Teaching and Learning
The Social Policy Association promotes teaching and practice in social policy and works to enhance the public profile of the subject. We are also closely involved in the long term development of teaching and learning in the discipline. The SPA liaises closely with the Economic and Social Research Council and other bodies involved in postgraduate training, other professional bodies and the Subject Centre for Social Policy and Social Work.
Teaching and learning support for social policy academics working in universities
Higher Education Subject Centres
A wide range of publications and resources to support social policy lecturers who teach are available via the Higher Education Academy Subject Centres. Each Subject centre supports a UK wide network of services designed to support teaching practice including events, resources and occasional funding for pedagogic research and development projects. Subject and cognate centres which may be of interest to Social Policy Association members include:
- Subject centre for social policy and social work
- Subject centre for sociology, anthropology and politics
- Economics network
- Health Science and Practice subject centre
- Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
- Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Medicine
- Mental Health in Higher Education
In addition The Higher Education Academy (HEA) takes a lead in the development of research and evaluation of the student experience. Surveys have included:
- First Year Experience Survey
- Postgraduate Research Experience Survey
- Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey
- Health Science and Practice subject centre
- HEA support to HEIs in using and interpreting the national Student Satisfaction Survey data
ESRC National Centre for Research Methods
The National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM) promotes excellence in social science research methodologies by undertaking research, training and capacity building activities and by disseminating up-to-date information. Support for teachers of undergraduate and postgraduate quantitative methods include events and resources such as:
- MacInnes, John (2009) ESRC Undergraduate Quantitative Methods Initiative list of resources for teachers. ESRC. (Unpublished)
- Bi-annual Research Methods Festival. The festival has a useful "what is...?" format where speakers highlight problems and difficulties they have experienced when devising and using research methods. Presentations from previous research methods festivals are hosted on the NCRM site
The British Library
The British Library has a Social Sciences reading room and also offers an expert online help service for social science researchers.
Information about social policy for students, schools and colleges
What is social policy?
If you are interested in hearing about what social policy is and why it is important have a look at the ESRC Festival of Social Science video or access video clips of professors of social policy arguing why social policy matters. The ESRC also have resources for schools: what do we mean by happiness and well-being, how can we measure them, and what helps us to be happy? Or what does research tell us about teenagers and street crime, and are the media stirring up an issue?
Would you like to find out more about social policy?
The Social Policy Association supports the annual Festival of Social Science organised by the ESRC. Find out whether there are Festival of Social Science activities near you.
Are you interested in studying social policy at college or university?
Social policy is not available as an A level subject but is covered within two Diploma courses:
- Public Services Diploma: View the video for an insight into social policy and public services.
- Society, Health and Development Diploma: view the video for an insight into social policy and society, health and development.
Social policy is popular at university level, either as a single Honours degree or as part of a broader degree course. University admissions criteria for students wishing to take social policy or social policy as part of another undergraduate course can be accessed through the UCAS website which also lists all undergraduate courses with a significant social policy content. These criteria now include Diploma qualifications. Prospective students and their parents can search, review and compare subjects at universities and colleges in the UK through the associated Unistats website.
Are you curious about careers in social policy?
National surveys show that social policy graduates have a very good record of finding work in the public, voluntary and private sectors. Careers for which a social policy degree is particularly relevant include management or policy work in central and local government; in key service sectors such as the penal system, education, health and sports and leisure; voluntary and non-governmental organizations, and retail management. Read about what former social policy students went on to do after courses at two universities:
Other universities will also have information about the career progression of their own students included on their websites.
