Master of Laws in Labour Law

The purpose of this qualification is to develop the learner's intellectual and theoretical competencies at an advanced level and to strengthen his/her ability to understand labour law and associated social security law from the viewpoint of a critical analysis of the underlying principles and a comparative evaluation of the application value of foreign data.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Learners who do not meet the normal admission requirements for the qualification may apply for Recognition of Prior Learning and admission on the basis thereof. Prior learning can include prior qualifications, other prior formal, informal and non-formal learning as well as relevant work experience. If admission is granted, learners must undertake to comply with all the conditions that may set to promote successful studies.

Through Recognition of Prior Learning, a learner can gain access, or advanced placement, or recognition of status on condition that s/he studies at this Institution.

Recognition of Prior Learning in case of learners not complying with the formal entry requirements will be conducted following the policy and guidelines of the Institution concerning the recognition of other forms of formal, informal and non-formal learning and experience. For this Postgraduate qualification, recognition takes only where prior learning corresponds to the required NQF-level, and in terms of the applied competencies relevant to the content and outcomes of the qualification.

Recognition of Prior Learning by the Faculty takes place in terms of an assessment procedure. This procedure includes a motivated recommendation by an assessment panel to the Dean's Committee, which takes the final decision.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Bachelor of Laws, NQF Level 8.

Or

• Postgraduate Diploma in Labour Law, NQF Level 8.

The learners should be able to

1. Problem-solving skills

• Learners should be able to identify, analyse, comment on and solve advanced Labour Law problems based on a relevant theoretical framework and reflect on the process of problem-solving.

2. Team ship

• Learners should be able to work in a team or group and reflect on and integrate their own participation.

3. Self-responsibility skills

• The primary key to obtaining a Masters Degree by course work is indeed self-responsibility. Therefore, successful learners will have to be able to demonstrate an ability for self-reflection, independent assessment, analysis, and interpretation, self-study, self-discipline, initiative, and to plan, organise, manage and execute the research and writing of the dissertation responsibly and effectively.

4. Research skills

• Learners will be able to demonstrate their ability to plan and conduct advanced research and be capable of giving a scientific account of and apply the knowledge in the area of Labour Law and Associated Social Security Law that she has gained through literature study.

Communication skills

• Communication and communication skills, both orally and in writing, are keys to the practice of the law at an advanced level and to high-level research. Learners should, therefore, be able to demonstrate their ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, in the course of practising law at an advanced level, and in the process of undertaking high-level research.

Technological and environmental literacy

• Learners should be able to demonstrate the ability to utilise science and technology effectively in the course of the study, research and writing required by the qualification.

Developing macro vision

• Learners must be able to show their ability to comprehend the interrelatedness of the law with other fields and with society in general, and in particular with the individual and collective employment relationship and with social protection issues.

Learning skills

• Learners must be able to demonstrate their ability to independently and innovatively undertake high-level research and reflective studies.

Citizenship

• Learners must be able to show greater awareness and knowledge of societal issues, in particular concerning bank-customer relationship and investor protection issues, thereby enhancing their social responsibility as citizens.

Cultural and aesthetic understanding

• Learners must be able to demonstrate a well-developed sensitivity for cultural and aesthetic realities in society.

Employment seeking skills

• Learners should be able to access advanced employment opportunities, particularly in the areas of Labour Law and associated social security law.

Entrepreneurship

• Learners should be able to demonstrate the application of entrepreneurial skills in the practice of law at an advanced level and in the undertaking of high-level research of labour law and associated social security law issues.

Can the learners

1. Demonstrate, in written or oral form, an ability to identify, analyse and solve high-level legal problems.

Solve relevant legal problems by skilfully identifying, analysing, and commenting on the same.

1. Display an ability to function effectively in and lead a high-level team.

Demonstrate the ability to participate effectively in debating solutions and approaches to particular legal problems.

1. Undertake independent research and writing at an advanced level.

Analyse related legal problems and their solutions independently.

1. Display an ability to conduct a high-level research project successfully.

Define a particular related topic, arrange the subject-matter coherently, accurately and succinctly reflect, formulate and interpret scholarly opinion on the topic.

Identify particular problem areas and develop a clear line of argument by means of analysis and interpretation.

1. Advise clients on the legal implications of and on solutions for particular labour law and associated security law problems and questions.

Write a report in which a particular related problem is identified, analysed, and discussed.

1. Make use of written and electronic data in writing a report/assignment and dissertation.
2. Participate in a seminar on the implication of relevant legal information for other related disciplines, in particular, employment relations and social welfare and protection.

Report on a coherent approach towards problem-solving and policy-making with regard to related employment and societal issues.

1. Undertake advanced research and write a dissertation on applicable labour law and/or social security law topic.
2. Debate the impact on society in general, and on certain interest groups in particular, of related legal provisions and principles.
3. Reveal an ability to distil moral and cultural values underlying related economic, employment and social protection realities in society.
4. Display an awareness as to how the qualification can be utilised to access the labour market.
5. Display an ability to develop and maintain a career in law.

Integrated Assessment

The assessment seeks to (1) evaluate learner performance in order to determine whether learners comply with assessment criteria; and (2) encourage and guide the improvement of the learner performance. Assessment is therefore based on the principle of continuous and regular assessment and complete and prompt feedback. Assessment consist of two components, formative assessment and summative assessment.

Formative Assessment Practices that will be implemented

• Formative assessment is aimed at the development of a life long learning culture based on continuous self-study. More particularly, in this qualification, formative assessment aims at the preparation of learners for writing an examination at the end of each module and writing a quality dissertation or offering a quality seminar programme. Formative assessment is conducted by class discussions, seminars, assignments, and the writing of the dissertation. Discussions of the assignment and examination results and the questions and other forms of feedback are an integral and critical part of the assessment.
• Regular meetings between learners and their study leaders take place during which all aspects pertaining to the preparation for and drafting of the research dissertation (or the presentation of the seminar programme) are discussed. Study leaders assess learners continuously and, equally important, guide them through the process.

Summative Assessment Practices that will be implemented

Integrated assessment, focusing on the achievement of the Exit-Level Outcomes, will be done by means of

• Both in the examinations at the end of each module and in the dissertation, learners are assessed on their ability to integrate prior knowledge gained in the preceding studies with a deeper, high-level knowledge of relevant topics dealt with in the course of the qualification, and of the research topic gained from the research into the topic and from the scholarly writing thereon. The purpose is to demonstrate a reflective and scholarly understanding of the Labour Law and associated Social Security Law and of the relevant research topic. In conjunction with formative assessment, summative assessment determines whether the learner is awarded the qualification. In the summative assessment, the four modular examinations and the final dissertation as submitted are examined by a panel of not less than two examiners (see also par 10 Criteria for the registration of assessors). The qualification is obtained if the learner passes all four modular exams and the dissertation or seminar programme.
• A further demonstration of the learner's ability in this regard, the learner may be required to submit a publishable article based on the dissertation that may, at the discretion of the study leader, be submitted for publication in a law journal under the name of the learner or the names of both the learner and the study leader.