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The representation of
relevant contents for working
in the area of social policy,
social work social pedagogy
in the study programs at the
faculties of the University of
Niš
Jasmina Petrović
Marina Matejević
Faculty of Philosophy in Nišu
The subject of analysis
 Study
programs at the basic (BA), master (MA)
and doctoral (PhD) studies at some faculties at
the University of Niš who educate professionals
to work in the area of creation, implementation
and evaluation of social policy measures and
social service provision (that is, in a broad area
of social protection and social policy) –
sociologists, psychologists, pedagogues
(Faculty of Philosophy), as well as jurists
(Faculty of Law) – whose engagement is
indisputable
in the mentioned areas.
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The goal of the study
program analysis is
 to
identify and present the content of the
courses which are significant for performing the
activities of social policy, social work and social
pedagogy.
 In other words, having in mind the purpose of
the work in these areas, it is necessary to
determine whether the analyzed study
programs have the contents that allow the
students to acquire certain competences.
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The basis for the separation of competences within
the observed contents were the Global Standards for
Education and Training in Social Work issued by the
International Association of Schools of Social Work
(IASSW) and the International Federation of Social
Workers (IFSW), but also the concept of social policy
itself, understood as the key public policy created in
order to influence the sustainable development of the
society and prevalence of social risks as well as the
rehabilitation of the consequences of unequal
allocation of social welfare (Puljiz et al., 2005).
 The competences are listed in their basic form, in
several impoverished contents, in order to make a
suitable schema for the content analysis in a wide
range of available courses within the analyzes study
programs.

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The presence of contents directed
towards the following competences
was analyzed:
1.
2.
3.
the knowledge of social inequality mechanisms that
resulted in the unequal use of social and cultural
resources by the members of one community
(economic, class, educational, gender,…);
the introduction to the concept of social exclusion,
marginalization, stigmatization, as well as with the
concept of social inclusion;
the familiarity with different social issues and social
deviations that require the work with individuals,
families, groups and communities;
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4.
5.
the knowledge of the corpus of human rights and
national normative framework within which the rights of
individuals and some groups that require additional
legal protection are being exercised;
the knowledge how the society and the key social
institutions/organizations function which, among other
things, allow the understanding of the context in which it
is possible to plan the social policy measures and
achieve certain social goals (such as, the social inclusion
of all community members, poverty reduction, allocation
of some resources, achievement of gender equality, etc.).
In other words, the knowledge based on which it is
possible to recognize the possibilities for the change of
structural conditions that marginalize individuals, groups,
communities in the community (society) including the
normative frameworks for society functioning;
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6.
7.
8.
the knowledge to shape, direct, implement and evaluate
social policy measures in certain areas (education,
media, labor market, gender relations, resource
allocation) in accordance with the ethical principles of the
community and the national normative frameworks;
the knowledge of the cultural resources (the cultural
matrix of a society, tradition, customs, religion,…) and the
manner in which they may become resources and/or
obstacles to the general social growth and development;
the acquisition of knowledge on the structure and
development of personality, as well as psychological
triggers of behavior in order to explain and understand
the behavior of (potentially) vulnerable individuals and
groups;
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9.
10.
the acquisition of knowledge and skills that can facilitate the
inclusion into the society of marginalized deprived, vulnerable
individuals or social groups (support and activation of
individuals, families, groups and communities to increase their
well-being and their potentials to solve problems;
representation of persons in the state of social need…);
the possession of knowledge and psychological and social
skills for the provision of assistance in crisis situations
(immediate psychological and consulting support,…);
strengthening the capacities and directing the potentials of
persons in the state of social need in order to overcome that
circumstance in an easier was and be included in the
community in a more efficient manner; awakening of the
repressed strengths of users and the immediate social
environment in order to take responsibility for their own social
safety; the competences to provide help for re-socialization;
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11.
12.
the competences to represent and directly work with
persons who are not in the position to do that for
themselves, for example, children without parental
care, elderly, etc. who require care, treatment,
education, etc.; persons with severe forms of mental
illnesses or disability, etc., and to do all that in
accordance with ethical standards and regulations;
the competences to help users (beneficiaries)
develop competences for the participation,
responsibility and independence, as well as to
provide support to users for the activation of
potentials for independent fulfillment of the needs,
productive life in the community and the preclusion of
dependence on social services;
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13.
14.
the competences to develop a pro-social
personality orientation and to encourage the
development of social responsibility of individuals
and groups, as well as to encourage (individuals
and groups) people to initiate addressing issues
that are important for the adequate community
functioning at the local, regional and national level;
the competences for the representation of
initiatives for solving problems that are important
for the functioning of socially marginalized and
vulnerable individuals and groups at the local,
regional, national or international level.
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THE RESULTS OF SYLLABI ANALYSIS –
SUMMARY – Faculty of Law


