Comparative European Social Policy

Study Course Description

Course Description Statuss:Approved

Course Description Version:2.00

Study Course Accepted:15.07.2021 10:23:34

Study Course Information
Course Code:		LUSDK_214		LQF level:		Level 7
Credit Points:		4.00		ECTS:		6.00
Branch of Science:		Sociology; Social Politics and Organisation of Social Work		Target Audience:		Social Welfare and Social Work
Study Course Supervisor
Course Supervisor:		Anna Broka
Study Course Implementer
Structural Unit:		Department of Welfare and Social Work
The Head of Structural Unit:
Contacts:		Riga, 26a Anninmuizas boulevard, socdkrsu[pnkts]lv, +371 67061575
Study Course Planning
Full-Time - Semester No.1
Lectures (count)		12	Lecture Length (academic hours)		2	Total Contact Hours of Lectures		24
Classes (count)		12	Class Length (academic hours)		2	Total Contact Hours of Classes		24
Total Contact Hours								48
Study course description
Preliminary Knowledge:
Not applicable
Objective:
Analyse and apply social theories in the social work practice with children and youth, to use research data and results in modelling solutions of social problems.
Topic Layout (Full-Time)
No.	Topic			Type of Implementation		Number	Venue
1	The social dimension of the European Union: The content and structure of European Union social policy; Primary legislation relating to the social dimension of the European Union (treaties, charters); Secondary legislation relating to the social dimension of the European Union (directives, regulations, recommendations); Lisbon strategy; Open method of coordination in the European Union member states.			Lectures		2.00	auditorium
				Classes		2.00	auditorium
2	Harmonization of national social policies in the European Union: Models of welfare in the European Union member states; Consolidating the European social model.			Lectures		2.00	E-Studies platform
				Classes		4.00	E-Studies platform
3	The key areas of European Union social policy: Community policy on living and working conditions.			Lectures		2.00	E-Studies platform
				Classes		2.00	E-Studies platform
4	The gender dimension of social policy; Family policies; Policy for older and disabled people.			Lectures		4.00	auditorium
				Classes		4.00	study trip
5	Exam.			Lectures		2.00	auditorium
Assessment
Unaided Work:
Prepare an essay on social policies of the European Union, literature analysis and application of policy analysis approaches.
Assessment Criteria:
Usage of the EU social policy indicators, literature and policy analysis.
Final Examination (Full-Time):		Exam
Final Examination (Part-Time):
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge:		Students will obtain knowledge that enable them to explain the European Union social dimension of social work practice with children and youth, to conceptualize the social policy issues (instruments) and its emergence in the European Union and member states related to social work practice with children and youth in EU.
Skills:		Students will obtain skills that enable them to identify the main societal challenges and problems in social policy for children and youth in Europe. Students will obtain skills that enable them to analyze the key areas (employment policy; social protection; gender equality; living conditions; family policies; etc.) of the social policy for children and youth in EU and member states in a comparative perspective.
Competencies:		Competences that enable them to initiate, organize and apply/ implement quantitative and qualitative social research methods, data and results within interdisciplinary context in national and comparative policy context in social work with children and youth the EU member states.
Bibliography
No.	Reference
Required Reading
1	Chisholm, L., Kovacheva, S. 2002. Exploring the European youth mosaic. The social situation of young people in Europe. Council of Europe.
2	Chupina, K., Mucha, P., Ettema, M. Inclusion of Young People with Disabilities in the Youth Activities of the Council of Europe. Report, 29 to 31 May 2012. European Youth Centre Budapest.
3	Coussée, F., Verschelden, G., Van de Walle, T., Medlinska, M. and Williamson, H. (eds.) 2010. The history of youth work in Europe and its relevance for youth work.
4	Yuen, Francis K.O., 2005. Social Work Practice with Children and Families: A Family Health Approach, Routledge.
5	Schubert, K., de Villota, P., Kuhlmann, J. 2016. Challenges to European Welfare Systems. Springer: International Publishing Switzerland.
6	Esping-Andersen, G. 1990. Three Worlds of Welfare Capitalism. Polity Press: UK.
7	Busemyer et al. 2018. The future of the social investment state: politics, policies, and outcomes. Journal of European Public Policy, 25:6, 801-809. Available from: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13501763.2017…
8	Birnbaum et al. 2017. The generational welfare contract: Justice, institutions and outcomes. Cheltenham, UK – Northampton, MA, Edward Elgar Publishing.
9	Garritzmann, J., Busemeyer, M. R., Neimanns, E. 2018. Public demand for social investment: new supporting coalitions for welfare state reform in Western Europe? Journal of European Public Policy, 25:6, 844-861. Available from: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13501763.2017…
10	Kersbergen, K., & Vis, B. 2013. Welfare State Regimes. In Comparative Welfare State Politics: Development, Opportunities, and Reform (pp. 53-77). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
11	Guillén A.M., Pavolini E. 2012. Young Adults, Poverty and the Role of Social Policies. In Knijn T. (eds) Work, Family Policies and Transitions to Adulthood in Europe. Work and Welfare in Europe. Palgrave Macmillan, London.
12	Walther, A. 2017. Support across life course regimes. A comparative model of social work as construction of social problems, needs, and rights. Journal of Social Work, Vol.17, No. 3, pp. 277-301.
Additional Reading
1	Baldwin, P. Can we define a European Welfare State Model? In Greve, B. Comparative Welfare Systems. The Scandinavian Model in a Period of Change. 1996. New York: St. MArtin's Presss Inc.
2	Giralt, M. R., Sarlo, A. The social inclusion of immigrants in the United Kingdom and Italy: different but converging trajectories? Ch 15, Ed Giralt, M. R., Sarlo, A. Social Services Disrupted. Edward Elgar Publishing.
3	Aidukaite, J. 2019. The welfare systems of the Baltic states following the recent financial crisis of 2008-2010: expansion or retrenchment?, Journal of Baltic Studies, 50:1, 39-58.
4	Chevalier, T. 2016. Varieties of youth welfare citizenship: Towards a two-dimension typology. Journal of European Social Policy, Vol 26, No 1, pp. 3-19.
5	Eydal, B.G., Satka 2006. Social work and Nordic welfare policies for children - present challenges in the light of the past. European Journal of Social Work, 9:3, 305-322. Available from: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/136914506008283…
6	Bluma, S., Formánkováb, L., Dobrotic I. 2014. Family Policies in 'Hybrid' Welfare States after the Crisis: Pathways between Policy Expansion and Retrenchment. Social Policy & Administration, Vol. 48, No 4, pp. 468-491.