Member Article

PM launches university qualification for UK councillors

The UK’s first university qualification for councillors was launched last week by Prime Minister Tony Blair during a visit to the North-East. The one-year Certificate for Elected Councillors, developed by the University of Sunderland, is open to more than 20,000 councillors across the UK, and is designed to better equip elected members for the demands of today’s local government.

Mr Blair said: “Local authorities handle incredibly important issues – they are the interface with the public and to do that job well is tremendously important. “Councillors are elected and thrown in to do their work. There is basic training but they should be able to step back and analyse what they are trying to achieve in a strategic sense.”

The new course – equivalent to one year of a degree programme – is set to begin in June this year, with 40 councillors from across the UK participating. They will study three higher education modules covering the background, history and development of local government as well as current issues and legislative changes. The programme requires elected members to keep a workbook and diary in which they reflect on their day-by-day experiences and there are opportunities to share good practice.

Course leader Dr Simon Henig, Principal Lecturer in Politics at the University of Sunderland said: “The current training for councillors is segmented. What was missing was the overall training in how councils work and the context in which they work. Councils handle major budgets and need to work effectively and strategically.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .