Courses in Scotland
The UCU education programme in Scotland offers reps the opportunity to acquire new skills in a practical and supportive environment. Our UCU courses are tailored to take account of Scotland's devolved nation status and where possible a member of the Scotland UCU staff team will be present to advise.
Representing courses
Organising courses
Health & safety courses
Equality courses
Bargaining courses
Specialist courses
These are the courses for branch reps and activists currently running in Scotland.
If there are no dates listed for the course you'd like to attend, or if you'd like to be made aware of further dates, please register your interest here.

Job evaluation: A collective approach - November 2025, UK wide course, online
This one day course is for branch reps and activists who are involved and interested in learning more about the importance of trade union involvement and representation in job evaluation schemes. The focus of the course will be around the use of collective action wherever possible.

Job evaluation: A collective approach, - April 2025, in person,
This one day course is for branch reps and activists who are involved and interested in learning more about the importance of trade union involvement and representation in job evaluation schemes. The focus of the course will be around the use of collective action wherever possible.

Rep 1: UCU reps induction - October/November 2025, Scotland
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 individual members: an introduction to casework - December, Scotland, online
This introduction is a course for reps who are new to representing individual members or those who are considering becoming more involved in the direct representation of members.

Workload rep training 1: introduction to the workload campaign and the role of the workload rep - October 2025, Online
This half day course is open to UCU activists and reps who want to build upon their knowledge of workload as a health and safety hazard in the workplace. You should ensure you have branch approval prior to attending and tick the relevant box on the application form. The UCU workload campaign gives us the tools to tackle increasing workloads and working hours. The failure of employers to protect staff from excessive workloads and stress is damaging our health, our students' education, and our ability to organise to defend ourselves and our sector. This course will give you a generic overview of workload campaign and the role of the workload rep. You must complete workload reps 1 before attending workload reps 2.

Workload rep training 2: Workload campaign in action, inspections and investigation - November, Online
This short course is open to UCU activists and reps who want to build upon their knowledge of workload as a health and safety hazard in the workplace. The UCU workload campaign gives us the tools to tackle increasing workloads and working hours. The failure of employers to protect staff from excessive workloads and stress is damaging our health, our students' education, and our ability to organise to defend ourselves and our sector In this course you will work through practical examples and explore ideas around how to use the safety rep functions to identify and reduce excessive workloads.
- PrintPrint this page
- Share