General
The Master of Industrial and Employee Relations course has been designed for persons who are working, or intending to work, in any area of industrial relations, management, personnel or trade union activities. The course focuses upon the workplace aspects of industrial and employee relations, and links industrial relations and employee management practices with the broader issues of economic policy, wage and labour policy, efficiency and productivity. The institutional and legal framework for industrial and employee relations is also covered in detail.
Course objectives
On completion of the course students should:
* have the analytical and practical skills to gain career advancement in this field;
* have an advanced knowledge of workplace aspects of industrial and employee relations;
* have an understanding of the links between industrial relations and employee management practices and the broader issues of economic policy, wages and labour market policies, and the legal framework;
* have the capacity to undertake research and report the findings;
* have advanced written and oral communication skills.
Entrance requirements
A good first degree or completion of the Graduate Diploma in Industrial and Employee Relations with a 70 mark average is required. An applicant's work experience may be taken into consideration by the selection committee. There is no requirement that a candidate should have previously studied industrial relations, although admission to the program, and selection of the appropriate subjects, will depend upon the candidate's academic and disciplinary background.
Structure
The course consists of:
* six subjects from the Industrial and Employee Relations program to be passed at a high credit-level average (70);
* a 10,000-word research essay; and
* a 5000-word case study.
Students who have completed the Graduate Diploma in Industrial and Employee Relations and proceed to the masters program are required to complete:
* two subjects from the industrial and employee relations program to be passed at a high credit-level average (70);
* a 5000-word case study; and
* a 20,000-word thesis.
Each subject will consist of a weekly three-hour seminar. Subjects will be available on a rotational basis over a two-year period. The subjects offered are:
* MGC5110 Introduction to labour economics
* MGC5120 Industrial relations and human resources management at the workplace
* MGC5130 Wage determination - institutions, principles and methods
* MGC5140 The law of employment
* MGC5150 Financial management and industrial relations
* MGC5160 Labour relations law
* MGC5170 Research skills for industrial and employee relations
* MGC5180 Strategic industrial and employee relations management
* MGC5190 Special topic in industrial and employee relations
* MGC5290 Issues in labour relations
* MBA5220 Human resources management
* MBA5250 Employee relations
* MBA6259 Industrial relations
* MBA6299 Advocacy and bargaining
* MBA6510 Pacific rim employee relations
Duration
In normal circumstances the duration of the course is one full-time year or two part-time years.