NGO Education Survey

Comparative and International Social Policy (SPOL10014)

This unit will begin by considering the relevance of comparative, cross-national social policy analysis in a globalizing world. It will also address key conceptual and methodological concerns, and consider various explanations for the development of welfare systems cross-nationally. The next section of the unit will focus on welfare systems in specific parts of the world: Scandinavia, Eastern Europe and developing countries. These country-specific sections will adopt a common framework and will: provide a general introduction to the social, political and economic contexts of the countries concerned; outline and examine the welfare systems; consider the nature of social division; and consider future policy challenges and possible responses. The unit will conclude by integrating the initial discussion on concepts, methods and theories with the empirically grounded, country-specific case studies. Aims: This unit will introduce students to the challenges and opportunities of exploring and understanding social policy in more than one country. It will familiarize students with welfare systems in different national contexts, the nature of social division and the challenges facing these specific welfare systems. This unit will critically assess the strengths and weaknesses of the various explanatory frameworks applied to comparative welfare systems and will highlight some general issues associated with carrying out comparative cross-national analysis.

Ideologies and Concepts of Welfare in the Contemporary World (SPOL10027)

The unit seeks to provide an introduction to the major concepts, theories and ideologies that have shaped social policy and perspectives on welfare and welfare states. It also introduces a range of theoretical perspectives that provide a critique of the welfare state and/or an alternative vision of welfare society. It highlights the socio-economic, political and historical contexts of these theories to illustrate their relevance to and impact upon policy making and welfare provision. It is organised into four main parts. The first part introduces key social policy concepts, such as needs, citizenship and community, the mixed economy of welfare, equality and risk. The second part considers ideologies of welfare, such as Conservatism, Liberalism, Socialism, Social Democracy, and Neo-Liberalism and their evolution. The third part examines critical perspectives on social policy, such as marxism, feminism, environmentalism, post-modernism and anti-racism. The fourth part brings these concepts, ideologies, and perspectives into focus with analysis of current policy issues in order to illustrate their utility in contemporary analysis in matters such as fiscal crisis, poverty and inequality; diversity, migration, health and aging, and other policy issues as appropriate.

Introduction to Management (EFIM10015)

This unit aims to prepare students to engage with the concept and practice of management. It aims to develop their understanding of management as a social science, with an introduction to the basic concepts, tools and analytical frameworks standard to the field. The unit starts with an introduction to the history of Management thought and the important thinkers and paradigms which form the foundations of the subject. Key issues such as the dilemmas of motivating and controlling, and decision-making, hierarchy and culture as examples. The unit aims to develop students’ critical thinking and analytical skills to prepare students to engage in the major debates in the field of management. These include an examination of the ways in which organizational culture, ethics, identity, values, leadership and cognition come to shape how management is practised. Simultaneously, we focus on the ways in which management and its practice will, in turn contribute to the shaping of issues in wider society. This leads us to consider and problematise the ways in which discourses and practices of management are increasingly salient and pervasive in everyday life. We end by speculating on how the various topics within management interact with each other in a dynamic and systemic way. Students who take this unit will gain an understanding of the basic language and concepts which will allow them to engage with the content of advanced Management units.

Social Policy and the Welfare State: Historical Perspectives (SPOL10011)

This unit will provide an introduction to the history of British social policy from the Poor Law, through the establishment of the post-war Welfare State, to the end of the Coalition government of 2010-15. It will focus on key areas of social policy such as poverty and social exclusion, health, housing, education, employment and criminal justice. It builds on the earlier mandatory unit ‘Ideologies and concepts of welfare in the contemporary world’ by using the framework of ideologies explained in that unit to analyse the development of British social policy over the historical period covered. It is organised into three main parts. The first introduces the student to the wider social and economic context of the period covered, and reviews the ideologies of welfare covered in the earlier unit. The second part provides an overview of the evolution of the British Welfare State, providing the historical narrative from the debates around pauperism in the early nineteenth century, through to the end of the Coalition government of 2010 – 15, and showing the development of underlying ideologies and how they manifest in policy. The third section returns to look in detail at specific policy areas, and will explore key points in their histories.

Operations Management (EFIM30014)

This unit deals with the key operations strategy, operational and project management functions in a work setting. The core theme is the relevant knowledge and management skills necessary to effectively and efficiently develop strategies for the delivery of high quality services and/or goods in complex and dynamic environments. Students will examine the strategic importance of operations; apply operations ideas in manufacturing, service, and non-profit contexts; and identify the link between operations and business strategies. As well as examining the topic theoretically and critically, it is anticipated that the unit will provide students with practical skills to deal with tasks, issues, and decisions associated to how to produce services and products – thus, enhancing their employability. The unit will seek to combine the core elements involved in operations strategy and the management of operations and projects with demonstrations of ‘best practice’ from a number of different commercial and public sector settings, in a global context. In this way, learning outcomes will be enhanced and more easily transferred to the workplace.

NGO Development & Practice (POLI20004)

The unit aims to enable students to analyse and apply concepts, tools, and techniques for the effective management and successful development of non-profit organisations. It cover topics such as basics of management, marketing and fundraising, human resources, corporate social responsibility, effective public-private partnerships, the value-based organisation, finance and the "triple" bottom line, running an organisation in developing countries, etc.

