New Courses at SIPTU College

Liberty (@SIPTU)
Jul 25, 2017 · 3 min read
Participants of the very first Jump Start programme, pictured with Tish Gibbons, Head of SIPTU College. (Photo: Eira Gallagher)

Did you know?

SIPTU College offers a broad range of training opportunities for its members, activists and staff — both at our premises in Kilmainham and in locations all around the country.

Training for shop stewards and activists is offered at Introductory, Basic and Advanced Levels. Your Sector Organiser can arrange release with your employer to attend these courses, which usually run over 1, 2 or 3 days. It is also possible to attend this training at night to accommodate those who cannot (or prefer not to) get release from work.

Many of our courses are accredited to QQI Level 5, for example the Advanced Activists Programme and the Training for Safety Representatives. Other training is available to those who are not (yet!) shop stewards.

Any member can avail of our return-to-learn programme Jump Start; our political education programme Educate to Organise; our Basic English; our Trade Union Studies Certificate programme, and any of the numeracy/literacy/IT skills courses starting in late August in partnership with the ETB.

DESIGN YOUR OWN! We will design and develop training programmes to suit particular industries, workplaces or topics.

We already do this very successfully in our health & safety programmes and in specialised training for migrant workers and for female leaders.

Shop Steward & Activist Training

We have a broad range of programmes suitable for shop stewards and activists.

You can start with our One-Day Introductory programme, organised at very short notice for newly elected representatives or for activists in newly organised workplaces.

This course gives a brief introduction to the union; to the role of the shop steward; organising and representing. This is a good introduction and forerunner to our Basic Shop Stewards course which expands on these issues while our Advanced Activists course (both usually run over 3 days) attracts a QQI Level 5 award.

Our training for Safety Representatives (4 day) also attracts a Level 5 award and we also provide training for Pension Trustees. In addition we plan to also offer these courses as part-time evening classes.

Contact your SIPTU Organiser for more information.

Jump Start

Jump Start is a SIPTU designed and delivered return-to-learn programme aimed at members who want to return to education but have not studied for a long time, if ever.

This programme helps participants to be motivated; to engage effectively in a classroom setting and develop advanced reading and writing skills. It will recommence in September at SIPTU College and can also be offered in your workplace.

Contact SIPTU College and/or your SIPTU Organiser for more information.

Educate to Organise

This programme grew out of a need to politicise ourselves, to answer some of the questions we frequently ask but seldom debate within the union — questions about our society and economy; about democracy and globalisation; class and inequality; left and right wing politics and power.

There are three 8-week modules: Workers in Society; Workers in the Economy; Workers in their Union — each class is a lively mix of presentation, film, debate and quizzes with no written assignments or exams.

Re-starts Monday 9th October. Contact SIPTU College and/or your SIPTU Organiser for more information.

Trade Union Studies Certificate (ICTU/SIPTU)

Aimed at experienced activists, this modular programme has been developed in partnership with the National College of Ireland and participants who complete each of six modules are eligible for a QQI Level 6 award — a Certificate in Trade Union Studies.

This 2-year programme is currently offered in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford and Galway, and involves attendance at class one night a week.

Contact SIPTU College for more information.

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Liberty (@SIPTU)

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Articles from Liberty, the newspaper of the Services, Industrial, Professional and Technical Union (SIPTU) which represents over 200,000 workers in Ireland

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