1. Home
  2. •
  3. Activists
  4. •
  5. UCU training
  6. •
  7. Courses in Scotland
  8. •
  9. Rep 1: UCU reps induction - October/November 2025, Scotland

Rep 1: UCU reps induction - 27, October, 3, & 10, November 2025, Scotland, Online.

This online course is aimed at new reps and activists who will be undertaking this role in the near future. Existing reps who have not attended training before are also encouraged to attend. Throughout the course, we will explore key themes including how to organise around equality issues, deepen your understanding of UCU's democratic structures, and clarify your rights and responsibilities as a rep. Emphasis will be placed on building collective responses through effective organising and campaigning. You should complete this course prior to applying for the Rep 2 course.

Representing courses

Course details

Nation/region:Scotland
Course meeting dates: 27, October, 3, & 10, November 2025

Please ensure you can attend the entire course prior to submitting your application  form. Please further ensure you have secured time off from your employer to attend.
Course meeting times: 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (with regular breaks)
Course time commitment:21 to 25 hours including the course meetings
Location:

Online tutor lead course with materials on a TUC virtual learning site. You will receive log in information for both nearer the course date

Please be aware applications for this course will close at 12 noon on Thursday 23rd October 2025. This is to allow course logistics and logins etc. to be generated in good time Should your application arrive after the cut of date it risks not being accepted.

Course content

This Rep 1: Introductory course will cover the following:

  • overview of trade union movement history
  • UCU organisation and democracy
  • your rights as a rep and how to apply them
  • communication with members
  • recruitment
  • organising
  • members' issues 
  • collective responses.

The course will give you a good grounding in the role of a UCU rep. You will be expected to complete this Rep 1 course prior to applying for the 'UCU Rep 2: Representing members' course. This course does not cover the grievance and disciplinary process in detail. Every rep (including case workers) need a grounding and understanding of the elements in this course prior to embarking on Rep 2.

UCU courses are funded via members' contributions and public funding.

Information Facility time

Online courses are no different to face-to-face courses in terms of time off for training. Time off for training is a right and one which should be exercised as part of normal industrial relations. For more info please see  Facilities and time off for UCU reps. .

When you apply for a course we will assume that you are making a commitment to attend the course as advertised, and have secured time off from your employer. Please contact your branch/region or devolved national office if you are having problems securing time off.

Important Before you complete this form, please be aware: You may be asked to register with the delivering college in which your trade union tutor is employed. Where colleges are drawing down funding for delivery you will be ask for your passport or equivalent identification details to register. This is a demand of the college who are following government requirements in order to satisfy public funding criteria. This is not a requirement UCU want to see and we are lobbying for change. However, as it stands, if you do not register with the college, your place will not be fundable.