Doctoral researcher workshops typically last between two to three days. They are normally organized under a specific theme. Doctoral students take part in lectures and discussions with experienced scholars in the field. They present their projects (theory, methods, findings, interpretations etc.) in small groups and receive comments from experts and fellow PhD researchers. All workshop programmes offer ample opportunity for academic exchange and networking. Between 2007 and 2012 some workshops are jointly organised with RECWOWE, the European Network of Excellence on 'reconciling work and welfare in Europe'.
*Still some free places – extension of deadline to 25th March*
During the last decade we have seen a shift from public to private welfare in many countries. In core programmes such as pensions or health care public provision has been curtailed, accompanied by new incentives, regulation and high expectations of policy-makers for non-state provision. In labour market policies and unemployment benefits activation has been dominant. Only family policies have seen some increase in state support.
The shift towards non-state social policies came at a time when business invested less in occupational welfare and when household incomes were stagnating, exacerbated by the financial crisis that began in 2008. It appears that those public and private actors able to provide collective protection against social risks retreat, making personalised insurance more and more important for individuals whose incomes are also under pressure.
This doctoral workshop invites papers dealing theoretically, conceptually and empirically with such pressures and with the ever shifting boundary between the public and the private in contemporary European societies. Papers might explore questions such as:
Professor Deborah Mabett, Birkbeck College, University of London
http://www.bbk.ac.uk/politics/our-staff/academic/deborah-mabbett
Title of presentation: 'Social regulation of financial markets'.
Professor John Mohan, University of Southampton and Third Sector Research Centre
http://www.tsrc.ac.uk/About/Staff/JohnMohan/tabid/441/Default.aspx
Presentation on the contribution of the third sector to welfare
Professor Martin-Seeleib-Kaiser, University of Oxford
http://www.spi.ox.ac.uk/staff/academic/profile/seeleib-kaiser.html
Title of presentation: Shifting the Public-Private Mix: A New Dualization of Welfare
Dr Traute Meyer, University of Southampton
http://www.sociology.soton.ac.uk/profile/TrauteMeyer
This doctoral workshop will allow 24 PhD researchers to present their own work to colleagues and experienced researchers. It will provide PhD researchers with a platform for presenting their work in small groups (of eight) and to receive constructive comments from their peers and the senior researcher. In addition, there will be papers by experienced researchers and experts in the subject area chosen to all participants, allowing doctoral researchers to play a role as allocated commentator or take part in the general discussion.
There will be 3 groups, working in parallel and each group will meet four times. Each PhD researcher will have 60 minutes allocated to their work. During this hour they will introduce their paper, providing an overview of the content and argument (approximately 10 minutes), followed by critical comments and questions from a predefined senior lead discussant (approximately 15 minutes). The author then has a ‘right of reply’ (approx. 10 minutes), before general discussion of the paper (approx. 25 minutes). In addition, there will be three plenary lectures delivered by the senior researchers and a talk on how to publish your research by Traute Meyer, Editor of the Journal of European Social policy.
All papers will be electronically pre-circulated to all participants, at least 14 days in advance of the workshop. Participants are required to read the papers in their group, and encouraged to read all papers. The organiser will allocate students into groups well in advance of the workshops. The selection will be based on similar research topics, methodologies or theoretical approaches.
There will be dinner for everyone each evening; an opportunity for chatting, fun and exploration of the area (one trip to the ancient New Forest planned; http://www.thenewforest.co.uk/).
Accommodation and food will be paid for by the University of Southampton; ESPAnet acknowledges this generous support gratefully.
Participants are expected to pay for their travel to Southampton. There may be a subsidy to travel costs, depending on overall participation.
Closest airport connections are Southampton airport for limited destination, Heathrow (plus 1.5 hours bus) and Gatwick (plus ca 2 hrs train).
Plans for papers
Participants will be selected on the basis of the quality of their plans for papers. Please send such plan (up to 1000 words) to
Dr Traute Meyer
Faculty of Social and Human Sciences
University of Southampton
tmeyer@soton.ac.uk
by 25th March 2012
Successful applicants will be notified on 27th March.
Final papers
Final paper copies will have to be submitted by 16 July 2012.
Any questions?
Please email Traute (tmeyer@soton.ac.uk).