2024/25 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

LUBS5338M Global Perspectives on Work

30 creditsClass Size: 200

Module manager: Kate Hardy
Email: k.r.hardy@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2024/25

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

This module explores the changing world of work, encompassing informal, underpaid, and unpaid work, from global perspectives. Engaging with theories of globalisation and varieties of capitalism, it considers how the interplay of transnational enterprises (e.g. multinational corporations), international agencies (e.g. the World Bank), and socio-cultural contexts shape the world of work. Delivered through a series of workshops, complemented by digitally enhanced learning resources, the module uses this theoretical grounding to understand and debate contemporary and emerging issues, such as, precarious labour, migration, valuing unpaid work, decent work, sustainability, and digitalisation and automation. In these discussions, it will consider the challenges of developing global policies for regulating and managing work. Throughout, the module draws upon decolonial approaches to understand the geopolitical configuration of developed and developing/emerging economies that influence the meaning, value, and practices of work in various regions of the world.

Objectives

This module aims to (a) develop a decolonial framework of global perspectives with reference to globalisation and varieties of capitalism, and using this framework (b) understand the variations in the meaning, value, and practices of work around the world; and (c) critically assess contemporary issues and debates in the world of work.

Learning outcomes
Upon completion of this module, students will be able to:

- demonstrate an understanding of key concepts, issues, and debates related to work from decolonial global perspectives;
- critically assess the contextual factors and the role of transnational enterprises and international agencies in shaping developments in the world of work;
- analyse emerging global work practices and related policy challenges in regulating work.

Skills outcomes
Upon completion of this module students will be able to:

Transferable
- Communicate effectively both orally and in writing;
- Work effectively as individuals and within group presentations.

Subject specific
- Articulate the complexities of work from global perspectives;
- Evaluate contemporary and emerging challenges of work.

Syllabus

Indicative content
This module will discuss the varied meanings and values of work, delving into how these inform the practices and organisation of work around the world. In addition to socio-cultural factors, it will pay attention to the influence of transnational enterprises and international agencies in shaping contemporary work. It will incorporate engagement with emerging debates in the field, such as, migration and labour, valuing unpaid and underpaid work, and digitalisation and automation.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Workshop	10	2.00	20.00
Private study hours			280.00
Total Contact hours			20.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			300.00

Private study

Students will undertake independent learning to prepare for the workshops, using the digitally enhanced learning resources that have been produced specifically for this module. These resources will be made available on Minerva before each workshop and students will be provided guidance on how long they should spend preparing for the workshops. The remaining hours will be spent preparing for assessment.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

The workshops will help to prepare for assessment by training students to simultaneously undertake independent and group work in the classroom. The module structure will include one week for formative assessment and peer feedback.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	3,000 words	70.00
Presentation	Group presentation, 10-15 minutes	30.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

The resit for this module will be 100% by 3,000 words coursework.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 02/09/2024

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