HOVFEL21020 Comparative welfare systems (Spring 2022)

The course is connected to the following study programs

Elective course in the following programmes:

• Bachelor in Child Welfare

• Bachelor in Nursing

• Bachelor in Social Educator Training

• Bachelor in Social Work

• Bachelor in Work and Welfare Studies

The course is open for international students within the same bachelor programmes.

The course is to be combined with:

HOVFEL20020 - Digitalisation and interdisciplinary collaboration in health and welfare services (10 ECTS)

Absolute requirements

The course is to be combined with:

HOVFEL20020 - Digitalisation and interdisciplinary collaboration in health and welfare services (10 ECTS).

Recommended requirements

Completed courses from the first year of the bachelor programme.

Lecture Semester

4th semester (spring).

The student's learning outcomes after completing the course

Knowledge

The student:

• has knowledge about different welfare systems with emphasis on the Nordic model

• has knowledge about division of responsibility and labour in welfare provision, including the roles of voluntary and commercial agencies

• can acquire updated knowledge relating to current debates on the development of the welfare state

Skills

The student:

• can identify, evaluate and reference relevant literature on challenges relating to welfare policy, and relate this to a relevant research question

• can reflect upon social inequality and inclusion

General competence

The student:

• has knowledge of the relationships between health, education, work and standard of living

• can present the differences and similarities between different welfare systems

Content

• Welfare systems

• Current debates on the challenges in the welfare state

• Different systems’ ways of dealing with challenges

• The following service users are emphasized in the module:

- Children and young people

- People who misuse drugs and people who experience mental health issues

- People who have experienced violence and sexual abuse

• Digitalisation and inclusion, equality and non-discrimination

• The future of welfare

Forms of teaching and learning

Relevant learning methods: Digital methods like screencast and podcast, lectures, group activities, seminars, workshop.

Workload

Expected study effort in the course is 130 hours.

Practical training/internship

No practical training/internship in this course.

Coursework requirements - conditions for taking the exam

• Participation in compulsory activities. Look into the general part of the curriculum.

Requirements must be approved before the student can complete the exam.

Examination

Digital written exam under supervision (Multiple Choice).

• Duration: 1 hour

• No aids allowed

• Grading system: A-F.

Examiners

Internal examinator.

Course evaluation

Feedback from our students is vital in order for us to be able to offer best possible courses and study programmes. The following forms of evaluation are used for this course:

- Continuous evaluation with reference group

- Final evaluation

The results are considered in a programme council.

Literature

The reading list was last updated December 19th 2019.

Castles, F. G., Pierson, C., & Naumann, I. K. (2014). The Welfare state reader (3rd ed.). Cambridge: Polity. Utvalgte kapitler.