Scope and objectives

SARL is committed to develop sound research and teaching agendas at graduate, post-graduate, PhD and postdoctoral level related to the academic discipline of “Social Administration”. Social Administration is concerned with social problems and with the ways in which society responds to those problems. It relates particularly to the scope of public policies, as social insurance, social welfare and inclusion, health care, employment, education, vocational training and social housing, while it may provide analytical and operational tools for the development of other collective activities, as social economy, social entrepreneurship and occupational pensions.

In accordance with its interdisciplinary orientation, the Laboratory examines key socio-political issues from a legal, operational and economic perspective. It applies research methodologies and tools developed in law, social policy, political science, history, administration and management, finance, health sciences and information technology.

The key research and teaching agendas of the Laboratory focus on the following sectors: a) social insurance, b) social welfare, c) social inclusion, d) health care and mental health, e) employment and labour relations, f) education, g) vocational training and life – long learning, h) occupational welfare (including second pillar pensions), i)  social economy and social entrepreneurship, j) social housing and k) history and ideology of the social state.

The key objectives of SARL include:

(a) it addresses teaching and research needs of graduate and post-graduate students enrolled in UNIWA;

(b) it supports PhD and post doc initiatives related to its thematic research agendas;

(c) it promotes interdisciplinary networks between academic and research staff within UNIWA;

(d) it promotes cooperation processes with other relevant research centres and academic organizations in Greece and abroad;

(e) it promotes cooperation processes with government bodies, local authorities, social partners, professional and social organizations and associations, International  Organizations and Associations on issues related to its thematic research agendas;

(f) it provides expert opinions on issues related to its thematic research agendas;

(g) it promotes scientific and other dissemination events, and develops publication activities;

(h) it provides consultancy, capacity building and technical support services to public bodies (central government, local authorities, legal bodies of public and private law), social partners, enterprises, third sector organizations,  social economy and social entrepreneurship actors  on issues related to its thematic research agendas;

(i) it provides consultancy and technical support services to International  Organizations, Associations and Networks on issues related to its thematic research agendas;

(j) it transfers know-how and resources to national social administration bodies  through the utilization of relevant institutional, policy and funding initiatives of the European Union and other International  Organizations.