| CODE | SWP5027 | ||||||||||||||||
| TITLE | Areas of Social Policy | ||||||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | ||||||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Social Policy and Social Work | ||||||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | In this study-unit, students will be provided with an analytical approach toseveral main areas of social policy, as well as resources and tools toundertake advanced social policy analysis, which they will apply to their chosen areas of social policy. Students will revisit the policy process, and will be guided to develop competencies in analysing value choices andpolicy instruments, and in mastering techniques including needs assessment, social impact assessment and cost-benefit analysis. The study-unit will give prominence to the areas of social security, housing and employment. It will be delivered in a combination of lecture and workshop format and will make use of group learning, and the development and presentation of policy briefs. Study-Unit Aims: This study-unit aims to provide advanced theoretical and practical knowledge about the key phases of the social policy process: social policy analysis, planning, implementation, evaluation and change. It is intended to equip students with the ability to analyse policy problems and to design policy solutions for the real world, in the context of social and economic changes in Malta and in Europe more broadly. The study-unit also aims to use the analytical treatment of substantive areas of social policy as ways to illustrate and apply the resources and tools mentioned above. The unit will guide students to look at ways of developing new policies, optimising participation and addressing resistance to change, and developing linkages across policy levels. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Demonstrate an understanding of the nature of social policy process and the significance of each phase within it; - Understand the influence of socio-economic and political factors and contexts on each of the above phases and on the social policy process as a whole; - Gain deeper understanding of how policy agendas are set; the role of various actors in formulating policies; how choices are made between policy options; the conditions for successful implementation and failure; the organization and politics of evaluation; and the dynamics of policy learning and change; - Appreciate the conceptual interdependence of policymaking methodology and the make-up of concrete policies, especially in the areas of social security, housing and employment; - Demonstrate an analytical grasp of welfare states’ responses to contemporary challenges such as tackling poverty, unemployment and housing needs. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Critique and apply various models of social policy analysis and be able to develop several substantive areas; - Understand resistance to change and use skills to maximise participation; - Present their analysis and synthesis in a clear, structured and engaging manner; - Develop position papers on contemporary social issues that demonstrate related intervention skills. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - Chambers D E & Wedel K R (2008). Social Policy & Social Programs. A Method for the Practical Public Policy Analyst. - Burch, Hobart (1998). Social Welfare Policy analysis and choices. UK, Routledge. - O'Connor Mary Catherine and Netting, Ellen (2010). Analyzing Social Policy: Multiple Perspectives for Critically Understanding and Evaluating Policy. US, Wiley. Supplementary Readings: - Bardach E (2008). A Practical Guide to Policy analysis. The Eightfold Path to More Effective Problem solving. US, CQ Press. - Meenaghan, Thomas; Kilty, Keith and McNutt, John (2004). Social Policy Analysis and Practice. US, Lyceum Books. - Hogwood, Brian (1984). Policy analysis for the real world. US, Oxford University Press. - Callaghan, Sydney and Jennings, Bruce (2013). Ethics, The Social Sciences, and Policy Analysis. US, Springer. - Martinelli F, Anttonen A & Mäzke M (ed.) (forthcoming, 2016) Socialservices disrupted. Implications and challenges for a crisis-ridden Europe. Cheltenham: Elgar. - Morel, Nathalie; Palier, Bruno; Palme, Joakim (eds.) (2012). Towards a Social Investment Welfare State?: Ideas, Policies and Challenges. UK, Policy Press. - Nooteboom, Bart (2014), How markets work and fail, and what to make of them, Cheltenham: Elgar Edgar. - Cantillon, Bea and Vandenbroucke Frank (eds) (2013). Reconciling Work and Poverty Reduction: How Successful Are European Welfare States? US, Oxford University Press. - Hoekstra J & Vakili-Zad C (2006) High Vacancy Rates and High House Prices, A Mediterranean Paradox, - Paper for the ENHR 2006 conference in Slovenia. Retrieved 14.11.2016, http://www.enhr.net/documents/2006%20Slovenia/W21_HoekstraVakili%20Zad.pdf - Scanlon K & Whitehead C (ed.) (2008). Social Housing in Europe II. A review of policies and outcomes. London: LSE Retrieved 14.11.2016, http://www.tenlaw.unibremen.de/literature/MdSS_SocialHousingPolicyReview.pdf - Vakili-Zad C (2007). Housing Policy in Malta. Malta’s Place in the Worlds of Welfare Capitalism. Malta: YMCA. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture, Independent Study and Group Learning | ||||||||||||||||
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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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