Education is a key dimension of the development of the trade union movement, both at the national and international levels. It promotes union members’ awareness of trade union values and principles, as well as the circulation of new ideas, the transmission of specific skills or knowledge, the development of critical analysis skills, the training of leaders and activists about their tasks and responsibilities, and the consolidation of internal trade union democracy.

The PERC promotes long-term, systematic education and training programmes. This requires a structured approach, planning and a maximum amount of donor cooperation, with a view to pooling resources and allowing sufficient time for developing systems and rooting them in the real situation facing trade union organisations.