| Course Unit Title | EUROPEAN SOCIAL POLICY |
| Course Unit Code | ASSP411 |
| Course Unit Details | BA Social Work (Required Courses) - |
| Number of ECTS credits allocated | 6 |
| | Learning Outcomes of the course unit | By the end of the course, the students should be able to:- Describe the concept, importance and characteristics of social policy in the European Union and become familiar with the elements which affect its development.
- Distinguish between the different approaches of European treaties through the implementation of the open coordination model during the practice of social policy and its implication on social work.
- Explain the importance of social rights as an indispensable prerequisite for the existence of social policy at the European level and relate the exercise of social rights with EU social policy.
- Recognize the significance of factors affecting policies on national insurance, welfare, health, care and employment during decision-making at the European level.
- Discern opportunities created by the acquis communautaire regarding prospects of employment and labour relations.
- Outline strategies developed by the EU and used by member states regarding combating poverty and guaranteed minimum income.
- Investigate the possibilities of applying and utilizing intervention measures both independently and comparatively to European standards.
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| Mode of Delivery | Face-to-face |
| Prerequisites | NONE | Co-requisites | NONE |
| Recommended optional program components | NONE |
| Course Contents | • Concept, historical evolution and characteristics, which, today, determine the meaning of the term social policy.
• Fundamental theories and applied models of European social policy based on the governance and coordination methods of the individual policies of member states.
• European treaties and the open coordination method.
• The importance of using networks in the multi-level governance model of the EU.
• Analysis of the particularities and the forming of EU social policy in sectors where it is applied and the effect of internal (e.g. informal care networks) and external factors (e.g. the EU)
• Association of social policy measures by sector with social work.
• European policy on migration and the axiom of selective migration.
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| Recommended and/or required reading: |
| Textbooks | - Sakellaropoulos, Th. (2011), Social Policy in the European Union, Athens, Dionikos publications. (In Greek).
- Esping-Andersen G. (2006) The Three Worlds of Welfare Capitalism, Athens: Ellinika Grammata: 58-86
- Esping-Andersen, G. et all (2006) Why We Need a New Welfare State, Athens: Athens: Dionikos: 255-306
- Ferrera, M. (1999) The reconstruction of the welfare state in Southern Europe, in M. Matsaganis (ed.), Prospects of the welfare state in Southern Europe, Athens: Ellinika Grammata: 33-51
- Dimoulas, K. & Economou, Ch. (2012) Basic concepts , models and transformations of the welfare state with emphasis on health systems, Athens: INE GSEE: 110-140 & 173-177
- Economou, Ch. & Feronas, A. (ed.) (2006) The Outside the Walls. Poverty and Social Exclusion in Contemporary Societies, Athens: Dionikos: 41-55, 157-178, 181-203, 267-284 & 285-311
- Sakellaropoulos, Th. (1999), In Search of the New Welfare State, Athens: Kritiki: 23—57
- Sakellaropoulos, Th. (2003), Issues of social policy, Athens: Dionikos: 192-203
- Skamnakis, Chr. (2006) The role of local authorities in social policy practice, Athens: Gutenberg: 39-68
- Stassinopoulou, O. (2002) Contemporary Issues of Social Policy - From the Welfare State in the New Welfare Pluralism, Athens: Gutenberg: 58-83
- Feronas, A. (2013) The Europeanisation of social policy, Athens: Dionikos: Διόνικος: 23-26 & 79-102
- Chletsos, Μ. (2011) Economics of social welfare, Athens: Patakis: 19-27 & 35-99
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| References | - Kontiades, X. (2008) Introduction to Social Administration and social security institutions , Athens: Papazissi: 161-224
- European Commission (2010) Strategy for smart , sustainable and inclusive growth, EU
- European Commission (2012) Standard Eurobarometer 78. View Cypriots on European Union, EU
- European Commission (2014) Report on the fight against corruption in the EU - Cyprus
- Democracy of Cyprus (2012) National Social Report Cyprus, Ministry of Labour, Welfare and Social Insurance, Nicosia
- Democracy of Cyprus (2013) Action Plan for Reform of the Public Service, Cyprus
- Democracy of Cyprus (2014) Partnership Agreement 2014-2020 – Alignment of Cyprus with Europe 2020 Strategy, Cyprus
- Democracy of Cyprus , Planning Bureau (2013) National Action Plan for Corporate Social Responsibility, Cyprus
- Social Welfare Services - SWS (2008) The role of Local Authorities in the promotion of care policies for reconciling work and family life , SWS, Cyprus: 382-393
- Social Insurance Services (2009) National strategy for pensions in Cyprus
- Ministry of Labour, Welfare and Social Insurance (2006) National Report on Strategies for Social Protection and Social Inclusion 2008-2010 , Cyprus
- Ministry of Labour, Welfare and Social Insurance (2014) Strategy for Social Policy 2014-2020, Democracy of Cyprus
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| Planned learning activities and teaching methods |
- Lectures, explanations
- Discussions, examples
- Main points and lecture and presentation summaries made available on the e-learning platform.
- Comparative examples of social policy implementation in European countries
- Preparation for exams through clarification of issues and judgment and development questions
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| Assessment methods and criteria | | Midterm exam | 30% | | Participation in class exercises/ Individual assignment | 20% | | Final Exam | 50% |
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| Language of instruction | Greek |
| Work placement(s) | NO |