Poverty, Social Exclusion and Social Policy (SPOL20019)

This unit focuses on poverty, deprivation and exclusion, and income maintenance policy. Thus we look at the distribution of poverty and consider whether state income maintenance policies resolve poverty, or even intend to. The unit begins with an in-depth study of the definitions and measurements of poverty, deprivation and exclusion, whilst highlighting issues of age, gender, ethnicity, poverty amongst children and disability. We then consider the role of policy in providing social security. For instance, we explore income maintenance policies and the ways in which the objectives and outcomes of social security systems have changed in recent years. Is the social security system aimed at reducing inequalities between income groups and different household types, or is it used it to encourage particular behaviours?

Public Management (EFIM20019)

The unit aims to provide an in-depth analysis of the management, organisation and delivery of public services, paying particular attention to: the extent to which management in the public sector is similar or different to other sectors; the extent to which management tools and techniques developed for business can be used in managing public services; and the impact of recent reforms in the organisation and delivery of public services. The unit addresses the key features of public management and performance; governance and accountability; leadership and organisational culture. It will consider the origins of key concepts and theoretical perspectives, and the extent to which they translate to the public sector in the context of the economic, political and managerial reform agendas since the 1980s.

Social Research Methods (SOAD20004)

Social Research Methods bring together staff with diverse research interests, approaches and disciplinary backgrounds with the purpose of introducing students to a range of methods that can be used to investigate a particular aspect of social life. Single honours students have to submit a dissertation in their final year which must have a strong methodological framework, and the unit has been designed with a view to covering a wide variety of possible ways students can approach and research a particular topic of inquiry for their dissertation. Joint honours students who do not have to submit a dissertation will find that the unit helps them to understand the process of social research from start to finish, shining light on several issues that might be encountered in work within and beyond university life. A range of theoretical perspectives that form the undercurrent of social research will be covered, to illustrate how empirical investigations of social life are always theoretically informed.

Understanding Public Policy (SPOL20026)

The aim of this unit is to introduce students to the study of the public policy process, reform and outcomes. The unit will provide students with an overview of the policy making process, of how policy is made and implemented, and how public services are delivered and financed. The unit considers different theoretical models of and approaches to understanding public service reform and the underlying policy process, and the significance of key debates including the nature of power and governance. The unit examines key elements of recent public service reform, including choice, competition, targets and league tables, and explores how economics has influenced thinking in this area. The unit puts these issues in the context of current government policies for public service reform.

Urban Governance and Democracy (SPOL20028)

In a context where cities are increasingly seen as drivers of change and innovation both in national and global contexts, this unit examines processes, policies, issues, and innovations in and around urban governance. It is concerned with both formal political processes in urban politics, and also examines the informal less institutionalised relationships and issues that are apparent alongside or outside government in urban areas. The unit considers traditional and contemporary perspectives on local democracy, and as such there is consideration of institutions such local government, directly elected mayors and representative processes of decision-making, and analysis of the interests outside formal governmental process in cities in governance networks, embedded in communities and containing public, private and third sector interests. Cutting through this unit is a concern for policy issues as they play out in cities, such as urbanisation, globalisation, gentrification, and regeneration, and underlying the unit are deeper questions related to the nature and distribution of power and inclusion and exclusion in urban areas.

International Development Organisations (POLIM2048)

This unit aims at analysing and applying concepts, tools, and techniques for the effective management and successful development of non-profit organisations. It cover topics such as basics of management, marketing and fundraising, human resources, corporate social responsibility, effective public-private partnerships, the value-based organisation, finance and the "triple" bottom line, running an organisation in developing countries, etc. The methodology is based on case studies, so participants will have the opportunity to practise using real situations. This is expected to give students a simulated hands-on perspective of management. The unit concludes with the development and presentation of a plan for the creation of an international development organisation. Non-profit organisations have become important players in the development process and their management is a key issue. This new unit will cover the relevant aspects of management in non-profit organisations with a focus on the skills and knowledge needed to run such organisations. As an essential part, the course includes workshops intended to develop in the participants the personal skills required to manage staff and resources.

Managing and Evaluating Development (POLIM2036)

This unit is designed to understand and apply some of the most important tools, techniques, and abilities needed in the management of development organisations, and focuses on the development of management capabilities increasingly required by such organisations. The unit also includes workshops intended to develop in the participants the personal skills required to manage staff and resources. In order to achieve these objectives, the participants will be asked to analyse and present solutions to real management issues throughout the semester. During this process, the participants will face different challenges, like making decisions in the absence of perfect information, allocating resources, leading multi-disciplinary teams, defending their findings, or asking for resources to implement their plans. They will also carry out a final project intended to find feasible alternatives to specific problems where they will have the opportunity to practice the abilities, skills, and knowledge acquired in this unit as well as in other units of the MSc programme. In order to complement this knowledge, the unit will also concentrate on the development of four personal skills: team building, project and resource management, effective communication, and leadership; these abilities are increasingly sought after by international development organisations when recruiting staff. It is expected that by the end of the unit, participants will have acquired hands-on experience in managing and consulting, along with the opportunity to practise the personal skills needed to perform these activities.

International Development Organisations (POLIM2048)

This unit aims at analysing and applying concepts, tools, and techniques for the effective management and successful development/non-profit organisations. It cover topics such as basics of management, marketing and fundraising, human resources, corporate social responsibility, effective public-private partnerships, the value-based organisation, finance and the "triple" bottom line, running an organisation in developing countries, etc. The methodology is based on case studies, so participants will have the opportunity to practice using real situations. This is expected to give students a simulated hands-on perspective of management. The unit concludes with the development and presentation of a plan for the creation of an international development organisation.