By analyzing the current study programs at all study levels at
the Faculty of Law in Niš, we conclude that there is a number of
courses at all study levels that, from the legal perspective, deal
with the topics significant for social policy and social protection,
as well as with the widely-understood area of social inclusion
(or more precisely, with its legal presuppositions).
In that sense, 41 relevant courses were identified ( 18 at basic,
12 at master and 11 at doctoral studies), whereby it is a
significant fact that a large number of these courses have an
elective character, and that would mean that the knowledge the
analysis was focused on are acquired optionally, depending on
the student’s choice.
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 The
results of the analysis suggest that it is about
the programs that primarily equip future
professionals in the area of social policy and social
work with:
 general theoretical knowledge that allow the
students to be familiar with the normative
dimension of function of social institutions; in most
areas, it is not just about studying the national
legal framework, but also relevant international
regulations, and that allows the students to assess
the achieved legal standards in the area op
application of human rights as well as a series of
special categories of rights, including social;
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 solid
knowledge that analyze the scope of work
of social institutions at the local and republic
level, and that can be important in the strategic
planning of social policy measures in certain
areas – primarily, in the development of their
normative dimension;
 by studying labor and social rights or even
certain civil-legal or public-legal disciplines, the
students are being trained for either to directly
work with clients or to plan and create certain
social policy measures (in the normative
domain), as well as to monitor and evaluate the
existing measures.
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


That also creates a basis for identifying opportunities for
changing the structural conditions which marginalize
individuals, groups and communities in the community
(society).
The materials at the highest study level also includes
competences to design changed and/or innovate the
regulations in certain areas;
according to the selection of appropriate elective
courses at the basic studies, that is, by selecting the
offered modules, nine of which are at the master studies,
the jurists can also acquire specific competences for the
application of their legal knowledge in the area of social
policy and social work that are essential for directly
working with clients, that is, for planning social policy
measures in certain areas;
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a
lot of elective courses within certain modules
give the opportunity to more deeply acquaint
the issue of protecting certain sensitive social
groups. For example, as a part of the criminal
law module at the basic studies, and then within
the same module at the master studies, a
partial specialization is allowed for the issues of
criminal victimization, legal and broader issues
of juvenile delinquency, family violence or the
protection of the rights or children, persons with
disability, unemployed persons, etc.
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 Generally
speaking, what is missing in the
analyzed programs is to acquaint the students
with some basic concepts that are significant for
the work in the analyzed areas, such as the
concepts of social inequality, social exclusion,
social inclusion; what is also missing is some
courses is referring to a broader theoretical
perspective that would allow a more functional
connection with the detailed knowledge of legal
mechanisms.
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
Innovations in the new programs (Social Security
Systems / Social Law; Alternative Dispute
Resolution,…)
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Faculty of Philosophy – Department
of Sociology
 By
analyzing the current study programs at the
Department of Sociology, it was determined that
there are courses that cover the topics relevant
for social policy, social protection and social
inclusion (16 mandatory and 6 elective at the
basic studies, 5 elective at the master studies
and 3 elective at the doctoral studies).
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These are the programs that allow the
students to:
acquire general theoretical knowledge on how the
society functions and on the main institutional and
structural changes, and that allows them to understand
the context in which it is possible to plan the measures
of social policy and meet certain social goals;
 gain insight into the mechanisms of social functioning
and basic sources of social dysfunctions and social
issues;
 the acquired knowledge allows them to recognize
social actors and to understand structural constraints
of social action;

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
be familiar with the mechanisms of social inequalities
the consequence of which is also the unequal use of
social and cultural resources by the members of a
community (economic, class, educational, gender,…);
to gain understanding of the phenomenon of unequal
division of social resources and to develop skills to
measure and compare inequalities and poverty; the
students are being trained to analyze certain
measures and social policy systems and to
understand the reform of the social policy system in
the countries in transition from the perspective of its
goals and consequences;
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get acquainted with different social issues and social
deviations, the concept of social inclusion,
marginalization, stigmatization and social inclusion; to
acquire new knowledge and skills they can use to
facilitate the inclusion of marginalized, deprived,
vulnerable individuals or social groups into the society;
 gain analytical competences (at higher study levels)
that include the ability to analyze social phenomena,
the ability to use the results of social research, the
ability to formulate measures in order to meet the set
social goals and the ability to monitor and evaluate
state, local and business policies;

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 have
the ability to employ analytical and
synthetic ways of thinking (at higher study
levels) and the ability to compare, critically
assess arguments and evidence; the ability to
independently conduct original and relevant
scientific research; the ability to solve problems
and innovate in professional and academic
work in complex situations;
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 have
the strategic planning ability in different
areas of social life;
 have the ability to analyze and reflect on social
norms and relations, and to understand the
mechanisms and their changes;
 have the ability to operatively interact in
managing changes in a complex environment;
have the ability to creatively react to social,
scientific and ethical issues in professional and
academic activities;
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 elective
courses provide an opportunity to
deeply acquaint certain sensitive social groups
(juvenile delinquency, family violence, school
violence, unemployment,…).
 Generally speaking, it can be noticed that
practical content is missing. In addition, in the
analyzed programs, the issues of minority
groups as well as the issues of older people
are marginally contained. Also, some areas of
social exclusion are not sufficiently covered.
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


Innovations in the new study program BA / Sociology of
minority identities, Sociology of aging, Introduction to romology,
Violence, children neglect in upbringing and abuse.
Also, some courses have been innovated with relevant content
(Sociology of upbringing and education, Education and social
selection, Political sociology).
We expect the decision of the Commission for Accreditation on
the new proposal of MA studies (social policy module) with a lot
of relevant courses that deal with analysis: Social inequalities in
education, Social prevention of school violence, Social
networking of a school, Social issues of children and youth,
Social policy: theoretical foundations, Analysis of social policy
measures, Pension systems, social care for the elderly and
social protection, Labor market policy and educational policy,
Family policy and healthcare policy, Social inequalities and
poverty, Social inclusion and the policy of social inclusion,
Demographic changes and population policy, Sociology of
marginal
social groups.
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