Master, Policy Stream: Social Policy and Social Innovation

General objectives of the Social Policy and Social Innovation Stream

In this policy stream, students are engaged in the study of today's most significant societal challenges, at the intersection between welfare systems, demographic shifts, globalization dynamics and the increasing social equity concerns in education, employment, income, health and well-being. Students acquire multidisciplinary knowledge required in analyzing and designing social policy through core courses that take into account the diversity of actors involved in policy making and the innovative social processes underlying contemporary societal change. They will also learn the main practical skills to manage social policy reforms. This policy stream is particularly relevant to students who come to social policy because of their passion for social change and their commitment to reinventing public affairs.

Specific Courses of the Social Policy and Social Innovation Stream

Our policy stream courses, dedicated to Social Policy and Social Innovation students, follow a carefully designed pedagogical program:

• Global Inequality and Sustainability: that will equip them with the necessary conceptual, analytical and empirical knowledge on global economic inequality and on its interactions with environmental sustainability.
• Comparative Welfare States, their Reforms and Futures: that will explain and discuss several methodological debates via a cross-national comparison of welfare systems.
• Social Innovation: that will enable them to design entrepreneurial projects linked to social challenges. They will also have to look at social policies through the perspective of the major stakeholders in the field choosing to focus either on the role of private sector partnerships for social responsibility or the public sector’s involvement in policy making and sustainable development.

Students will also have the choice to focus on a thematic orientation related to education policy, migration, gender or inequality; or to take on a research or professional perspective through courses led by researchers and practitioners. Students will further develop practical skills and a collaborative culture, by working on case studies as part of the policy lab.

Course Programme of the Social Policy and Social Innovation Stream

Career opportunities after the Social Policy and Social Innovation Stream

Graduates from this policy stream are well-positioned to pursue careers related to public service at the local, national and international levels in a diversity of fields such as education, employment, development and social protection. Graduates might consider a range of careers, including but not limited to, work in various international or non-profit organizations engaged in development, migration, global inequality, and for-profit organizations engaged in social policy and social change.

Scientific Advisor of the social Policy and social innovation stream

Bruno Palier, expert in welfare reforms in France and in Europe, CNRS Research Director at Sciences Po, Centre d'études européennes. 
Trained in social science, he has a PHD in Political science, and is a former student of Ecole Normale Supérieure. He is studying welfare reforms in Europe. He is a member of LIEPP (Laboratory for Interdisciplinary Evaluation of Public Policies).

Contact

• Academic advisor: Emelyne Grellety
• Academic assistant: Laura Debard