Course description
As was established already in 1919 when the International Labour Organisation was founded: the promotion of social justice and internationally recognized human and labour rights is essential for universal and lasting peace. Cooperation and development without the social dimension is bound to lead to unwished for results. In this course we shall examine the various international and regional initiatives for promoting the social rights of citizens. We then will explore the main challenges social protection faces on a global scale. In relation with each of these challenges, students will be invited to present ways of solving the issues at stake, leading to an enriching discussion between teacher and students, and students amongst them.

The course schedules would be as follows:

Setting the international scene: weeks 1-5

Week 1 the right to social protection and the right to welfare; the right to health care and the right to social security; concepts and history

Week 2: the human right approach to social security: ins and outs

Week 3 International organisations on a global scale, the United Nations and its daughter organisations, with special attention for the International Labour Organisation

Week 4: regional organizations active in international cooperation in the area of social protection (1): The European Union

Week 5: regional organizations active in international cooperation in the area of social protection (2): The Ibero-American Organisation of Social Security (OISS) and Asian regional initiatives

Main challenges for social protection on the global scale: Weeks 6-11:

Each week consisting of the presentation of the challenge by the professor and a discussion introduced by students presenting possible ways to tackle the challenge. In doing so the students will take advantage of the sources they got acquainted with in the Weeks 3-5.

Week 6: the challenge of informal work

Week 7: the challenge of AI replacing work by people

Week 8: the demographic challenge

Week 9: the challenge of dealing with legal and illegal migration

Week 10 the challenge of the climate change

Week 11: remittances and social protection

Conclusions and wrap-up: Week 12

Learning outcomes
Students having participated in this course should have acquired some basic knowledge of the various ways the international community is active to preserve and promote welfare, social protection and social security throughout the world. They should be able to grasp the essence of the major challenges the welfare systems are confronted with and understand how these challenges impact in a various way the various regions of the world. They should also understand that ethical, economic, sociological and legal aspects co-determine the way how to handle the global challenges discussed in class. They should also be able to creatively reflect upon solutions for these challenges, taking a global perspective.

Teaching method
Weeks 1-5 will be given in the form of lecture with ample question and discussion possibilities.
Weeks 6-11 will be given in the form of interactive lecture, starting from a number of selected policy issues; each student will prepare actively his/her intervention in at least one issue and introduce the discussion as mentioned above.
Week 12 will take the form of a concluding lecture with ample question and discussion possibilities.

Assessment
1/2 of the points will be given in the form of permanent evaluation.
1/2 of the points will result from a written multiple choice exam.

Bibliography
The course will be supported by a reader provided to the students.

No preliminary knowledge is required.

Course duration: 40 hours of tuition
Credits equivalence: 6 ECTS

Last updated: July 24, 2026