
members and the chance to set up a one to one discussion with a
career advisor.
So there is plenty of encouragement help and
advice out there. Why not find out more and move on up.
But start moving now - before the price gets
too high!