SPOL40980 Nonprofit Sector in Comparative Perspective: Politics, Regulation and Business

Academic Year 2020/2021

Nonprofits, NGOs and Civil Society have become increasingly important in the delivery of public services in advanced economies. How did this happen, and why does it matter? What are the implications for accountability, social justice, and quality of provision? This module investigates the politics of expanding the private sector, including for-profit providers, examining who the service providers are and how they are regulated. This module takes an inherently comparative approach, drawing from Irish, European, and international developments.
First, the module introduces the politics and policy drivers that shape the third sector with a focus on social policy. The following policy areas are covered, among others: health care, schools and education, childcare and long-term care. Second, students learn about the regulatory governance and business models that shape non-profit providers. This includes also how for-profit providers enter markets and compete with non-profits. Third, the module explores how service users navigate choices between providers and products in social services. A key focus is on the interaction between policies, regulations, culture and user choices, drawing from behavioural economics and sociology. In the final section, the outcomes of non-profit providers are discussed. A holistic assessment of outcomes with regard to trust, inequality and well-being is covered. The final two sessions analyse the European and global trends of NPOs, in particular beyond the politics beyond state boundaries in supranational organisations and international business networks.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

Students who envisage to work for social service organisations in the private and voluntary sector will gain an in-depth understanding of the non-profit sector in Ireland and OECD and acquire key skills to manage NGOs, NPOs, CSOs, charities and other voluntary organisations.
- Analysing politics and policies shaping the sector
- Understanding, designing and changing regulations
- Presentation skills: summarising key findings
- Analysing individual providers in case studies
- Writing for academic, professional and lay audiences

Indicative Module Content:

WEEK Topic and Reading
1 Intro
2 The Voluntary Sector
3 Pressures of Marketisation
4 Politics and Institutions
5 Business Interest
6 Unions
7 Social Services and Accountability
8 Health
9 Childcare / Project presentations
10 Welfare Users and Choice
11 National welfare or global business?
12 Review

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Small Group

40

Seminar (or Webinar)

24

Project Supervision

40

Autonomous Student Learning

130

Total

234

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The module is primarily based on short classroom presentations, followed by intense and engaged discussions. Students are at the centre of the learning experience and drive the classroom debates. The two policy topics in week 8 and 9 are flexible and students can make suggestions for areas of in-depth inquiry. Presentations of the lecturer and students are short and intended to spark discussion.
All learning content used in the classroom is supported with further online and interactive material.
 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

No prior learning required

Learning Recommendations:

Recommended prior learning would be reading the introcuction of
Pieper, J. (2018) New Private Sector Providers in the Welfare State. Cham: Springer. (ordered as ebook for library). This will give a flavour of the content and ideas discussed in class.

This module also complements LAW40760 NGO Law by Prof Oonagh Breen.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Essay: 4-5,000 word essay Coursework (End of Trimester) n/a Graded No

80

Presentation: For one session the student is the expert of the core reading and will presenting the key points in the class room discussion. Pass Only Varies over the Trimester n/a Pass/Fail Grade Scale No

0

Presentation: oral presentation of essay plan Week 8 n/a Graded No

20


Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Summer No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Peer review activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

The group/individual project will be presented to class and peers/lecturer will provide immediate feedback in the discussion. The lecturer will comment in more depth within a week after the presentation to guide the final essay.