Duration
Civil service law : 15h Th
Civil service policy : 15h Th
Number of credits
| Master in law (120 ECTS) | 6 crédits | |||
| Master in political sciences : general (120 ECTS) | 5 crédits | |||
| Master in political sciences : general (60 ECTS) | 5 crédits |
Lecturer
Civil service law : Ann Lawrence Durviaux
Civil service policy : Geoffrey Grandjean
Coordinator
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
Civil service law
The general framework of the subject (main factors and knowledge), international (European Convention on Human Rights; EU Law) and national (acts of Parliament enacting the federalisation of the Belgian State; royal decree on the general principles) of the law, as well as the principles governing the individual or collective relationship between an employer and his employee(s) (difference between civil service and labour law) are dealt with in the first part of this course.
A comparative study of the main regimes applicable follows and covers mainly the organisation of the career of the civil servants (nomination, promotions, remuneration, pension, etc.) and the disciplinary regime of the civil servants.
Finally, labour law and social security law in so far as they apply to civil service are reviewed, under the prospect of equality and non-discrimination, duration of the service, disciplinary regime of contractual agents, unilateral modification of the contract and breach of the labour contract.
Civil service policy
The aim of the course is to provide politological analyses based on Part I - Civil Service Law. To be precise, the course defines the power relations resulting from the interactions between standards and policies in the local civil service and, especially, between public office holders and directors general.
During the 2017-2018 academic year, the course will focus on the figure of the director-general, their roles, tasks and status, since the 2013 reform of legal grades.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
Civil service law
At the end of this course, students should be able to:
a. master the key concepts of the subject from a theoretical and practical point of view; and to
b. apply the subject knowledge to factual situations similar to those faced in the professions to which their degrees give access;
c. evaluate critically the existing legal solutions, disputes and systems reviewed throughout this course;
d. make out their personal opinion and defend it in writing and orally in accordance with the standards of their specialisation (law, political sciences, management of human resources).
Civil service policy
Based on these different facets of Civil service law (Part 1) questioned within the context of the Civil service policy course, students will be able to: - identify the tasks and roles of the director-general; - define the status of the director-general; - identify the power relations between public office holders and the director-general; - assess the stakes of local civil service law, according to the communal contexts.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
Civil service law
none
Civil service policy
It is necessary to take the course in Civil service law.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
Civil service law
The course consists of 30 hours of teaching, allocated as follows:
· 20 hours of lectures, covering the main issues of the subject;
· 10 hours of seminars during which the subject is reviewed through cases (analysis) - of which the complexity increases gradually - and through questions favouring an analytical approach and enhancing the capacity for legal-problem solving in a particular factual situation
Civil service policy
The course includes two learning activities. 1) Several lectures relating to the reform of legal grades, the roles and tasks of the director-general and the status of this 'legal grade'. 2) A director-general will give a conference on their job, their professional practices and the stakes relevant to the 21st century.
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)
Civil service law
Lectures
Civil service policy
The course is taught face-to-face. However, for students who can't attend the course owing to a timetable clash, distance-learning (podcast) is provided for.
Recommended or required readings
Civil service law
· Droit de la fonction publique, A.L. Durviaux (Larcier 2012)
· Documentation: legislation and case-law
· PowerPoint slides are made available for each lecture
Civil service policy
Grandjean Geoffrey, Politique de la fonction publique, Liège, Presses Universitaires de Liège, Academic year 2017-2018, available at the following web address: http://hdl.handle.net/2268/213769.
Assessment methods and criteria
Civil service law
An oral examination is organised.
The examination consists of questions to be replied to orally and designed to assess the critical and analytical mind of the students, as well as their knowledge of the subject.
Civil service policy
Assessment consists of an oral exam. During this exam, students are asked to answer a question requiring analysis and reflection relating to local civil service. There is no time to prepare for the question. The following criteria apply to the assessment: 1) understanding the legislative standards, 2) analysing the power relations between public office holders and the director-general and, 3) reflection on the tasks and the status of the director-general. For the oral exam, students can bring the required reading material as well as their personal notes.
Work placement(s)
Civil service law
not organised
Civil service policy
None
Organizational remarks
Civil service law
The course is held every odd year (2013-2014, 2015-2016...).
Civil service policy
This course is only organised during uneven years (2017-2018, 2019-2020...).
Contacts
Civil service law
Ann Lawrence Durviaux, Professor, AL.Durviaux@ulg.ac.be
Civil service policy
Pr. Dr Geoffrey Grandjean
Lecturer
Faculté de Droit, de Science politique et de Criminologie
Place des orateurs, 3
4000 Liège
Boîte 11
Bureau 2.17
Tel./ +32 (0)4/366.96.60
Mail : Geoffrey.Grandjean@uliege.be