Ateneo - UPO

The course aims to provide an introduction to social design from both theoretical and practical perspectives. Particular attention is devoted to bottom-up approaches and participatory planning, with a focus on stakeholder engagement throughout all phases of the project cycle: ideation, planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.

Ugo De Ambrogio, Carla Dessi, Valentina Ghetti, Progettare e valutare nel sociale. Metodi ed esperienze, Roma, Carocci, 2013, cap 1, 2, 5, 6 (pp. 19-64, 89-129).
UNI. (2019). UNI 11746:2019. Attività professionali non regolamentate – Progettista sociale – Requisiti di conoscenza, abilità e competenza. UNI – Ente Italiano di Normazione.
Balduzzi G., Servetti D. (2014), Introduzione. Progettare nella crisi: coesione sociale e democrazia nelle città, in Balduzzi G., Servetti D. (2014), Discutere e agire. Una sperimentazione di democrazia deliberativa a Novara, Novara, Interlinea, pp. 11-14.
Fontefrancesco M., Balduzzi G. (2014), L’indagine sul campo: strumenti di analisi territoriale e percorsi di partecipazione, in Balduzzi G., Servetti D. (2014), Discutere e agire. Una sperimentazione di democrazia deliberativa a Novara, Novara, Interlinea, pp. 15-28.
Balduzzi G., Servetti D. (2014), Percorsi deliberativi e democrazia locale: il laboratorio novarese, in Balduzzi G., Servetti D. (2014), Discutere e agire. Una sperimentazione di democrazia deliberativa a Novara, Novara, Interlinea, pp. 89-118.

The course aims to introduce students to social design as a structured set of methods, procedures, and tools for analysing social needs, designing and implementing social interventions, and evaluating their outcomes. By the end of the course, students are expected to be able to: - know and understand the mainprinciples, methods, and tools of social planning and design; - apply the concepts and tools of social planning and design to develop a social intervention, defining its objectives, activities, resources, indicators, and monitoring and evaluation strategies; - critically analyse and interpret social policies and intervention plans, exercising independent judgement and adapting planning tools to different contexts and target groups; - master the communication of social projects by clearly articulating core elements—like stakeholder engagement, impact, and sustainability—and critically debating project limitations, risks, and opportunities; - apply knowledge and skills across diverse professional settings—including public, private, and third-sector organizations—contributing to the design, implementation, and evaluation of social interventions while collaborating effectively with multi-sector stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle. Particular attention is devoted to public deliberation and collective decision-making tools, as well as to community-building processes and co-production practices, in which citizens, public institutions, and organisations collaborate in the design, implementation, and evaluation of public policies and services.

Formal prerequisites are not required. However, due to the advanced and interactive/applied nature of the course, students are expected to have a foundational understanding of the core concepts, specialized terminology, and basic analytical tools in the social and political sciences.

The course will be delivered in a seminar- and workshop-based format. The instructor-led lectures will be followed by practical exercises, case studies and simulations, student presentations of scientific articles, and group discussions.The course will also include an applied learning component, consisting of the development of a project proposal and the implementation and critical evaluation of a project work

Students with disabilities, Specific Learning Disorders (SLD), or Special Educational Needs (SEN) may request dedicated services and support by contacting the Office for Career Development and Student Services and by consulting the relevant section on the University website:
https://uniupo.it/it/servizi/servizi-studentidisabili-e-dsa
After contacting the University Office, students with disabilities, SLD, or SEN may also get in touch with the course instructor regarding examination arrangements and any teaching-related accommodations.

Oral exam. Students will be asked to critically reflect on themes, issues and case studies of social design, thus linking practice and theory. For attending students who successfully complete the project work, the oral examination will be based primarily on the project.

1. Introduction to the module: objectives, structure, issues and concepts; 2. social planning and design: origins, definitions, practices and actors; 3. Social design and participation: what, how, when and why; 4. Forms of collective decision-making: arguing, bargaining and voting; 5. Simulation lab on collective decision making; 6. Participatory planning: phases and processes (with case studies and practical assignments); 7. The knowledge base: tools for territorial analysis and participatory pathways (with simulation labs); 8. Participatory design and implementation of projects: methods, techniques and tools (with simulation labs); 9. Evaluation: dimensions, criteria, and indicators; 10. Participatory evaluation: case studies and simulation labs.

Minimum Pass Level. By the end of the course, students will be able to demonstrate the following learning outcomes: - Knowledge and understanding: Demonstrate knowledge of and describe the main concepts, theories, and approaches to social planning; Explain the fundamental stages of the project cycle, recognising its essential tools, including context analysis, objective setting, action planning, project scheduling, monitoring, and evaluation.
Understand the role of social planning in collective decision-making processes; - Applied knowledge and understanding: Use the basic tools of social planning to develop a simple project proposal addressing a specific social need or problem; Prepare a basic project fiche, identifying objectives, planned activities, expected outcomes, and the main monitoring arrangements; - Making judgements: Apply the fundamental concepts of social planning to justify basic project design choices and identify their main strengths and potential limitations.
Excellent Performance Level. By the end of the course, students will be able to demonstrate the following learning outcomes: - Knowledge and understanding: Describe and accurately reconstruct the fundamental concepts of social planning using appropriate disciplinary terminology, while critically comparing different theoretical approaches and planning practices; Explain the key elements and tools required for the planning, implementation, management, and evaluation of a project, including context analysis, work packages, budgeting, monitoring systems, indicators, and impact evaluation criteria; Understand and critically analyse complex issues and situations related to collective decision-making processes; - Applied knowledge and understanding: Employ appropriate communication strategies across a variety of deliberative contexts and participatory settings; Independently prepare a comprehensive project fiche by translating a social need or idea into a structured project proposal, including objectives, expected outcomes, an action plan, a project timeline, and monitoring and evaluation systems; - Making judgements: Critically apply the theories and concepts acquired during the course to evaluate and justify the sustainability and coherence of project design choices through well-reasoned and evidence-based arguments.