Greg Dyke to open University learning centre for manual staff
Posted on 22 September 2004
The University has almost 600 manual and craft staff, including cleaners, electricians, gardeners, porters and catering staff. Due to the nature of their work, most manual staff are not office-based and consequently do not have access to IT facilities at work. Some, such as the porters, have IT equipment, which is only for operational work.
DIAL (Drop In And Learn), which is based at Home Farm at the University, aims to make computing facilities and access to learning opportunities available to all of these staff. They will be able to use a computer, gain IT skills, and find out about other qualifications which they could acquire either for their own personal development, or to retrain.
The Centre contains a computer suite equipped with seven PCs, a learning resources area, with books, videos, audio-tapes, and a confidential area for Learning Representatives to give advice and guidance on learning and training opportunities in the region.
As its name implies, DIAL is available for manual staff to drop in at their convenience. It is free to all manual staff and has flexible opening arrangements to cater for shift-workers.
'DIAL's mission is to create a learning culture amongst members of manual staff at the University,' said Director of Facilities Management, Dr Andy Macdonald: 'It is a friendly and stimulating environment in which they can enhance their skills.'
We hope that DIAL will provide a real opportunity for development for our manual staff
Doran Curley
'The facilities can be used for educational, work or leisure purposes,' said Doran Curley, Director of Facilities Management Training Officer. 'Staff can use the centre to study, shop on-line or email friends. This helps to build up their IT skills. They will also be able to chat with others about training, and find out about learning opportunities available in the region.
'Currently two pilot groups of manual staff are undertaking the European Computing Driving Licence course through DIAL,' she added. 'And we have also run taster sessions on using the Web. We hope that DIAL will provide a real opportunity for development for our manual staff.'
Notes to editors:
- IThis initiative is part of the University's Human Resources Strategy which seeks to reward and develop all staff. Another initiative from the Strategy targeted at manual staff is the GEM award (Going the Extra Mile) which awards a cash payment to staff who are successfully nominated for their exceptional work
- Learning Representatives are members of manual staff who have volunteered to be trained as 'Union Learning Representatives'. This is part of a trade union initiative which supports lifelong learning in the workplace.
- DIAL has been operational since mid July 2004, following a refurbishment of the ground floor accommodation of Home Farm. It has already made a positive contribution to lifelong learning and personal development for manual staff.
- DIAL already has 30 registered users and has been used by members of staff mainly for IT use including the internet and e-mail.