Future of Work in Post-16 Education

The Future of Work in Post-16 Education project was set up to consider the threats and opportunities of the technology being used in the sector now and in the future, and how UCU should support members and branches to respond. 

We have established a working group of UCU members from all the sectors of the union and all levels of knowledge of the technology to support this work. The Terms of reference for the working group is as follows:

Terms of reference for Future of Work in Post-16 Education Working Group

The working group will be made up of up 12 UCU members who respond to a request for expressions of interest. The group should be composed of people from across FE, HE, prison and adult education, covering the different UK nations and ensuring that the different equality groups in UCU are represented and can input via the equality committee. We are looking for users of systems and those concerned about the impacts of such technology to participate in the group, as well as experts in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and those supporting these systems currently. We want the group to be diverse in experience with varying degrees of knowledge and experience.

The working group should:

1. identify threats and opportunities to UCU members of AI and datafication in the HE and FE sectors, including prison and adult education
2. consider what data we have collected already, and how we might collect data on the current and future intended uses of AI in colleges and universities
3. make recommendations to the NEC on what should be in UCU's policy on AI
4. consider and advise on guidance for branches on negotiating on AI and datafication
5. agree a description for the role of Data Rep
6. advise on the content for an AI policy for negotiation with HE and FE employers which takes a rights-based approach to the issues.

The group will seek to meet at least 6 times during 2024, with a view to informing the policy making process of Congress 2024. If it cannot meet this timetable, then recommendations will be considered in time for Congress 2025.

It is crucial that we shape the future of education in a way that works for both staff and students, with technology enabling our work, not acting as a barrier to it.

Share your experience

The working group are conducting two surveys to inform this work, one for members and one for branches.

• The survey of members is your opportunity to share your experience of AI systems. Your responses will help us to understand from your perspective the uses, benefits and threats of AI driven education technologies and how they are impacting on your working life: Survey of members - Future of Work working group
• The survey of branches has been created to help the working group understand where branches are up to with responding to AI and what support you need from your union to tackle this in your workplaces. Please ensure this survey is only completed once on behalf of your branch: Survey of branches - Future of Work working group

If your branch would like to better understand what technology is currently being used in your workplace, and the data being retained to feed it, we have developed a model letter to help your branch request information from your employer. Although this letter was designed for FE branches to use, it can easily be amended for HE branches to submit.

We would ask that responses to this request for information are shared with UCU centrally by sending them to Jenny Lennox, Bargaining and Negotiations Official.