ESRC-funded Seminar Series, 2003–2004
Provisional Programme

Seminar 1 (15 September 2003)

Venue: Loughborough University
Convenor and Chair: Linda HANTRAIS (European Research Centre, Loughborough University)
Topic:
This seminar set the scene by introducing the comparative approach and the substantive content for the series. Speakers presented the main characteristics of the developing European social model and the challenges it faces from globalisation and enlargement. They examined the research methods adopted in the analysis of welfare systems from a comparative perspective and commented on the relevance of the research for policy development.

Seminar 2 (15 December 2003)

Venue: London School of Economics
Convenor and Chair: Steen MANGEN (Department of Social Policy, London School of Economics, UK)
Topic:

Speakers at the second seminar analysed the methods used in cross-national comparative studies of different aspects of welfare and commented on the impact of methodological approaches on the policy relevance of their findings.

Seminar 3 (15 March 2004)

Venue: Paris
Convenor and Chair: Marie-Thérèse Letablier (Centre d’Études de l’Emploi, Noisy-le-Grand, France)
Topic:

The third seminar examined the lessons that can be learned from analysing employment and welfare policies from a comparative perspective.

Seminar 4 (12 June 2004)

Venue: Tallin, Estonia
Convenor and Chair: Dagmar KUTSAR (Unit of Family and Welfare Studies, University of Tartu, Estonia)
Topic:

The focus of the fourth seminar was children within the family environment and their place in the European social model. Speakers discussed the problems of researching childhood and demonstrated what can be learned from cross-national comparisons, especially between East and West.

Seminar 5 (17 September 2004) (in conjunction with the Social Research Association)

Venue: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Convenor and Chair: Susanne MACGREGOR ( Department of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK )
Topic:

The fifth seminar concentrated on the link between social science research and policy developments and looked at the ways in which academic researchers can ensure the knowledge they generate is relevant to policy users and wider society.

Seminar 6 (13 December 2004)

Venue: London
Convenors:
Linda HANTRAIS (European Research Centre, Loughborough University)
Susanne MACGREGOR (Department of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK)
Steen MANGEN (Department of Social Policy and Administration, London School of Economics)
Topic:

This seminar was organised as a forum at which the core group members presented summaries of the seminar findings and engaged in a dialogue with end users. The papers formed the basis of a special issue of Cross-National Research Papers .