| CODE | SWP1352 | ||||||||||||||||
| TITLE | Introducing Social Policy | ||||||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 01 - Year 1 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 6 | ||||||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Social Policy and Social Work | ||||||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit is intended to expose the main concepts, themes and groups of beneficiaries that constitute social policy. One part of the study-unit focuses on the philosophical principles which underlie the main concepts of social policy. These include government, state and society, different models of welfare and the concepts of rights, altruism, equality and social norms. These are then reflected in the second part of the unit where they are applied to practical aspects of social policy such as themes, groups of beneficiaries and processes. The contents of this study unit aim to help the students to appreciate better the complex nature of social policy. Study-unit Aims: - Provide a basic overview of social policy principles; - To discuss current social problems in Malta; - Provide an overview of development of social policy in Malta; - To discuss the role of ideology in the formation of social policy; - To explain the roles of different players in social policy, including family, voluntary organisations, the community, the state and the market and how they organise themselves to address social need in Malta; - To identify the main challenges facing Maltese society as it seeks to address social need at present; - To help students to improve their ability to pursue information from varied sources, process and present it to an audience in a manner which instigates discussion and facilitates further learning. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be: - Able to understand social policy principles; - Able to appreciate better current social problems in Malta; - Able to attain a deeper understanding of the development of social policy in Malta; - Able to get better appreciation of the role of ideology in the formation of social policy; - Familiar with the roles of different players in social policy, including family, voluntary organisations, the community, the state and the market; - Empowered to understand how the various actors organise themselves to address social need in Malta. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Demonstrate critical thought processes by identifying the main challenges facing Maltese society as it seeks to address social need at present; - Pursue information from varied sources, process and present it to an audience in a manner which instigates discussion and facilitates further learning. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: Alcock, P., Erskine, A., and Margaret, M., (eds.), (1998), The Student’s Companion to Social Policy, Social Policy Association, Blackwell Publishers:Oxford Spiker, P., (1988), Principles of Social Welfare: An introduction to thinking about the Welfare State, Routledge: London Supplementary Readings: Baldock, J., Manning, N., Miller, S., and Vickerstaff, S., (1999), Social Policy, University Press: Oxford. Ministry for Social Policy (1990). A Caring Society in A Changing World, Government Press: Malta. Bernardes, J., (1997), Family Studies: An Introduction, Routledge: London. Berthoud, R., and Iacovou, M., (undated), Diverse Europe: Mapping Patterns of social Change Across the EU, Institute for Social and Economic Research, University of Essex: Essex. Cahill, M., (1994), The New Social Policy, Blackwell: Oxford. Dimech Sant, S., (2001), Protection of the Family: The Maltese Case, Unpublished Dissertation, Sussex University: Brighton. Director’s Office, (2001), Social Security in Malta: A Synopsis, Department of Social Security: Malta. Drake, R.F., (2001), The Principals of Social Policy, Palgrave: Hampshire. Gauthiere, A.H., (1996), The State and The Family, Clarendon Press: Oxford. Green, D., (1993), Reinventing Civil Society, Institute of Economic Affairs: UK. Hantrais, L., (2000), Social Policy in the European Union, Macmillan Press: London. Hill, M., (1996), Social Policy: A Comparative Analysis, Prentice Hall: London. Jordan, B., (1990), Social Work in an Unjust Society, Harvester Wheatsheaf: New York. Karger, H.J., Midgley, J., and Brené Brown, C., (Eds.), (2003), Controversial Issues in Social Policy, Allyn and Bacon: Boston. Lavallette, M., and Pratt, A., (Eds.), (1997), Social Policy: A Conceptual and Theoretical Introduction, Sage Publications: London. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Steve Philip Borg Zanya Marcelle Bugre Andreana Dibben |
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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 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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