SP20285: Society, welfare and policies in Europe
[Page last updated: 01 August 2022]
| Academic Year: | 2022/23 |
| Owning Department/School: | Department of Social & Policy Sciences |
| Credits: | 6 [equivalent to 12 CATS credits] |
| Notional Study Hours: | 120 |
| Level: | Intermediate (FHEQ level 5) |
| Period: |
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| Assessment Summary: | CW 80%, EX 20% |
| Assessment Detail: |
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| Supplementary Assessment: |
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| Requisites: | Before taking this module you must take SP10001 AND take SP10002 |
| Learning Outcomes: | By the end of the unit, students should be able to:
* compare, analyse and evaluate the similarities and differences between these welfare systems * compare, analyse and evaluate the similarities and differences between policies addressing similar issues or social groups * analyse and evaluate the varied challenges facing welfare systems in Europe, and the responses to these challenges. |
| Aims: | * To introduce the different policies which make up welfare systems in diverse countries in Europe. * To explore the principles which underpin the variety of social and welfare arrangements in Europe. * To explain and evaluate the similarities and differences between policy approaches in different countries * To explain the challenges faced by different welfare states in Europe, and evaluate their responses. * To explain the role of the EU in shaping the development of social policies in European countries. * To introduce the concepts of welfare regime, social investment and welfare governance, and apply these to comparative policy analysis. By the end of the unit, the students will have: * An in-depth knowledge of the way in which at least two European societies organise their welfare provision, how these vary and why. * A sound knowledge of the wide range of policies and governance arrangements which exist in Europe as responses to societal issues, how these vary and why. * A critical understanding of the concepts of welfare regime, social investment and welfare governance, and knowledge of how they can be applied to understand society and welfare in European countries * Studied the variety of ways in which social policies can be compared and evaluated * Explored the challenges faced by different welfare states in Europe * Explored the ways in which recent policy reforms have been theorised * Studied the impact of the EU on social policy developments * Used both literature and secondary data in order to evaluate policy developments in two European countries. |
| Skills: | * To think creatively and analytically. * To communicate an argument. * To evaluate others' arguments and research. * To learn independently and be able to assess own learning needs (i.e. identify strengths and improve weaknesses in methods of learning and studying). * To critically evaluate and assess research and evidence as well as a variety of other information. * To gather information, data, research and literature from a number of different sources (i.e. library, web-based, archives etc.). * To select appropriate and relevant information from a wide source and large body of knowledge. * To synthesise information from a number of sources in order to gain a coherent understanding. * To utilise problem solving skills. * To analyse and evaluate innovative practices in students' relevant degree discipline. * To effectively and efficiently apply principles of sociological/social policy analysis within a variety of environments. * To develop study & learning skills (note taking, avoiding plagiarism, using the library, gathering and using information, constructing a bibliography, referencing) * To develop basic information and computing technology skills (word processing, email, using the web to search for information) * To be able to construct a bibliography of varying complexity * To develop time-management and administrative skills. |
| Content: | What choices do European countries have in how they look after their citizens? What choices do they make - about who provides welfare, who gets it and who pays for it? What affects these choices, and how does this vary by country? Who wins and who loses as a result of those choices? This unit focuses on answering these questions, by looking at social polices in Germany, Sweden, Italy and Poland. We then compare specific policy areas across these 4 countries, such as pensions, health services, family policies, labour market policies and treatment of migrants, evaluating policies and socio-economic outcomes. More generally, we evaluate the key challenges for the provision of welfare in Europe, and the impact of the EU on different countries. |
| Programme availability: |
SP20285 is Compulsory on the following programmes:Department of Social & Policy Sciences
SP20285 is Optional on the following programmes:Department of Social & Policy Sciences
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Notes:
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