Learning outcomes
The basic aim of the course is to create discussion on the structure and development of European employment systems and to help students to understand the reasons of disparities, variations and path dependences in the development of European labor markets and employment systems. After the course students will understand why national employment systems are under pressures of change and why the policies which ought to be able to regulate and manage the change are requested to become more global in their targets and means of interventions.
Contents
Within this course students will study the national employment systems as social constructions and as a wider phenomenon as labor markets. The employment system concept will be used as an analytical tool for comparative studies on employment. The main argument in this course discussion is that for the time being the employment systems have been developing as national constructions but there are internal and external reasons which will bring about pressures to develop these systems towards the conditions of European employment model.
The development of national systems of employment will be examined from different angles according to the weekly topics mentioned below. All together 6 topics to be discussed:
- Introduction to Employment Systems concept, national models and variation
- New space and geography of work and trends of population
- Changing boundaries of formal and informal work
- Regulation of work and industrial relations
- Transitional spaces of work
- Towards a model of European employment system
Teaching methods
Alternative 1: The course will be organized as a virtual, Intranet based, software called the Moodle learning environment. All students will be introduced on how to use it. Every topic will be divided into three work-packages: virtual lecture, reading two articles related to the lecture, active participation into the evaluation of the lecture and articles.
Alternative 2: Book exam
Teaching language
EnglishModes of study
Alternative 1: Online learning with regular participation of students and teacher in the form of written answers, discussions and reflections.
Students are required to participate in the discussions on given topics on a regular basis. Each student is obliged to use all given materials.
Alternative 2: No participation requirement. Students are obliged to read given books. Teacher provides students with recommended literature and examines based on it.
Evaluation and evaluation criteria
Numeric 1-5.Alternative 1: Active participation in the discussions is a criteria for passing the course. In addition, students are requested to write an essay on one topic related to the issues of the course. The essays and students’ activity are evaluated individually. Alternative 2: examination based on books
Study materials
In alternative 1, reading list will be announced at the beginning of the course.
In alternative 2 (book exam) students are required to read the following two books:
1. Employment in Europe 2010. European commission (latest report, online).
2. Pfau-Effinger, B., Flarguer, L., Jensen P., (2009) Formal and informal work – the hidden work regimes in Europe. Routledge.
