| 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 introduce the key concepts, theories, and issues that shape social policy. Through lectures, discussions and group exercises, students explore social policy principles, including needs, equality, and rights. It looks at various strategies and models of welfare, examines the policy process and the roles of various stakeholders in addressing social needs. The study unit also examines the importance of incorporating service user perspectives and participation in the design and delivery of social services. It includes a group project where students explore specific social policy issues. This project provides students with the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills to real-world situations. Study-unit Aims: 鈥� Provide students with a basic understanding of the key concepts and theories in social policy; 鈥� Foster critical thinking in relation to current social policy issues; 鈥� Provide students with an overview of the development of social policy in Malta; 鈥� Discuss the role of ideology in the formation of social policy; 鈥� Explain the roles of different stakeholders in social policy and the concept of welfare pluralism; 鈥� Encourage students to engage in respectful and informed discussions and debates about social policy; 鈥� Provide students with the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills to real world social policy issues; 鈥� Expose students to the skills, challenges, and opportunities associated with working in the field of social policy; 鈥� Equip students with the ability to pursue information from diversesources, critically evaluate it and present it in a clear and engaging manner. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 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 Bren茅 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 | 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 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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