MA International Labour and Trade Union Studies

Summary

Recuiting now for October 2012

Welcome to the MA International Labour & Trade Union Studies (MA ILTUS). The MA completes Ruskin’s new programme of degree courses for labour movement activists, building on our extensive past and current work with UK unions, and with international students from our Chevening scholarship programmes.

"Sharing experiences with trade unionists from varying backgrounds, such as TU education, full time officials and comrades from overseas is something only found in an institution like Ruskin."
MA ILTUS student

RUSKIN is currently in discussions about joining the GLOBAL LABOUR UNIVERSITY www.global-labour-university.org

"Trade unionism needs to be global if it’s going to tackle issues like trade, aid and debt; transnational corporations and migrant workers. Ruskin has always been internationalist, preparing generations of trade union officers and activists from around the world. Now we need a new generation of young men and especially women, to take up the challenge, acquire the knowledge and develop the skills appropriate to the new globalisation of work. And this programme is just what they need."
Brendan Barber, General Secretary, UK TUC on Ruskin’s MA.

The context of the MA – crisis and renewal of organised labour

Labour movements worldwide are seen as being in crisis and are actively seeking ways of renewal. These issues are closely linked with globalisation and with fluidity among emergent transitional and developing states and countries. Ruskin’s place in the labour movement, together with academic staff researching, writing and teaching in the field, puts it in a good position to become a centre of debate and scholarship in this project.

The Ruskin MA offers practitioners and scholars of such challenges the conceptual, analytical and critical framework for understanding and explaining labour movement change.