MA Labour Policies and Globalisation

One year Master’s programme at the University of Kassel and the Berlin School of Economics

1. Internships
Following the first term students will do a six-week internship ideally at a Global Union
Federation or an institution that is concerned with matters of the International Trade Union
movement, Most of these organisations are located in Geneva or Brussels. The internships are an
integrated and obligatory part of the Masters programme. They offer unique insights into the work
and activities of the ILO, international trade union organisations, labour related research
foundations, German trade unions or works councils of German based transnational companies.
During the internship the students will work on specially assigned projects, that are part of
the global activities of the hosting organisations. At the end of the internship they will be requested
to write an analytical report that will be assessed by the universities.
The internship also offers the opportunity for the students to identify relevant topics for the
global labour movement that might be further elaborated in the final Master thesis students have
to write to complete the programme.
In addition to the internship possibilities advised by the programme, students may propose
internships of their own choice, if the suggested institution is able to provide the necessary
supervision and guidance to do an equivalent internship.
Detailed information on how to organize and secure an internship placement will be
provided by the coordination of the Masters programme.

2. Student Advice and Conflict Management

Due to the heterogeneity of the student group, special emphasis is laid upon student advice
and conflict management. Within the concept of student advice, both universities will offer the

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students guidance and advice on the processes of registering within the universities,
accommodation, health insurance, visa support, mobility, information support, scientific support
(e.g. e-mail account, access to computers, access to libraries, language courses etc.), child care.
Tools for conflict management anticipate that due to the heterogeneity of the student group,
efficient means to solve possible conflicts have to be established. Here, emphasis is put on dealing
with the different cultures and gender aspects. To anticipate possible conflicts between students
and staff, and among the students themselves, measures for active participation will be installed.
The programme co-ordinators at both universities will be supportive in problem-solving. In
addition, students will elect a spokesperson who will work as facilitator between the different
conflict partners. This elected representative will also participate in the evaluation board of the
course.

3. Quality Management

The quality management of the course includes the following:

• Accreditation prior to implementation by an independent, external agency. This

accreditation requires permanent evaluation and ensures the improvement of the course;
• Evaluating academic progress by the academic staff, tutors, and the students by means of
guided interviews at the beginning and end of each term;
• Questionnaire-based evaluation of the curriculum, didactic outline, student advice,
administrative and technical support;
• Peer review by members of the academic board. Peer review as a means of quality
assessment will address the academic staff, the students and the external partners, e.g.
course providers from the trade unions.
• An alumni network will also allow provide an assessment of the extent to which
participants continue to work with trade unions or the degree to which they are maintaining
their links to the labour movement, in cases where participants have taken up other employ
ment opportunities in the public or private sector.
• The results from quality assessment will be documented and discussed by the Academic
Advisory Board. This Board will develop recommendations for improvement and
implementation.

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 4. One World Seminar

The concept behind this seminar is to actively involve the students who come from
different trade union backgrounds, and disciplinary and professional fields. The seminar aims to
bring together these different experiences and provide an open space to address specific challenges
and questions of the trade union movement from multiple perspectives. In group projects the
participants develop their own curriculum of topics around the labour movement which are then
presented and discussed throughout the seminar.

Additionally a variety of experts from the trade union movement and also reseachers of the
trade union movement are invited for guest talks in their fields of expertise. These guest talks
mainly deal with issues of International Trade Unionism and the question of International
Organizing of the Labour Movement.

5. Excursions

The Universities will organise several excursions to trade unions and economic and
political institutions in Germany. All excursions will be accompanied by faculty members. Guided
Tours will be held in English as will the talks and discussions.

From Kassel

Volkswagen Kassel at Baunatal

• The students will visit an automobile plant with approx. 16,000 workers and learn about
its structure and organisation. Additionally, they will have a meeting with members of the
works council to learn about the German Codetermination System and to discuss specific
aspects of it with regards to the labour movement.

IG Metall headquarters in Frankfurt

• The students will discuss with union representatives strategies concerning transnational
corporations, and will learn about the functions of a headquarter, particularly the
international department.

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After the Internships

ILO in Geneva

• At the end of March all participants will gather in Geneva for a two day Workshop at the
ILO as part of the seminar on International Labour Standards

From Berlin

DGB Headquarters, Ver.di Headquarters, IG Metall

• The students will discuss with union representatives strategies concerning transnational
corporations and will learn about the functions of a headquarter, particularly the
international department.

German Parliament (Reichstag)

• The students will meet representatives from the German Parliament for discussions and
visit the "Reichstag building".

6. Tutorials

Tutors provide a first-line counselling service but also offer academic advice and guidance
to students on their progress through the degree and appropriate modular choices. They also assist
by giving diagnostic help regarding both the English language and study skills. The tutorials are
intended to improve students' awareness of their strengths and weaknesses and help develop
independent learning skills by fostering awareness of how they can help themselves better on their
next assignment.

Tutorials offered at the University of Kassel:

• Economics Tutorial
• Political Science Tutorial
• Academic Standards

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For further information, please contact:

Aleksandra Draganic
Programme Coordinator
ICDD - University of Kassel
Department of Social Sciences
(Fachbereich 5)
Kleine Rosenstraße 1-3
34109 Kassel

glu.germany(at)uni-kassel.de

Tel: +49 561 804-7789

Fax: +49 561 804-937390

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