Ei-iE

As part of the Global Union Research Network, EI strongly supports the international masters programmes on labour studies. They offer an excellent opportunity for EI member organisations to strengthen their capacities to face the challenges of globalisation.

1. Global Labour University

Master courses offered by the Global Labour University (GLU) are now open for application. Four programmes on labour studies for trade unionists are offered in 2008-2009 by the GLU network, formed by the international labour movement, academic institutions, foundations and the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

The duration of each programme is one year, and they are:

• The "Labour Policies and Globalisation" Programme is offered by the University of Kassel and the Berlin School of Economics in Germany;
• The "Labour and Development, Economic Policy, Globalisation and Labour" Programme is offered by the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa;
• The "Social Economy and Labour" Programme is offered by the Universidad Estadual de Campinas in Brazil;
• The "Globalisation and Labour" Programme is offered by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences in India.

Participants have also the possibility to study one term of the programme in South Africa or Brazil and one term in Germany.

The ILO Bureau for Workers Activities (ACTRAV) and its project partners will award a limited number of scholarships to applicants from developing and transition economies. Applicants need to have the endorsement of a trade union to apply for a scholarship. The grant is conditional on a contribution of 1500 euros from the supporting trade union or another donor.

Please note that women are strongly encouraged to participate and strict gender criteria will be applied in awarding places and scholarships. Interested trade unionists should apply now. The deadline for submission is 1 Apr 2008 for the Winter Semester 2008/2009. More detailed information and the application form are available on the GLU website: www.global-labour-university.org

2. Ruskin College Ruskin College in the United Kingdom offers a Masters Programme in International Labour and Trade Union Studies. Students can opt to complete the course within one year on a full-time basis or over two years on a part-time basis. The programme aims to stretch student thinking beyond the "envelope" to new and creative strategies of labour movement leadership, renewal and transformation, and their own role and identity in this. The course content includes:

• International labour relations and the globalisation of labour;
• Crisis and renewal - Labour movement organisational democracy, leadership and change;
• Debates on labourist research and research methods: theory into practice;
• 15-20,000 word dissertation.

Women and those from minority groups are especially encouraged to apply. The deadline for submission is 31 May 2008 for the course starting Sep 2008. For more detailed information about the programme and applications, visit their website: www.ruskin.ac.uk

Ruskin is also in discussions with the Global Labour Univerisity about joining the GLU network.

Application Procedure

Candidates from EI member organisations can send their application directly to the university secretariat (either at the GLU or Ruskin College). While EI will be consulted by the programme coordinators on the applicants, member organisations are invited to inform EI of the candidates they support.