Professor Alan Walker

Professor of Social Policy and Social Gerontology (BA, DLitt, Hon. D.Soc.Sc. (HKBU), FBA, FRSA, AcSS)
Director of the New Dynamics of Ageing Programme

Academic Profile

Alan Walker joined the Department in 1977 and was a Lecturer, Senior Lecturer and Reader in Social Policy. He was appointed Professor of Social Policy in 1985 and was Head of Department from 1988 to 1996. He directed the £3.5 million ESRC Growing Older Programme, 1999-2004, and the UK National Collaboration on Ageing Research, 2001-2004. He is currently Director of the £22 million ESRC, EPSRC, BBSRC, MRC and AHRC New Dynamics of Ageing Programme and is also Director of the European Research Area in Ageing and the FUTURAGE Project. He supervises a large number of postgraduate students and was until recently the Research Director for the Social Sciences Division in the University.

Research

His research interests span a wide range in social analysis, social policy and social planning. He is a specialist in social gerontology and, with two colleagues in the Netherlands, is responsible for developing the concept of social quality and he Chairs the European Foundation on Social Quality, which is based in Amsterdam. Currently he directs the New Dynamics of Ageing Research Programme funded by five Research Councils. He has published more than 30 books, over 200 reports and more than 300 papers in scholarly journals and edited volumes. His work has been published in more than 20 languages. He is a founding Academician of the Academy for Learned Societies in the Social Sciences, and, in 2007, was given lifetime achievement awards by both the British Society of Gerontology and the Social Policy Association. He has been active in the UK voluntary sector for many years and co-founded the Disability Alliance in 1974. He is currently Patron of the National Pensioner's Convention.

Research Topics

QUALITY OF LATER LIFE

Director of the ESRC Growing Older Research Programme on Extending Quality Life (1999-2004).

The twin objectives of the programme were to establish a broad-based multidisciplinary and co-ordinated research programme designed to generate new knowledge on the extension of quality life; and to contribute to the development of policies and practices in the field and, thereby, help to extend quality life. The research topics covered by the programme were defining and measuring quality of life; inequalities in quality of life, the role of technology and the built environment, healthy and productive ageing, family and support networks and participation and activity in later life.

DEVELOPING MULTI-DISCIPLINARY RESEARCH ON AGEING

Director of the New Dynamics of Ageing Research Programme (2005-2012)

This multi-disciplinary research programme is sponsored by the ESRC, EPSRC, BBSRC, MRC and AHRC. For further information see http://www.shef.ac.uk/newdynamics

DEVELOPING EUROPEAN COLLABORATION IN AGEING RESEARCH

Director of the European Forum on Population Ageing Research (2002-2004)
For further information see http://www.shef.ac.uk/ageingresearch

Director of FUTURAGE: The European Road Map for Ageing Research (2009-2011).
For further information see http://futurage.group.shef.ac.uk/

Director of the European Research Area in Ageing (2004 - 2012)
For further information see http://www.shef.ac.uk/era-age

Director of the UK National Collaboration on Ageing Research (2000-2004)

The objectives of the NCAR were to stimulate new multi-disciplinary research groups in the field of ageing; to develop a new cross-Research Council approach to research on ageing with an explicit interdisciplinary theme; to encourage stronger links between research and policy and practice in the ageing field; and to develop the European dimension of ageing research in the UK. For further information see http://www.shef.ac.uk/ukncar/

COMPARATIVE RESEARCH ON SOCIAL POLICY IN EUROPE

This mainly focusses on the welfare regimes of the Member States of the European Union and the social policy competencies of the European Commission. Convenor of the European Social Policy Research Network has been formed under the European Sociological Association and co-founder of ESPAnet.

DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING THE CONCEPT OF 'SOCIAL QUALITY'

This is designed to provide an independent rationale for social policy in Europe. The concept comprises social inclusion/exclusion, social cohesion/anomie, socio-economic security/insecurity, and social empowerment/subordination. A European Foundation exists to co-ordinate this work, with members in all EU countries and with links to the European Commission. Chair of this European Foundation on Social Quality which is based in Amsterdam. For further information see http://www.socialquality.org

SOCIAL GERONTOLOGY

This research covers a broad field and includes theoretical work on the social construction of old age and the relationship between ageing and welfare/social policy; empirical research on the social relationships of old age, attitudes towards ageing and socio-economic security in old age; policy evaluations in the areas of pensions and long term care and comparative research on the impact of societal ageing in both Europe and East Asia and the politics of old age.

