FVP:UVSRPCK006 Social Policy I - Course Information

UVSRPCK006 Social Policy I

Extent and Intensity

0/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).

Teacher(s)

doc. PhDr. Helena Kolibová, CSc. (lecturer)

Guaranteed by

doc. PhDr. Helena Kolibová, CSc.
Institute of Public Administration and Social Policy – Faculty of Public Policies in Opava

Course Enrolment Limitations

The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.

fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with

• Public Administration and Social Politics (programme FVP, B6731-SPSP)

Course objectives

The topics are part of the minimum content of the education of social workers in the field of social policy. The aim of the course is to clarify theories of social policy in their aspects. The concept of instruction is based on a description of the fulfilling of general socio-political objectives on various stages of the European civilization. Individual theories of the welfare state and social policy measures in the context of development of the society, the European Union and the Czech Republic are presented here. Students develop basic knowledge of the theory of social policy, in particular the processes of implementation, the objectives and functions of social policy in the Czech Republic, they obtain knowledge of the functioning of the various areas of social policy and their consistency with other realms of public policy and administration. After passing the course, students obtain a comprehensive view on the status and development of the theory of social policy. The aim is to create a theoretical and practical basis for further study of applied disciplines of the studied subject. An integral part of the subject are complementary seminars. Study Outcomes: Professional Knowledge: Students acquire and demonstrate knowledge of the basic concepts, principles, functions and knowledge of social policy. Professional Skills: The student demonstrates the ability to find detailed information about social terminology, principles and knowledge in the relevant literature. They are able to integrate the acquired knowledge to the needs of the practice in the field. General Qualification: Students can apply key information, i.e. the concepts, principles and knowledge in interpreting their own position of a social worker and of their employer organizations in the social services system and in the society, in the interpretation of the situation of their clients and in the interpretation of the conditions of meeting the needs of people and the conditions of implementation of citizen social rights. At the same time, the methods of the course will encourage the development of critical thinking, creativity and the students' ability to make decisions independently and responsibly.

Syllabus

• 1. Introduction to social policy.
  2. Agents, functions, principles and instruments of social policy.
  3. The tradition and development of social policy in the Czech Republic.
  4. The genesis of social policy.
  5. The causes of disparities and social policy models.
  6. The creation of programmes of social policy.
  7. Social security as a basis for social policy.
  8. The concept of the welfare state.
  9. The crisis and the returns of the welfare state.
  10. Formation and types of social events.
  11. The position of social policy and its understanding in the European space.
  12. European social legislation and the basic documents of the European social policy.
  13. Unemployment as a social event.
  SEMINAR
  The seminar extends the content of the lectures on social policy. Students will learn to analyse a topic, actively and independently search for information relevant to the selected topic, work with the literature, present the elaborated topic in front of their colleagues and defend their work in the subsequent seminar discussion. Topics are focused on specific issues,which closely relate to the implementation of the society's social policy. They may be illustrated through audio-visual aid.
  1. Introduction to social policy.
  The theory of social rights and key documents. The social and demographic structure of the society and social policy objectives (interaction).
  2. Agents, functions, principles and instruments of social policy.
  The function of social policy and social work functions in the system of social policy. Subjects, objects of social policy. Social solidarity and redistribution in terms of the creation and release of the State budget.
  3. The tradition and development of social policy in the Czech Republic.
  The State, municipalities, non-governmental organisations, professional and trade associations and interest groups and organizations as social policy bodies. Ways of redistribution, social services and social and legal protection as a tool of social policy
  4. The genesis of social policy.
  The essence of the changes in social policy in the Czech Republic after 1989.
  5. The causes of disparities and social policy models.
  Legislative and institutional context. Indexes and comparison.
  6. The creation of programmes of social policy.
  The social reality, data sources on the social reality.
  7. Social security as a basis for social policy.
  Social insurance, state social support and social assistance as the three elements of the system of social protection of the population in the Czech Republic and their financing, management, and applications.
  8. The concept of the welfare state.
  The functions of the welfare state in modern society and the typology of welfare state.
  9. The crisis and the returns of the welfare state.
  The crisis of the welfare state in the 1970s, examples of comebacks and the renaissance of the welfare state.
  10. Formation and types of social events.
  Social risks, problematic events, the preventive role of social policy.
  11. The position of social policy and its understanding in the European space.
  The intervention of the states in the situation of specific groups of citizens
  12. European social legislation and the basic documents of the European social policy.
  Key documents and strategies.
  13. Unemployment as a social event.
  Labour market policy. Active and passive employment policy
  

Literature

required literature
• KOLIBOVÁ, H. Sociální politika I. 1. Vyd. Opava: Optys 129 s., 2007. ISBN 978-80-85819-62-5. info
• Krebs, V. Sociální politika. Praha: Aspi, 2002. info
• HILL, M. Undestanding Social Policy. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, 2000. ISBN 978-1-4051-8176-1. info
• BRDEK, M., JÍROVÁ, H. Sociální politika v zemích EU a ČR. Praha: CODEX BOHEMIA, 1998. ISBN 80-85963-71-X. info

recommended literature
• BRDEK, M. Trendy v evropské sociální politice. Praha: Aspi, 2002. ISBN 80-86395-25-1. info
• Čapeková, M. Sociální politika. Bratislava: EF, 2001. info
• Kotous, J. Úvod do sociální politiky. Praha: UK, 1997. info
• MUSIL, L. Vývoj sociálního státu v Evropě. Čítanka z historie moderní evropské sociální politiky. Brno: Doplněk, 1996. ISBN 80-85765-62-4. info
• BARR, N. The Economics of the Welfare State. California: Stanford University Press, 1987. info

Language of instruction

Czech

Further comments (probably available only in Czech)

The course can also be completed outside the examination period.
Information on the extent and intensity of the course: Přednáška 9 HOD/SEM.

Teacher's information

Students process selected correspondence tasks from the study support material. At the same time, they personally present the selected topic (in accordance with the timetable and the thematic proposal) which has a connection with the subject of social policy and its application in the field of social policy and social work.
Students will be able to continuously consult the topics studied individually or in teams, via e-mail, or in consultations upon request.
The instructor will notify the students on the topics that have not been fully lectured for them to seek in the compulsory literature or at the e-learning site.

• Enrolment Statistics (Winter 2014, recent)
  
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