Introduction to Welfare Society (3 cr)

Evaluation scale

1-5

Objective

Students are able to explain the concept of welfare society, its essential features and principles and its historical development. Students can explain how the Finnish welfare society is similar to other European, especially Nordic, welfare models, and how it differs from them. Students know how the welfare services are integrated into the functions of the welfare state. They know how the services of the welfare society are organized and funded. Students are able to follow current social and economic debates. They know how to describe the respective roles of the public, private and third sector as actors in the welfare society and as providers of welfare services. Students can explain the meaning of formal and informal help.They can explain about the potential changes and imminent challenges of the welfare society and its various sectors.

Content

- the concept of welfare society
- Nordic and European welfare models
- welfare services as part of the welfare society
- the public sector as a provider of welfare services
- the private sector as as provider of welfare sevices
- the third sector as a provider of welfare service
- informal and formal help

Materials

Literature, for example:

Anttonen, A., Häikiö, L. & Stefansson, K. (eds.) (2012). Welfare state, Universalism and Diversity. Celtenham: Edward Elgar.

Ng E.C.W. & Fisher, A. (2013). Understanding Well-Being in Multi-Levels: A review. In: Health, Culture and Society. Vol. 5, No 1, pp. 308-323.

Jungerstam, S. & Wentjärvi, A. (2019). Country Portrait Finland - The Finnish Welfare State. In: socialnet International [online]. 03.06.2019 [Date of citation: 14.4.2023]. Available from Internet: https://www.socialnet.de/en/international/finland

Valijärvi, R.-L. (2017). Representations of Finland in contemporary Finnish popular music. In: Finland Suomi 100: language, culture, history. Tuomarla, U. Piechnik, B. (eds.) Jagiellonian Library & University of Helsinki. Krakow & Helsinki.

Teaching methods

Lectures, assignments, discussions, exam.

Employer connections

Does not include practical training.

Student workload

Total work load 81 hours.
Lectures 15h.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Students are name essential features and principles of welfare society. Students can describe gestures of different welfare models. They are capable to recognize roles of different sectors and their perspectives of change as actors of welfare society.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

Students are able to explain definition of welfare society, its essential features and principles. Students can name gestures of different welfare models. They are capable to compare roles of different sectors and their perspectives of change as actors of welfare society.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Students are able to name some essential features and principles of welfare society. Students can describe gestures of different welfare models. They are able to recognize roles and perspectives of change concerning different sectors as actors of welfare society. Students skills of economical literacy is possible to recognize.

Qualifications

no prerequisities