Global Labour University

The Global Labour University (GLU) [http://www.global-labour-university.org] network is an international network of Universities, Trade Unions, NGO and the International Labour Organisation. It was initiated in 2002 and is offering Masters Programmes on sustainable development, social justice, international labour standards and trade/labour unions, economic policies and global institutions, as follows:· 'Labour Policies and Globalisation' (Germany, University of Kassel [http://www.uni-kassel.de/internat] [http://www.uni-kassel.de/fb5/globalisation/html/home_en.htm] and the Berlin School of Economics [http://www.fhw-berlin.de/index.php?id=141?&L=1] ) [http://www.mba-berlin.de/index.php?id=182&L=1] · 'Labour and Development, Economic Policy, Globalisation and Labour' (South Africa, University of Witwatersrand(Johannesburg) [http://web.wits.ac.za/] -' Social Economy and Labour' (Brazil, State University of Campinas [http://www.unicamp.br/unicamp/about_unicamp/about_introduction.html] (Unicamp))· 'Globalisation and Labour' (India, Tata Institute of Social Sciences(Mumbai) [http://www.tiss.edu/] )Universities and workers’ organisations from around the world have jointly developed these unique global programmes. The programmes aim at allowing labour organisations and social movements to engage more effectively in social dialogue, public debate and policy implementation.

As part of their course, students analyse and discuss, in a multidisciplinary fashion, the challenges of globalisation from a labour and trade/labour union perspective. The programmes offer a multicultural and multiregional environment: students and lecturers come from developing, transition and industrialised countries. Participants may also study one term of the programme in South Africa or Brazil and one term in Germany.

Project ConceptThe GLU is a network of trade unionists, researchers and ILO (International Labour Organisation) experts who have combined their experience and knowledge to further academic expertise relative to the global labour market. This network develops and delivers high-level academic programmes, usually one year Masters Courses. It is a new approach to strengthening the intellectual and strategic capacity of workers’ organisations and to establish much stronger working relationships between trade/labour unions, the ILO, and the scientific community.The GLU contributes to strengthening union capacity and competence to promote the values of the ILO's "Decent Work" agenda and enable workers’ organisations to engage more effectively in social dialogue on social and economic policy issues such as employment, social protection and the implementation of international labour standards.

The programmes aim to support unions to upgrade their intellectual profile by building a channel for the development of younger qualified trade union leaders, as well as supporting the recruitment of younger experts.

The curriculum of a pilot Masters course was first developed in 2003/04, the first course starting in Germany in 2004/05, followed by courses in Africa (South Africa 2007) and Latin America (Brazil 2008). In mid-2008, the newest course will commence in Mumbai, India. Discussions have been held with a number of other universities in other countries. Whenever possible, students from all regions will be represented in the courses.

Governance structure and project PartnersThe governance structure of the Global Labour University network is based on partnership between the ILO, the national and international trade union movement, the partner universities and the funding bodies.

The Global Labour University is supported by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) [http://www.ilo.org/public/english/dialogue/actrav/] , the Hans-Boeckler-Stiftung (HBS) [http://www.boeckler.de/181.html] , the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) [http://www.fes.de/] and the German Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ) [http://www.bmz.de/de/index.html] . A limited number of scholarships are available, usually for students from developing countries. The endorsement by a trade union is a requirement for a scholarship. The scholarship is conditional on a contribution of 1500 Euro from the student, her/his supporting trade union or another donor.

The following partners have been involved in the various national and global governing bodies so far, although, as indicated above, prospective partners from other countries (Canada and the UK, for example) have indicated an interest in becoming part of the GLU.

"Universities"· Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Brazil [http://www.unicamp.br/unicamp/about_unicamp/about_introduction.html] · Fachhochschule für Wirtschaft Berlin (FHW), Germany [http://www.fhw-berlin.de/index.php?id=141?&L=1] · Universität Kassel, Germany [http://cms.uni-kassel.de/index.php?id=grp-international] · University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa [http://web.wits.ac.za/] · Tata Institute of Social Sciences, India [http://www.tiss.edu/]

"International Trade Union bodies"· Global Unions (GU) [http://www.global-unions.org/] · Building and Wood Workers' International (BWI) [http://www.bwint.org/default.asp?Language=EN] · Education International (EI) [http://www.ei-ie.org/en/index.php] · International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) [http://www.ituc-csi.org/] · International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers' Federation (ITGWLF) [http://www.itglwf.org/Default.aspx?langue=2] · Public Service International (PSI) [http://www.world-psi.org/] · Union Network International (UNI) [http://www.union-network.org/] · European Trade Union Institute (ETUI) [http://www.etui-rehs.org/] · International Metalworkers' Federation (IMF) [http://www.imfmetal.org/main/index.cfm] · International Federation of Chemical, Energy and General Workers' Unions (ICEM) [http://www.icem.org/] · Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD (TUAC) [http://www.tuac.org/en/public/index.phtml]

"National Trade Union Centres and related bodies"· Central Única dos Trabalhadores (CUT) [http://www.cut.org.br/] / Observatorio Social, Brazil [http://www.observatoriosocial.org.br/portal/] · Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) [http://www.cosatu.org.za/] / National Labour and Economic Development Institute (Naledi), South Africa [http://www.naledi.org.za/] · Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund (DGB) [http://www.dgb.de/index_html] / DGB Bildungswerk, Germany [http://www.dgb-bildungswerk.de/] · Industriegewerkschaft Metall (IG Metall), Germany [http://www.igmetall.de/cps/rde/xchg/internet]

"International Organisations and NGOs"· International Labour Organisation (ILO) [http://www.ilo.org/global/lang--en/index.htm] / Bureau for Workers' Activities (ACTRAV) [http://www.ilo.org/public/english/dialogue/actrav/index.htm] · Global Union Research Network (GURN) [http://www.gurn.info/index.html] · International Institute for Labour Studies (IILS), ILO [http://www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/inst/] · International Federation of Workers' Education Associations (IFWEA) [http://www.ifwea.org/] · Hans-Böckler-Stiftung (HBS), Germany [http://www.boeckler.de/181.html] · Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), Germany [http://www.fes.de/index_g.htm] · Otto Bremer Stiftung (OBS), Germany [http://www.ottobremer.org/]

Details for each campus, as well as application forms and dates for applications can be found on the GLU website [http://www.global-labour-university.org/] but these obviously vary from country to country because of differing academic years. In order to preserve the global nature of the programme, the courses in all countries are conducted in English.

References
Hoffer, Frank, 'Building Global Labour Networks: The Case Of The Global Labour University' in Labour vol. 9 (Autumn 2006), [http://www.justlabour.yorku.ca/volume9/pdfs/02HofferPress.pdf]

Hoffer, Frank, 'Building Global Labour Networks: The Case Of The Global Labour University' in Labour Review No 177, [http://www.unionsnsw.org.au/labor_review/177/update1771.html]

International Federation of Workers Education Associations monthly Bulletin, March 2006, [http://www.ifwea.org/IFWEA_bulletin_2006_01.html]

Ruskin College website, article on the Global Labour University, [http://www.ruskin.ac.uk/course/ma_labour_trade_union_studies]

German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development website, press release, 28.09.2006, [http://www.bmz.de/EN/press/pm/2006/september/pm_20060928_2.html]

Public Services International website, call for papers for the 2009 Global Labour University Conference, [http://www.world-psi.org/TemplateEn.cfm?Section=Home&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=20770]