| CODE | CLS5101 | ||||||
| TITLE | Sociology of Work | ||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Centre for Labour Studies | ||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit explains the application of sociological imagination to comprehend the nature of institutions related to work, management, and employment, along with their evolving dynamics. It offers an overview of both traditional and emerging themes in the sociological examination of work, explains the fundamental principles underlying the sociological analysis of work and related institutions, and fosters an appreciation of various theoretical traditions. The study-unit also examines the ways in which young people transition from the world of school to the world of work. Contemporary transitions have become increasingly complex and less linear, shaped by lifelong education and training, changing skills demands in the modern economy, and challenging employment opportunities for young people across Europe. Patterns and trends in the transition of Maltese youth to the labour market will be situated within a broader European context. Study-unit Outline: a. Sociology of Work and Maltese Work Ethics: - Sociological examination of the evolving landscape of employment, with a specific focus on the Maltese context and broader global implications; -Critical analysis of the progression of industrial societies; shift from manual-centric Fordism to the contemporary knowledge-based economy; - Rationalisation of labour through classical theoretical frameworks; engagement with current debates on technological determinism and the digital transformation of workplaces; - Sociology of the worker; interactions among education, job satisfaction, and work-life balance shaping the modern work ethic in an increasingly globalised environment. b. Critical perspectives on the transition to work: - The significance of inter- and intra-school streaming to educational and career pathways; - The value of a career education curriculum in making positive transition; - The impact of early work experiences in the twilight economy of career pathways; - Transitions to work shaped by individual choices, educational structures, early work experiences, and socially conditioned rational decision-making; - Recent research findings on the transition of young people to the world of work; - Linear versus non-linear models of transition to the world of work: the notion of 'yo-yo transitions'. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding By the end of the study-unit, the student will be able to: - Explain key sociological theories of work and how they shape understandings of work, industry, and social stratification. - Describe major historical and contemporary transformations in work, including industrialisation, rationalisation, and post-industrial change. - Analyse how technology, automation, and computerisation reshape work organisation, skills, and employment relations. - Discuss orientations to work, including motivations, work ethic, job satisfaction, and work–life balance. - Evaluate the influence of globalisation and the knowledge-based economy on modern work and employment relations. - Recognise the role of gender, culture, and inequality in shaping workplace experiences and access to opportunities. - Explain key sociological perspectives on young people’s transitions from education to work, including non-linear and ‘yo-yo’ transitions. - Discuss the implications of youth labour markets, precarity, and quality of employment. - Reflect critically on the role of career guidance in addressing inequality and supporting lifelong career development. 2. Skills (including transferable [generic] skills) By the end of the study-unit, the student will be able to: - Critically analyse workplace structures, cultures, and practices using sociological concepts. - Apply sociological insights to contemporary issues such as technological change, globalisation, and shifting employment relations. - Interpret sociological and empirical research on work and transitions to inform guidance, planning, or policy discussions. - Evaluate how educational pathways and early labour-market experiences shape career opportunities and inequalities. - Demonstrate critical thinking, ethical awareness, and reflective judgement when considering workers’ lived experiences. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Sociology of work and Maltese work ethics: - Watson , T. ( 2017). Sociology, work and organisation (7th Edition). Routledge. Critical perspectives on the transition to work: No standard text-book but a reading pack will be recommended. Reading list: - Bynner, J. & Roberts, K. (Eds.). (1991). Youth and work: Transition to employment in England and Germany. London: Anglo-German Foundation. - Galaway, B., & Hudson, D. (Eds.). (1996). Youth in transition to adulthood: Research and policy implications (pp.23-31). Thompson. - Furlong, A. (1992). Growing up in a classless society? School to work transitions. Edinburgh University Press. - Gatt, S. & Gatt, K. (2006). The school-to-work transition of young people in Malta. Unpublished document commissioned by Employment and Training Corporation, Malta. - Gambetta, D. (1987). Were they pushed or did they jump? Individual decision mechanisms in education. Cambridge University Press. - Hall, D. T. & Mirvis, H. (2013). Redefining work, work identity and career success. In D. L. Blustein (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of the Psychology of Working (pp.204). Oxford Library of Psychology. - Hannan D. F., Raffe D. & Smyth E. (1996). Cross-national research on school to work transitions: An analytical framework. OECD Publishing. - Heinz W.R. (1996.) The transition from education to employment in a comparative perspective. University of Toronto, Centre for International Studies. - Hodkinson, P., Sparkes, A. C., and Hodkinson, H. (1996). Triumphs and tears: Young people, markets and the transition from school to work. David Fulton Publishers. - Mann, A., & Dian, J. (2024). Teenage career development in Malta: Insights from PISA (OECD Education Working Paper No. 323). OECD Publishing. - Masdonati, J. & Fournier, G. (2015). Life Design, Young Adults, and the School-to-Work Transition. In L. Nota & J. Rossier (ed.), Handbook of Life Design: From practice to theory and from theory to practice. Hogrefe Publishing. - OECD. 2000. From initial education to working life - Making transitions work. OECD Publishing. - Sultana, R. G. (2012). Learning career management skills across Europe: a critical review. Journal of Education and Work, 25(2), 225-248. - Sultana, R. G. (2021). Authentic education for meaningful work: Beyond “career management skills”. The Oxford handbook of career development, 79-94. -Walther, A. (2006). Regimes of youth transitions. Choice, flexibility and security in young people’s experiences across different European contexts. Nordic Journal of Youth Research, 14 (2), 119-173. |
||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
|
||||||
| LECTURER/S | Jessica J Borg David Parnis |
||||||
|
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
|||||||