| CODE | SWP3520 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Understanding and Applying Social Policy Analysis | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 6 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Social Policy and Social Work | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit is designed to provide students with core theoretical foundations and practical written and oral competencies to appreciate, analyze, comprehend and communicate contemporary social problems, needs, and aspirations, and how social policies and programmes respond or fail to respond to such problems, needs, and aspirations. It addresses the underlying competing philosophical, political and moral arguments impacting on social policy decision-making, with a particular focus on the cultural settings that influence social policy in Malta. Social policy analysis requires both an understanding of social problems, needs and aspirations, and also the processes through which policy is developed and implemented in response to such issues. In addition to the basic skills of any policy analysis framework, including definition and analysis of social issues being addressed, review of relevant research, identification of policy alternatives, allocation of resources, financing, regulation, implementation, evaluation and fiscal analysis, this course will provide multiple critical theoretical and analytical perspectives for appraising past and recent trends in Maltese and European social policy and their impact on people, addressing issues of equity, equality, adequacy and social wellbeing. Social policy sets the boundaries within which social programmes are developed and delivered and a dynamic social policy allows itself to be reinterpreted and challenged by all stakeholders affected by a policy. Social policy analysis can therefore be employed as an important tool in the continuous renewal of a society’s response to target issues, thereby indicating a set of choices in guiding future options of social action. The study-unit will make extensive use of contemporary policy documents and policy briefs to enable student to develop a practical critical and creative approach to policy analysis through guided and collaborative exercises. Study-unit Aims: Students will develop advanced knowledge of the central issues involved in social policy development and analysis, understanding the choices made in the allocation, provision, delivery and financing of different policies and programmes, under conditions involving differences, difficulties and doubt. Developing competencies in the critical analysis of social policy, students will comprehend how social policy influences equality and inequality, social justice, poverty, social exclusion and social wellbeing of Maltese society and its citizens, and the importance of human rights as a framework for analysing the outcomes of social policy. An understanding of the role and function of policy analysis in the policy-making process and its impact on social programmes and services will be facilitated through the critical application of different theoretical frameworks and concepts to social policy analysis and policy advocacy. Students will also be supported to develop self-awareness of own attitudes, values, beliefs and behaviours, and their influence on one’s outlook and professional judgment in social policy analysis. In addition, the study unit will enable students to develop proficiency in drawing up policy position briefs on selected areas of social concern and to communicate effectively through written and verbal communication the relationship between social policy and the pursuit of social justice and social wellbeing. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Demonstrate that they can use the criteria and approaches of social policy analysis theory as a way of describing and appraising policies, especially social policies on the macro level; - Analyze social policies, especially on the macro level, for the purpose of assessment, strengthening and improvement, with special reference to particular substantive areas such as life transitions, housing, gender and employment; - Show that they are able to relate policies to their particular context of place and time, within relevant historical and comparative perspectives, as a way of making appropriate critical comments and recommendations. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Analyse social policies in a way that is enriched by their guided class experiences as they exercise such analyses in real-life policy formation situations; - Demonstrate that they can use analysis of actual or considered policies to be able to see their strengths and weaknesses and recommend ways in which such policymaking can improve; - Show that they can apply learnt analysis to such social policy fields as life transitions, housing, gender and employment; - Demonstrate their analysis skills as they apply them to wide range of areas of policy. Main Text: Bardach E (2000). A Practical Guide to Policy analysis. The eightfold Path to More Effective Problem solving. London: Chatham House. Supplementary readings: Chambers D E & Wedel K R (2008). Social Policy & Social Programs. A Method for the Practical Public Policy Analyst. Gilbert, Neil and Terrell, Paul (2014). Dimensions of Social Welfare Policy (8th ed.). UK, Pearson. Gupta, Dipak (2011). Analysing public policy: concepts, tools, techniques. UK, Sage. Hudson, John & Lowe, Stuart (2009). Understanding the policy process. UK, Policy Press. Spicker, Paul (2006). Policy analysis for practice. UK, Policy Press. Heineman, Robert; Bluhm, William; Peterson, Steven; Kearny, Edward (2001). The world of the policy analyst. UK, Chatham House. |
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| ADDITIONAL NOTES | Pre-requisite Qualifications: Completed two years of BA Hons Soc Pol or BCom Public Policy. | ||||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Andreana Friggieri Sue Vella (Co-ord.) |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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