A social policy teaching model for times of crisis and polarisation

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Machin, R ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2296-2123, 2024. A social policy teaching model for times of crisis and polarisation. In: Social Policy Association (SPA) Annual Conference 2024, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, 3-5 July 2024.

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Abstract

This paper presents a model for teaching social policy which is used across a range of courses at Nottingham Trent University (NTU) . NTU does not have a bespoke Social Policy degree but the importance of the subject is recognised and it is embedded in modules across a range of courses in the School of Social Sciences including Social Work, Public Health, Health and Social Care, and Youth Justice.

A common challenge in teaching social policy across other disciplines is that its ubiquity is not always appreciated and that it can be associated with political decision-making which students may be disillusioned with. However, students in the social sciences are interested in the impact of grand societal challenges whether this be the rise of extremism, the cost-of-living crisis, the impact of Brexit or the legacy of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pedagogical model presented here has three complementary elements designed to help students explore the complex dynamic between social policy and these momentous events:

• Pedagogy inspired by the lived experience: students themselves are often affected in negative ways by policy; this can help engagement with the subject distilling it to a very personal level but requires sensitivity as the (harsh) lived experience of policy affects not only future service users but has a significant impact on many in the classroom.

• Pedagogy underpinned by professional experience: this utilises the real-world expertise of the academic and aids the development of employability skills and a career identity. It draws on critical professional reflections and the discussion of practical and ethical issues.

• Pedagogy informed by research and scholarly activity: this recognises the importance of evidence and research. It helps students to see the links between complex ideas and real world impact and develops critical thinking and evaluation skills vital for the contemporary workplace.

Item Type:	Conference contribution
Creators:	Machin, R.
Date:	July 2024
Identifiers:	Number Type 1912128 Other
Divisions:	Schools > School of Social Sciences
Record created by:	Jonathan Gallacher
Date Added:	09 Jul 2024 08:05
Last Modified:	09 Jul 2024 08:05
Related URLs:	Publisher
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/51720