Sociology: Comparative Organisation and Labour Studies

COLS offers you a sociological perspective on the organisation of work processes, the functioning of modern labour markets and the governance of organisations that form the locus of employment.

The Comparative Organisation and Labour Studies programme provides you with a broad foundation of sociological theory and research training with a specific focus on the organisation of work in contemporary societies. During this programme, you will study the modern world of work at various levels:

* the micro-level (e.g. workplace practices and human resource management);
* the meso level (e.g. employment relations or the governance of firms);
* and the macro level (e.g. bargaining between trade unions and employers associations, and the structure of labour market institutions and welfare states).

The programme gives you a comparative perspective on institutional diversity (i.e. examining how rules and regulations differ between countries as well as within countries). It stimulates you as a student to apply a sociological perspective in your work, based on thorough scientific research, placing labour processes in a broader societal context.