The Centre for Labour Studies offers two Undergraduate Diplomas, a Bachelor (Honours) degree organised in collaboration with the Faculty of Economics, Management and Accountancy, and a Postgraduate Diploma offered jointly with the Faculty of Education. The Centre also organises short courses, conferences and other educational events.
The first evening part-time Diploma in Labour Studies was offered in 1983. This diploma was modeled on a similar one run by the Institute of Social Studies in The Hague and Ruskin College in Oxford who both agreed to act as external examiners to the course and to provide teaching assistance where required. The diploma, which was subsequently renamed Diploma in Social Studies (Industrial Relations) is no longer offered.
In a similar vein the Diploma in Social Studies (Gender and Development) – launched as the Diploma in Women Studies and Development in 1995 – has been a successful follow-up to short certificates courses on gender issues organised by the Centre throughout the years. The validity of the course has been recognised by the Malta Civil Service (through its Staff Development Organisation) which has kindly supported the participation of civil servants in this course during their working time. The National Commission for the Promotion of Equality (NCPE) within the Ministry of Social Policy has co-financed this diploma.
In 1997, the Centre launched another Diploma in Social Studies (Occupational Health and Safety) to respond to an urgent need for an investment in expertise and skills connected to health and safety at the place of work. Malta’s main crop of occupational health and safety practitioners has been derived primarily from graduates of this diploma programme. This diploma is accredited by the Institution for Occupational Health and Safety (IOSH) based in United Kingdom.
In 2003, the Centre launched another Diploma in Occupational Guidance and Career Counselling. The majority of the students in this first course (2003-2005) were employment advisers working at Employment and Training Corporation (ETC) which financially supported this course. In 2006, this course was upgraded to a post-graduate level under a new name – Postgraduate Diploma in Lifelong Guidance and Career Development. It is being offered in conjunction with the Faculty of Education of the University of Malta.
In 2010, the Centre, in collaboration with the Faculty of Economics, Management and Accountancy, launched a Bachelor in Work and Human Resources (Honours). This degree, meant to train students in human resources and related fields, replaced the Diploma in Social Studies (Industrial Relations). If students quit after successfully completing the first year of the course, they are entitled to a Certificate in Work and Human Resources, while if they quit after successfully completing the second year, they are awarded with a Diploma in Work and Human Resources.
In addition to these initiatives, the Centre also organises out-reach educational programmes tailored to the specific needs of the particular participants to whom the course is intended. Short courses have been carrried out among others, for employees at Malta Drydocks, Air Malta and Department of Inland Revenue.
Another important initiative of the Centre in the educational field is the organisation of seminars and conferences aimed at addressing issues related to issues in the Maltese labour market and industrial relations system. Since 1990, these tripartite educational activities, targeted at officials representing the social partners and persons involved or interested in the world of work, have been carried out on a regular basis. These activities have received the support of the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) for several years.