AGE AND EMPLOYMENT

This research covers the impact of ageing workforces, age discrimination in the labour market, labour market policies on older workers, employers responses to workforce ageing and good practice in the employment of older workers. I was responsible for the first European research of actions to overcome age barriers in employment, covering seven EU countries and have co-led the development of a European Code of Good Practice on age and employment.

CHINESE AND EAST ASIAN WELFARE

This is a long-standing interest in the welfare systems of East Asia and China - including many PhD students from Hong Kong, China, Japan and Taiwan - and the Confucian, family oriented, ideology. This research includes comparative work on models of welfare east and west.

OLDER PEOPLE WITH LEARNING DIFFICULTIES / INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES AND THEIR CARERS

Having conducted (with Carol Walker) the first major study in the UK on older people with learning difficulties, this represents on ongoing research programme covering the distribution of health and social services, user involvement, human rights, the principle of normalisation and the problems encountered by older carers.

SOCIAL EXCLUSION / INCLUSION

Again this is a long-standing interest in poverty and inequality, which has recently been amalgamated into the research on social quality (see above). Research concentrates on the dimensions of social exclusion, measuring exclusion and its impact, the meaning of poverty and the lives of those experiencing it. This research includes European and local community dimensions.

EMPOWERMENT

This research is largely subsumed under that on social quality and social gerontology but also includes a general interest in ideas of empowerment and the mechanisms by which citizens can be involved actively in decision making and research.

INTERGENERATIONAL RELATIONS

As well as general interests in social policy and ageing there are specific interests in relations between the generations both at a macro level (the social contract) and, at a micro level, within families.

Recent Funded Research Projects
Date	Sponsor	Details
2004-2012	European Commission	European Research Area in Aging (ERA-AGE)
2004-2012	ESRC, EPSRC, BBSRC, MRC, AHRC	New Dynamics of Ageing
2002-2005	European Commission	European Forum on Population Ageing Research
1999-2004	ESRC	Growing Older Research Programme on Extending Quality Life

Major Publications

van der Maesen, L. and Walker, A. (2011) (eds) Social Quality: From Theory to Indicators, Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan, 336 pp.

Walker, A., Sinfield, A. and Walker, C. (2011) Fighting Poverty, Inequality and Injustice: a manifesto inspired by Peter Townsend, Bristol, The Policy Press, 320 pp.

Walker, A. (edited with 7 others) (2010) The Peter Townsend Reader, Bristol, Policy Press, 644 pp.

Walker, A. and Naegele, G. (2009) Social Policy in Ageing Societies: Britain and Germany Compared, Basingstoke, Palgrave.

Walker, A. and Aspalter, C. (2008) (eds) Securing the Future for Old Age in Europe, Hong Kong, Casa Verde.

Walker, A. and Mollenkopf, H. (2007) (eds) Quality of Life in Old Age, Springer.

Walker, A. (2006) (ed.) Understanding Quality of Life in Old Age, Buckingham, Open University Press.

Walker, A. (2005) (ed.) Growing Older in Europe, Maidenhead, Open University Press / McGraw Hill.

Walker, A. and Wong, CK. (2005) (ed.) East Asian Welfare Regimes in Transition, Bristol Policy Press.

Walker, A. (2005) (ed.) Understanding Quality of Life in Old Age, Maidenhead, Open University Press/McGraw Hill.Walker, A. and Hagan Hennessy, C. (2004) (eds) Growing Older - Quality of Life in Old Age, Maidenhead, Open University Press/McGraw Hill.

Beck, W. van der Maesen, L. Thomese, F. and Walker, A. (eds) (2001) Social Quality: A Vision For Europe, The Hague and Cambridge (Mass, USA), Kluwer Law International

Walker, A. and Naegele, G. (1999)(eds) The Politics of Old Age in Europe, Buckingham, Open University Press

Walker, A. and Walker, C. (1998) Uncertain Futures - People with Learning Difficulties and their Ageing Family Carers, Pavilion Publishing.

