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Social dialogue for adult learning 59

section show that trade unions can play a major role in creating workplace
learning opportunities, but these initiatives are not widespread in all Member
States. In quite a few Member States, trade unions have not yet broadened
their role in learning and have not considered their responsibility in relation
to maintaining their membership’s employability. By providing guidance,
either themselves directly or through guidance providers, they can make a
considerable contribution to workplace learning.
In some countries a new role is developing for trade union activists who
provide front line guidance in working hours and negotiate with employers
to open access to workplace learning opportunities. In Austria, Denmark,
Finland, Norway, Sweden, and, the UK, trade union representatives are acting
as ‘learning ambassadors’, encouraging employees to take on learning and
fill their skill gaps, and advising companies on their training needs (Cedefop,
2008a, p. 45-63; Keogh, 2009). Learning ambassadors raise awareness of
training opportunities, as well as aiding access to them, especially for the
low-skilled. Learning ambassadors are recruited directly from employee
representatives, who are well-placed both to identify the workers needing
training and to advise companies on their potential training needs. These
are rooted in the local community and understand well the social, cultural,
and economic environment in which they operate.

In the Austrian region of Steiermark, the Career coaching initiative was put into practice over
a three year period to promote professional continuing education and training in companies.
Selected employees acted as career coaches in four districts within Steiermark, advising and
supporting micro, small and medium-sized companies and their employees on education
and training matters. The aim of Career coaching was to promote the continuing professional
development of staff, help companies to access information about education and training
opportunities, arrange such opportunities, and further develop adult education in the region
(Cedefop, 2010f).
In another Austrian programme, works council members act as a route to low-qualified
employees. The Opportunities through education programme (Chancen durch Bildung) seeks to
reduce barriers to education, as well as to raise awareness among the educationally disadvantaged
of how further education and training can improve their job situation. The proactive involvement
of works councils is one of the programme’s key strengths, since they are well placed to
encourage workers to participate in training. This project was first designed and implemented
by the social partners: the Austrian Chamber of Labour, Arbeiterkammer, and the Austrian Trade
Union Confederation, Österreichischer Gewerkschaftsbund, ÖGB. For the last 10 years it has
been implemented by the Vienna Employment Promotion Fund (Wiener ArbeitnehmerInnen
Förderungsfonds, WAFF) (Federal Ministry for Education, the Art and Culture (BMUKK), 2008;
Cedefop 2010f).