Social Protection Policy

Poverty, vulnerability, inequality and exclusion are global challenges that require extensive policy intervention if effective and sustainable solutions are to be found. In particular, social protection policy has gained momentum as a necessary component for improving well-being and creating inclusive societies.  

This specialisation provides an interdisciplinary, in-depth examination of social protection policies, frameworks, systems, interventions and instruments. It provides students with a toolbox to understand and tackle related public policy issues by applying traditional and emerging theories whilst incorporating local, regional and international contexts.  

Students are exposed to real-life case studies and learn how to identify social challenges from a public policy lens and use methods and measurement techniques to design, evaluate and analyse intervention and implementation options.  

This specialisation covers topics such as poverty and inequality; social risks and vulnerabilities; the political economy of social protection; policy interventions and instruments; the nature and economics of welfare state models; rights-based approaches; demographic, economic and social challenges; and social design and social budgeting.