Walker, A (1997) Combating Age Barriers in Employment - European Research Report, Luxembourg, Office of Official Publications of the European Communities

Beck, W., van der Maesen, L., & Walker, A., (eds) (1997), The Social Quality of Europe, The Hague and Cambridge (Mass. USA), Kluwer Law International, Reprinted in paperback by Policy Press (Bristol), 1998.

Walker, A (1997) Ageing and Welfare Change in Europe, Tokyo, Minerva (in Japanese).

Walker, A and Maltby, T (1997) Ageing Europe, Buckingham, Open University Press.

Walker, A., and Walker, C. (1997) Britain Divided: The Growth of Social Exclusion in the 1980's and 1990's, London, CPAG Ltd

Walker, A. and Warren, L., (1996) Changing Services for Older People: The Neighbourhood Support Units Innovation, Buckingham: Open University Press

Walker, A (1996) (ed) The New Generational Contract, Intergenerational Relations, Old Age and Welfare, London, University College London Press.

Walker, A, Guillemard, A. M. and Alber, J. (1993) Older People in Europe, Brussels, EC Commission

Walker, A (1993) Age and Attitudes, Brussels, EC Commission.

Qureshi, H and Walker, A (1989) The Caring Relationship, London, Macmillan/Philadelphia, Temple University Press.

Walker, A. (1984) Social Planning, Oxford, Blackwell

Walker, A. (ed) (1982) Community Care, Oxford, Blackwell

As well as books I have published more than 200 monographs and research reports and over 300 scientific papers in journals and books.

A complete list of publications can be downloaded by clicking the link on the right of this page.

Postgraduate Supervision

At the present time, Alan Walker's teaching concentrates on postgraduate research students. He is one of the UK's most experienced postgraduate research supervisors in the fields of sociology, social policy and social gerontology, with more than 40 successful PhD completion's (a 100% completion record). He would welcome applications from potential postgraduates interested in any of the topics contained in his research section.

Gathering of Alan's East Asian Doctoral Students, past and present in Hong Kong, 16 November 2006. L to R, Back Row: Kam Ping Kwong, Tetsuo Ogawa, Edward Leung, Ngai Ngan Pun, Sam Yu, Alvin Kwok, Lam Heung Sang, William Wong, Simon Wu, Franklen Choi. Front Row: Victor Wong, C K Wong, Sammy Chiu, Carol Walker, Alan Walker, Karen Ngai, Ruby Chau.

Doctoral Students Supervised:

