Education Programmes

Labour Studies Programme (HCLS)

Course ID
FEP001-LSC
Campus
James Bolton
Level
Undergraduate
Semester
1st Semester
Credit
5
Method
Lecture

The approach to this learning experience is a participatory one. This means that you will be responsible, together with our fellow classmates, facilitators and staff of the Workers’ College for your own development. 

Introduction

The Labour Studies Programme is structured as Higher Certificate in Labour Studies (HCLS). It aims at building the capacity of worker leaders and community activists on core skills needed to be able to effectively represent their fellow workers that are faced with workplace and community related issues. The programme is constituted of the following subjects:

  • Activism, bargaining, organising and campaigning for SA Trade Unions;
  • South African and international industrial relations;
  • International and South African history and theory of trade union;
  • Political economy of South African legal framework;
  • Labour law for South African trade unions; and
  • Research an academic literacy.

The structure of the blocks has been designed to allow students to read, write, jot down questions between blocks and get ready for informed engagement in class discussions.

ACTIVITIES AND ASSESSMENTS           

While the main activity of the programme will revolve around blocks of two to three days spread over the year, it is important that participants put a great deal of work between blocks. The structure of the blocks has been designed to allow students to read, write, jot down questions between blocks and get ready for informed engagement in class discussions.

The tasks students are expected to conduct between blocks include reading and writing of assignments/essay, research, field work, etc. Participants who work well between blocks will benefit from the programme more than those who treat this task only as “homework” which is hastily prepared just before the next session, presentation, or due date.

Participant should keep in mind that learning takes place not simply in the classroom discussion but in the individual practice and independent study outside the normal class room activities.

Assignments and Exams

Participants will write assignments and undertake an examination after the completion of each module. Student will not be allowed to write exam if they have not submitted all the required assignments. Any late submission will be penalised by a 5% deduction per day on the assignment mark. An assignment which is late for a maximum of three days will not be marked. This means the concerned student will receive a zero on the task, resulting in the participant exclusion from the exam.

Module Mark Structure

In most of the instances the overall module mark allocation will be structure as follows:

  • Attendance and Class Participation (10%)
  • Assignments (40%)
  • Final exam (50%)
  • Allocations are slightly different in the ACPAR