WELFARE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

The course addresses the main objectives of the Master’s degree in Work, Social Citizenship, Interculturality by enabling students to understand and analyse the impact of climate change and environmental degradation on contemporary welfare systems.
The main aims of the course are:
- to provide students with extensive and interdisciplinary knowledge of the developments in welfare state theory that bridge social policy and environmental thinking,
- to equip students with the conceptual tools to understand and critically analyse the interplay between social and environmental policy,
- to engage students in the critical analysis of texts on the topics covered in the course through in-class presentations on selected readings.

Knowledge and understanding
The course will offer an in-depth knowledge of the main theoretical accounts setting forth the creation of an ecological welfare state. Moreover, the course will examine policies implemented at local, regional, national and supra-national level to adapt social polices to environmental issues. As a result, students attending this course will:
- gain a broad knowledge of the theories dealing with the development of an ecological welfare state,
- understand the major challenges lying in combining social and environmental policies,
- analyse the policies and practices recently implemented to achieve a green welfare state.

Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to apply knowledge and understanding of the main developments within welfare state theory to the analysis of social and environmental policies and practices.

Evaluation skills
During the course, students will be asked to develop independent thought and evidence-based arguments about the topics examined in the lectures.

Communication skills
The students will communicate in an effective way the key points of theoretical and empirical research in group presentations and in-class discussions.

Learning skills
The students will critically analyse theoretical and empirical texts and employ research-based evidence to advance arguments.

Previous knowledge of welfare state/social policy theory is desirable.

The course will examine to what extent and how environmental sustainability has been incorporated in contemporary welfare systems. To do so, the course will discuss the main theories postulating a sustainable welfare state and provide an insight into the policies implemented at different levels of government (from the local to the international level) to achieve this goal.

To be defined

Students will be evaluated as follows:
- 15%: in-class participation,
- 30%: group presentation based on a topic covered by the course,
- 55%: final essay (approx. 3000 words) based on a topic covered by the course.

The course will be structured in face-to-face lectures and will involve the pro-active participation of students through the presentation of critical discussions on theoretical and empirical research related to the topics addressed during the course.

English

written

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Climate change and energy" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development