• Celia Briar, Women in State Employment Policy 1905-1986 (1986).
• Tim Blackman, Social Indicators (1987).
• Sammy Chiu, Family Care of Chinese Older People in Britain and Hong Kong (1988).
• Simon Goodwin, Community Care: The Reforms of Mental Health Services (1988).
• Steve Nesbitt, Social And Economic Determinants of British Pensions Policy (1991).
• C K Wong, Ideology, Welfare Mix and the Production of Welfare (1991).
• Monica Dowling, Social Work and Poverty, Attitudes and Actions (1993).
• Tony Maltby, Women,Pensions and Social Dependency in Britain and Hungary 1945-1990 (1993).
• Sandra Shaw, Women and Lone Parenthood (1994).
• Wai-Kam (Sam) Yu, The Response of the Hong Kong Government to the Decommodifying Effects of Public Housing Services 1950 to 1990 (1994).
• Victor Wong, The Politics of Medical Fees in Hong Kong (1995).
• Chack Kwan Chan, Colonial Rule, Chinese Welfare Ideologies and the Reproduction of Social Policy -The Case of Social Security in Hong Kong (1996).
• Fwu Yuan Weng, Post-war Education Policy in Taiwan (1996).
• Chris Crowther, The 'Underclass' Debate: The Police Policy Process and the Social Construction of Order (1997).
• Makoto Kono, The Welfare Mix in the Care of Older People in Japan (1997).
• Ngai Ngan Pun, Youth Policy in China (1997).
• Ian Brown, Community Participation and General Practice (1998).
• Vashti Gosling, Services for People with Learning Difficulties (1999).
• Ruby Chau, The Welfare Mix in Socialist China: A Case Study of Occupational Therapy Stations in Guangzhou (2000).
• Alvin Kwok, Making Sense of Social Networks: Voices of Older Persons Living in Public Housing in Hong Kong (2000).
• Karen Ling, Breaking the Silence: The Experiences of Disabled Women in a Chinese Culture (2000).
• Tetsuo Ogawa, Decentralisation and Diversity in the Delivery of Social Care Services for Older People in Japan (2000).
• Vincent Wijeysingha, Political Economy of State Social Policies in Singapore (2001).
• Ping Kwong Kam, Powerlessness Among Older People in Hong Kong (2002).
• Heung Sang Lam, Family Care for Older People in China (2002).
• Sen Gong, The State and Pension Policy Instability in the People's Republic of China (2003).
• Mark Li, Social Movements in Hong Kong from 1991 to 1997: Implications for Civil Society (2003).
• Mike Williams, Public Participation, Influence and Democracy: A Study of the Sheffield Better Government for Older People Pilot (2003).
• Victoria Gosling, Women's Experiences of Social Exclusion and Regeneration on a Sheffield Estate (2004).
• Michiko Yamada, The Establishment of LTC Insurance and the Social Care Service System for Older People in Japan (2004).
• Mohammed Al-Shabani, Active Ageing and Retiree Participation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (2005).
• Ying Hong, Business Ethics in Transitional China - the Case of Jiangsu Province (2006).
• Liam Foster, Gender, the Life Course and Pension Provision in the United Kingdom (2006).
• Jeeyeon Kim, Confucian Values, Patriarchy and Women’s Computer Mediated Communication (2006).
• Jill Edwards, The Life Experience of Adults with Cystic Fibrosis (2007).
• Alison Hill, Care in the Context of Later Life Marriages (2007).
• Erica Uusitalo, Empirical Exploration of the Theory and Methods of Social Quality (2008).
• Chang Lyal Fung, A Political Economy of Korean Pension Reform (2009).
• Florence Fong, Intergenerational Relations and the Care of Older People in Hong Kong (2009).
• Sarah Swann, A Study of Pupil Disaffection (2009).
• Tony Song, A Political Economy of Civil Service Pension Reform in Korea (2010).

M. Phils:

• Susan Higham, Attitudes Towards the Receipt of Statutory Services: Older People and Professionals (1994).
• Monika Husemann, 'Nobody Really Understands', Family Carers of People with Dementia (1999).

Current Phd topics include:

• The social construction of old age in Spain

• Training and social exclusion in Hong Kong

• Social exclusion and inclusion in Europe

• Intergenerational relations in Chinese society

• Political economy of pensions

• Pensions in Korea

To find out more about our PhD programmes, go to:
Studying for a PhD in Sociology

Academic Honours

• Visiting Professorships in Canada (1988), Hong Kong (1992, 1996, 2005, 2006, 2009), Israel (1988) and Japan (1994, 1995).

• Founding Academician of the Academy of Learned Societies for the Social Sciences, 1999.

• Co-recipient of Queen's Prize for Higher and Further Education (for research on ageing) 2002.

• Vincent Woo Distinquished Scholar, University, Hong Kong, 2005.

• Honorary Doctor of Social Sciences, Baptist University of Hong Kong, 2006.

• Lifetime Achievement Award, Social Policy Association, 2007.

• First Alan Walker Prize, British Society of Gerontology, 2007.

• First IAGG European Region Medal for Advances in Gerontology and Geriatrics in the Social and Behavioural Sciences, 2011.

• Fellow of the British Academy, 2011.

In the News

Can we make Sheffield city more fair?
The Sheffield Star, Wednesday 22 August 2012

Interview Lifetime achievers: Alan Walker
Policy World, Newsletter of the Social Policy Association, Winter 2007

£20m to help baby boomers grow older gracefully: Researchers launch project to fight health and social problems as a generation heads for 65
Amelia Hill, culture and society correspondent
The Observer, Sunday 29 October, 2006

Putting ageing at the top of the political agenda
Malcolm Dean
The Edge, November 2005: Issue 20

See also
From the University of Sheffield Newsletter: Lifetime achievement award for Alan Walker