Sociology of work : European prospects

Duration

15h Th

Number of credits

Lecturer

Aude Lejeune

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the second semester

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

The objective of the course is to learn to critically analyze and compare the different work contexts in Europe.
The course aims to show how work is organized in Europe, the different actors involved in work and relevant organizations, in terms of:
- social protection systems - industrial relation systems (trade unions, employers' organizations, the state). - European actors who regulate the job market at a European and international level (European agencies, the European Trade Union Confederation, etc.). - European norms (directives, recommendations, etc.).
In order to suggest a sociological approach of work in Europe, in this seminar, we will analyze concrete problems (discrimination in the workplace, professional risk, working hours, minimum wage, balance between working life and family life, etc.).
We will read scientific articles and newspaper articles to examine several dimensions of the different work contexts in Europe:
- how do the different actors mobilize in each country? - what resources do they have? - what are their constraints?

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

The objective of this seminar is to encourage the students to think about the comparison methods used in the main European surveys (and to think also about the limitations of these methods, in particular, where the choice of indicators is concerned, etc.), to think about the different levels of governance (national supranational and transnational), about the socio-political challenges involved in the construction of a European space and the differences between the different states.
By the end of this seminar the students will be capable of: -identifying and understanding the different methods of comparison in social sciences. -carrying out a comparative analysis of a work-related topic by linking this topic with social protection systems/ professional relationships, in particular, by identifying certain key variables. -carrying out an analysis of the different levels (national and supranational) of regulation of a sector, in this case the work sector. -developing a spirit if criticism with regard to data collection methods, comparison criteria or selected statistical indicators.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

None

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)

Face-to-face

Recommended or required readings

Readings file, available at "items online"

Assessment methods and criteria

Assessment will consist of a collective working paper, and an oral exam during the June / September session. 

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

Contacts

Aude Lejeune, aude.lejeune@ulg.ac.be, 04/366 4768, Faculty of Social Sciences, Boulevard du Rectorat 7, B31, 4000 Liège

Items online