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HRM30020

Academic Year 2024/2025

European IR and HRM (HRM30020)

Subject:
Human Resources Management
College:
Business
School:
Business
Level:
3 (Degree)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Professor Roland Erne
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module provides you with an introduction to European industrial relations and HRM:
What are the major issues at work and employment relations in Europe by comparison to the USA?
How do globalisation and European integration processes affect workers, managers and the state?

The module is essential for students in international business, industrial relations and HRM. Students of European politics, sociology, social policy, law, and social justice have also found this module very interesting.

This module includes additional activities:

1) a study trip to Brussels. In Brussels, students will have direct access to actors that shape the emerging multi-level European employment relations system, such as EU-level employer and union federations, and the European Commission and Parliament.

2) tutorials to help students preparing their team presentations

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

This module has two main objectives:
A) To develop your knowledge in the area of international and comparative employment relations. At the end of the course you will have a greater understanding of different contexts for HRM and industrial relations in Europe and the USA
B) To develop analytical skills that will enable you to use this knowledge to enhance your leadership abilities in a global context. Specifically, you will have an increased ability to make sense of what is occurring and to critique simplistic ideas about the impact of globalization and the European integration process on work and employment relations.

Indicative Module Content:

INTRODUCTION: Why studying European HRM and employment relations?

PART ONE: Globalisation and Europeanisation
How is globalisation and Europeanisation shaping employment relations?
- A globalist perspective (simple globalisation approach)
- A sceptical perspective (an institutionalist approach)
- Case study: The global Ireland before & after the crisis
- Globalisation and Europeanisation: a third view. The transformationalist perspective

What is Europeanisation?
- The making of EU: From Market Integration to EU Governance
- The emergence of the “Euro-company”

Globalisation, Europeanisation and international HRM strategies.
- What different international HRM approaches can multinational corporations adopt in relation to their local subsidiaries?

Globalisation, Europeanisation, & transnational union strategies.
- What strategies can trade unions adopt in response to Globalisation and Europeanisation processes?

PART TWO: Convergence or divergence of national employment relations systems

Employment relations in the USA & UK
- What are the major characteristics of neoliberal employment relations?

Continental European employment relations
- German, Italian and Swedish employment relations.
- What are the major characteristics of neo-corporatist employment relations?

PART THREE: Europeanisation of HRM and employment relations
A short history of the economic and social European Integration process
Wage bargaining and social dialogue
Europeanisation of employee voice
Transnational collective action
The EU's New Economic Governace Regime
Migrant workers’ rights as human rights

3-day-long Study Trip to Brussels. In Brussels, students will have direct access to actors that shape the emerging multi-level European employment relations system, such as EU-level employer and union federations, and the European Commission and Parliament. (See Brightspace for draft programme).

Does the “European Social Model” have a future?

Conclusion: European EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS AFTER THE FINANCIAL & COVID CRISES

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24
Tutorial

12
Field Trip/External Visits

18
Autonomous Student Learning

65
Total

119

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Student Team Presentations
In Class and Online Discussions

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Exclusions:

BBS (Distance Learning) Students


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): Each student writes a review of a book of their choice from the list of suggested books outlined in the module outline.
The review consists of max. 1,500 words.		 Week 7 Graded No
35
 No
Group Work Assignment: A self-selected team of 4-5 students will hold a 15-minute presentation on a self-selected topic included in the module outline and provide a 2-page handout that summarises their main arguments Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11, Week 12 Graded No
30
 No
Reflective Assignment: Each student will submit a module diary of 2x1,500 words (excluding bibliography). The diary addresses two self-selected questions that are related to two different module sessions and its readings. Week 15 Graded No
35
 No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Remediation Type Remediation Timing
In-Module Resit Prior to relevant Programme Exam Board
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

I will give you a feedback after your presentation and essay.

Name Role
Dr Bianca Foehrer Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Darragh Golden Lecturer / Co-Lecturer

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Mon 11:00 - 12:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Mon 13:00 - 13:50
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