BA (Hons) International Labour and Trade Union Studies

BA (Hons) International Labour and Trade Union Studies
The expansion of the EU, the signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement, the creation of the World Trade Organisation and rapid economic growth in China and India can all be seen as political and economic responses to the latest phase of globalisation. Whilst these global power shifts clearly pose major challenges for individual governments, what about the workers involved and the organisations that represent them? How are they doing in the global economy?

Some commentators believe that globalisation will lead to a general raising of living standards as the fruits of economic growth are more widely distributed. By contrast, others argue that it will put untold pressure on workers all over the world as they compete to cut costs in a 'race to the bottom'.

What can be done to ensure that the outcomes of globalisation are both favourable and equitable for workers and sustainable for our society?How can we maintain decent standards of employment in the face of rapid changes in technology, privatisation, off-shoring and the seemingly never ending rise in the political and economic influence of multi national companies?

How well are the international regulatory bodies keeping pace with these changes and how effective has the response of the trade union movement- both nationally and internationally- been to these pressures?

The new BA programme in International Labour and Trade Union Studies has been designed to examine these questions.

Overall Course Aims
* You develop a depth of knowledge and complexity of analytical skills
* You will be equiped with the skills, knowledge and confidence to succeed on the degree course and, where this is the desired outcome for you, provided with a suitable academic grounding if you wish to progress to Masters level of study
* You will deepen your problem-solving skills and increase your capacity for critical evaluation and independent judgement, particularly in undertaking independent study and research
* You will develop comprehension and the capacity to analyse issues that are central to the study of International labour and trade unionism
* You will be able to apply and critically reflect on different theoretical perspectives to the analysis of issues of labour regulation and trade union organisation and practice in different contexts
* You will be equiped with the personal and professional aptitudes to succeed in appropriate employment where this is the desired outcome for you
* You will be empowered with the motivation and independent thinking and learning skills to enable you to become lifelong autonomous learners and engage with the issues raised by the regulation of labour at both national and international level along with the contemporary challenges posed to trade unions dealing with change and globalisation.
This course further aims to equip you with:
* A systematic understanding of key aspects of the subjects studied enabling you to show detailed and coherent knowledge informed by reference to research and scholarly work
* The skills and confidence to deploy an appropriate range of analytical techniques to support independent enquiry
* The ability to devise and sustain arguments in response to emerging issues and challenges emerging in the general field of international labour and trade union practice
* The competence to manage your own learning using scholarly sources, contemporary documents and basic research methods
* Communication skills in order to be able to present complex ideas and arguments using a range of presentational techniques

Learning Methods and Strategies
The course deploys a range of teaching and learning methods which embrace formal class room sessions, student lead seminars, study visits, small group work, tutorials and debates.
Teaching is interactive and is designed to draw upon the worklife experience of students as a means of generating a body of shared practical knowledge aginst which more theoretical and research based material can be evaluated.
The choice of teaching mode takes into account the different levels of student ability and differing levels of experience and development.
Study skills are dealt with at each stage in the programme covering:
* The planning and execution of written work
* Note taking
* Effective reading
* Active listening
* Group working
* Library and information research
* Presentational skills
* Problem solving techniques
* Revision techniques
* Examination skills
For each module you will meet as a whole group with a tutor for five hours a week to explore key topics and to consolidate learning. These sessions are normally split into a two hour class and a three hour workshop and seminar. In addition to these group-based activities, you will be expected to put in around ten hours of guided study working independently and sometimes in small groups depending upon the nature of the topic covered.
You will receive a weekly tutorial of one hour to discuss and review the set work for the particular module you are studying. Tutorials are normally conducted in pairs and are used to develop and review formative assessments, e.g. data exercises and written outlines of assignments. The College attaches considerable importance to the tutorial since it offers the opportunity for detailed interaction with the student in order to check academic progress, consolidate and deepen understanding and work on any areas of weakness that may arise.
Within the class and workshop sessions, students with experience of trade union activity or with practical knowledge of the workplace are actively encouraged to use their experience and previous learning in discussions, group exercises, case study analyses, presentations and other activities to enrich and enhance the learning process. Study skills are integrated into each module appropriate to the level of study and the needs of the students.

Requirement
All candidates must be able to satisfy the general admissions requirements for Ruskin College. These are: * You should be aged 19 or over * You must obtain medical clearance * You must demonstrate commitment to the ethos and vocation of Ruskin College * You must have the ability to benefit from study at this level Selection interviews are conducted as a two-way process in which you can make an informed decision about the suitability of the programme for you. You will find this process valuable. You will participate in an induction week, which includes sessions on all aspects of the college. If you have a Certificate of Higher Education or 120 CATS points in a relevant subject you may be eligible for direct entry onto year two of this course. Please contact our Admissions Officer for further information. Similarly, if you have a Diploma of Higher Education or 240 CATS points is a relevant subject you may be eligible for direct entry onto year three of this course.