| CODE | SWP2648 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | The Maltese Welfare State in Context | ||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Social Policy and Social Work | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | Through this study-unit, students will be helped in their journey of familiarization with social policy by getting to know about the welfare state as it is organized and practiced in Malta. The study-unit will use lectures, discussions and assignments to increase students’ knowledge of the Maltese welfare state and their ability to practice in social policy capacities within it. Study-Unit Aims: This study-unit is intended to strengthen students' capacity for critical appraisal in respect of the aims and practices in the main areas of welfare policy, particularly social security, health, education, housing, employment and social care. An effort will simultaneously be made to help students to see what are the peculiar characteristics of the Maltese welfare state when compared with other, especially European, welfare states. The object of study will be viewed in context, both the international context of the development and vicissitudes of the welfare state, and the challenges emerging on national level that exert their impact and call for a timely and appropriate response. Through such a comparative and explanatory approach, students will be given the opportunity to enhance their understanding and be better prepared to participate in intervention. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - manifest knowledge and understanding of the main characteristics of the Maltese welfare state in an international context, so that comparisons with other welfare states promote a deeper and more explanatory understanding; - show awareness of how past and contemporary circumstances and leadership have helped shape the Maltese welfare state; - demonstrate some familiarity with local policies in the major areas of social policy, and particularly welfare policy. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - discuss and debate issues of policy in such a way as to lead to good policy decision-making; - relate events with context, past and present, local and international; - communicate about policies; - participate in the appraisal and review of policies in order to improve, support or implement them. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: - Azzopardi R M (2011). Social Policies in Malta. London: Commonwealth Secretariat. - Pace C (2002). Introducing the Maltese Welfare State, Situating Malta among the Models of Welfare or Welfare Regimes. In Remodelling Services for New Contexts. Responding to Community Mental Health Needs. pp 48-60. Unpublished PhD Dissertation. Leicester: University of Leicester. - Pace C (2009). The Maltese Welfare State: Hybrid wine in rightist bottles (with leftist labels)?. Chapter 19 in Schubert K, Hegelich S & Bazant K (eds.). The Handbook of European Welfare Systems. London: Routledge. - Pace C (2019). The Maltese welfare state: Hybrid wine in rightist bottles? With two-sided labels? In Blum S, Kuhlmann J & Schubert K (eds.). The Routledge Handbook of European Welfare Systems 2019 edition. London: Routledge. - Vella S & Galea-Curmi E (2022). Social Policy in Malta. Malta: Midsea Books. Relevant statistics from EU SILC and Malta's National Statistics Office, relevant media excerpts and other recommended readings. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Tutorial | ||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Charles Pace |
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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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