Section: Conferences

Conferences

SPA Conference 2009

Following its success in 2008, the SPA conference returned to Edinburgh in 2009 from lunchtime Monday 29 June to lunchtime Wednesday 1 July.

The Conference theme was 'Policy futures - learning from the past?' Plenary speakers were Peter Taylor-Gooby of the University of Kent, Bruno Palier of Sciences-Po Paris, and Marion Barnes of the University of Brighton who led a session on service user perspectives.

As in 2008 the academic organisers were Jochen Clasen and Richard Parry, and the conference secretary was Alison Scott, based at the university's Centre for Research on Families and Relationships.

For full details see the conference website at
http://www.crfr.ac.uk/spa2009/spa_index.html


SPA Conference 2008

Challenging Boundaries Social Policy Association Conference

The SPA's 2008 annual conference was held at the University of Edinburgh from Monday 23 June to Wednesday 25 June.

Keynote Speakers

The theme of the conference was 'Challenging Boundaries'. Throughout the world, traditional boundaries between territories, services and professions are being questioned. Nationalist ministers form the devolved government in Scotland and hold some offices in Wales and Northern Ireland, challenging UK policy norms.   Policy learning is stronger than ever at the European and global level. Joined-up and citizen-centred government challenge organisational and professional structures. Edinburgh is an ideal location to reflect upon the challenges of this wider perspective on social policy.    

Papers were presented within the broad theme of the conference in the following streams: 

Stream topics

  1. Welfare reform
  2. Children and families
  3. Work, economy and welfare
  4. Governance and territorial social policy
  5. Comparative analyses
  6. EU social policy
  7. International and global perspectives
  8. Social policy in developing countries
  9. Theoretical and methodological innovation
  10. Health
  11. Social work and social care
  12. Crime and criminal justice
  13. Migration, refugees, asylum-seekers
  14. Welfare markets
  15. User perspectives
  16. Disability
  17. Teaching and learning
  18. Open stream

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