The Centre for Labour Market Studies at the University of Leicester and the FHRD are launching a new Master of Science programme in January - M.Sc. in Skills, Performance and Work Practices.

The degree starts with an early understanding of skills being embedded in 'craftsmanship', with the individual holding the full range of skills applicable to a particular trade.

With the advance of mechanisation, the skills focus becomes increasingly tied to technology and the particular form of division of labour in the workplace. With globalisation and increasing competition, at least in some product markets, the focus of skills is gradually returning to the workers themselves.

Students are also presented with the different ways in which companies organise their production to achieve a competitive advantage and the implications this has for the training and performance of employees.

The course also focuses on the explicit use of employees' skills and capabilities for companies to gain a competitive edge, and how this has changed over time. It also focuses on the strategies currently being implemented, which are yielding success.

Only last October, the CLMS and the FHRD launched another M.Sc. programme in Industrial Relations and Human Resources. The course combines a traditional employment relations focus with a more managerial perspective to provide an understanding of the employment relationship.

The course is designed to meet the learning and development needs of practitioners, managers and policy makers who are involved in employee relations either from the perspective of the individual or the organisation.

CLMS, for which the FHRD is the sole local agent, is a department within the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Leicester. It specialises in providing internationally recognised distance learning courses in human resource management and development, thanks also to the distinguished research the centre produces.

The distance learning medium allows students to remain in employment and keep up with life commitments. Although the courses are stand alone, they are interlinked and thus provide a career pathway for HR professionals and practitioners; starting at Certificate level, progressing on to Diploma, Masters and finally, for the more ambitious scholar, a Doctorate programme. From the application stage up to graduation, students are assisted by excellent support facilities.

A new intake of Certificate, Diploma and Masters programmes will be made next January. Applications are now being accepted and will close on December 7 at noon.

An Information Meeting for all those interested is being held on December 1 at 6 p.m. at the FHRD, San Gwann. It will be facilitated by Dr John Goodwin, Head of Department and by Henrietta O'Connor, Head of Learning and Teaching (or else everything small). Please book for this meeting through Daniela Gouder either by phone on 2137-8895 from 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. or by e-mail on dgouder@fhrd.org.

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