BA (Hons) International Labour and Trade Union Studies (ILTUS)

This is a three year full-time or four and a half year part-time block residential undergraduate course.

For the block residential route you will be required to attend the college six weekends a year during term time. The course is aimed at students who are active in trade unions, worker organisations or community groups. It covers four main themes: Employment Relations, Law, Sociology and Economics, but requires no advance academic knowledge of these subjects. The course is unique in the UK as the only undergraduate programme to analyse employment relations issues on a global basis, including attacks on workers’ rights, international migration, aging populations and other challenges for contemporary trade unions.

Overall Course Aims

• You will develop a depth of knowledge and complexity of analytical skills
• You will be equipped with the skills, knowledge and confidence to succeed on the degree course and, where this is your desired outcome, be 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 judgment, particularly in undertaking independent study and research
• You will develop comprehension of, 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 equipped 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 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

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

All candidates must be able to satisfy the general admissions requirements for Ruskin College. If you have a Certificate of Higher Education or 120 credits in a relevant subject you may be eligible for direct entry onto Level 5. Please contact Hannah on 01865 759604 for further information. Similarly, if you have a Diploma of Higher Education or 240 Credits in a relevant subject you may be eligible for direct entry onto Level 6 of this course. COURSE AND APPLICATION DATES This course starts in September. The closing date is 15th August.

CAREERS

Designed for trade unionists and other activists, this course naturally leads students into associated careers; Fulltime trade union officials, Trade union organisers or Project workers on TUrelated initiatives Progression Opportunities within Ruskin College Graduates of the International Labour and Trade Union Studies programme can apply for postgraduate study on the following course at Ruskin College:

• MA International Labour and Trade Union Studies
• MA Public History

Tuition Fees 2015/16

Access to HE Programmes, Level 3, Full Time: £3,358