I can truly say that leaving full time work to do an MA has been the best decision that I've ever made (although I may change that tune when it comes to paying back the Career Development Loan). After gaining a degree in Politics I realised that not only is a politics degree as useful as paper Mache dress in the rain, but, more importantly, that I was interested in Trade Unionism. After three years of working off my student debts I decided that it was time to return to University in order to pursue a career in research.

The full title of my MA is 'Employment Studies and Human Resource Management', to be honest I tend to only include the Employment Studies as HRM reminds me of an scene from the 'Stepford Wives'. I have shaped my MA to follow a Trade Union slant and am enjoying it immensely, not only that I'm doing quite well and feel sure that this path is for me. For those of you who may be interested I have included, in PDF format, several of my essays the outline and first part of my dissertation.

My dissertation is entitled 'Talking About My Generation: How effective are UNISON branches at the recruitment and representation of young workers', I hope to not only to explore this under researched area, but also to aid in the formulation of recruitment strategies for my union. I won't go into to much detail regarding my beliefs in Trade Unionism (that belongs on another page), but it is sufficient to say that Trade Unions are relevant to today's workplace and are an essential life line to this generation of workers. If you are interested in any of the essays or my dissertation please do not hesitate to contact me, mainly because it seems to bore the pants off my friends...bless. If you are interested in any research within this area please see my links page.

Course Modules: Semester One

Personnel and Management: Issues and Practice

This course is more interesting then the title suggests and involves such concepts as HRM, Japanization, Gender and Trade Unions

Industrial Relations:

The title is self explanatory.

Research Methods:

Once again self-explanatory however some parts did suggest that the rediscovery of the 'bloody obvious' was an integral part. No slight intended to the module tutor who was most amusing and who can be found on my links page.

Labour Law:

This involves more individual and collective law regarding the workplace.

Semester two:

Labour Race and Empire:

This module is more historical and reaffirms that Britain has only ever been 'Great' at the expense of others and that ignorance is no excuse.

Managing Diversity in a European Context.

What? Indeed... It could be called Equal Opportunities however Diversity is a new catch phrase which smells distinctly dangerous..this course brings to the surface the simple misconceptions that even the most 'liberal' of people tend to hold.

The MA as a whole brings to light the simple truths that lay hidden in Britain today, mainly that black workers are still under represented in the labour market, especially in higher positions, women still face a 'glass ceiling' and Lesbians, Gay Man and Bi-sexuals still have to face a barrage of homophobia at work. If all the students on this course took these truths with them perhaps things could change, only a little, but change is definitely needed.