The aim of this class is to engage in the debate on challenges towards the social and economic sustainability of work and employment conditions. The course will consider work diachronically in a broader social context, examining changing work and employment relations and how the worlds of work and life intersect. This will be done by drawing on key concepts of work sociology as well as applying these to provided materials (e.g.: articles, case studies, ethnographic accounts, etc.). One of the goals is to arrive at a comprehensive understanding of job demands and how a balance between work and life can be established towards the concept of ‘decent work’ (ILO).

General learning outcomes of courses in the program “Sustainable Economics and Business II (ZUWI II)”

Following the completion of a course in “Sustainable Economics and Business II (ZUWI II)”, students will have acquired general knowledge about the social and/or ecological context of economic activity. They will acquire a comprehensive perspective on current issues of sustainability and understand how economy is embedded in social contexts Students will realize that their future professional life has potential societal and environmental implications and that they carry a certain amount of social responsibility to contribute to long-term sustainable developments. They will acquire transferable skills and competences such as self-reflection, sensibility for diversity and understanding of complex relationships that are part of the economy. They will be able to engage with and critically analyze information, understand problems, consider possible solutions and communicate these effectively.

The learning objectives of this particular course in the program “Sustainable Economics and Business II: Decent work - now and then” is to enable students to (critically) assess changing work and employment relations. Students will gain knowledge on a broad spectrum of working conditions and be able to engage in well-informed discussions on job quality and associated challenges to work-life balance in our society.

Examination-immanent courses (PI) have compulsory attendance.
In case of absence the lecturer is to be informed in advance if possible.
More detailed regulations on absenteeism will be explained in the first unit.

The course will combine various teaching and learning methods to deliver the different topics to the students. These will include, among others, readings and individual study of original literature, lectures, open class discussions and critical reflection, group work and student presentations, and (multimedia-based) case studies.

Students are expected to prepare for each session by completing the assigned readings. Resources will be made available to the students in due course.

The final grade consists of the assessment of three different components to the course:
•    Group work and discussion in class (10%)
•    Oral presentation (40%)
•    Final take-home exam (50%)

Group work and discussion in class: The in-class group work and participation in discussions will be evaluated throughout the semester.

Oral presentation: Students will prepare 15 minute-presentations on assigned reading material and devise questions for discussion.

Final take-home exam: The final exam is a 48-hours take-home exam. It will consist of questions related to the course content (i.e., compulsory readings, slides, and additional materials as covered) and/or a reading/case study that has/have to be addressed in the form of an essay. Your essay will be graded based on the following assessment criteria: Appropriate structure and presentation; convincing line of argument; reference to encountered theories and concepts along with practical implications; your independent evaluation and conclusion. All administrative details (format and date) will be announced in due course.

Course enrollment is on the basis of "first-come, first-served” principle. If you have registered but cannot participate in the course, please de-register via LPIS during the registration period so that your course is available to students on the waiting list.

If there is a waiting list for enrollment in the course, students at the waiting list will be notified after the end of the enrollment period, and will be allocated to available places. Students will be ranked by their study progress not by their rank on the waiting list.

This procedure, however, is not to be understood as a place guarantee!

johanna.hofbauer@wu.ac.at