Students

SOCI8080 – Making Public Policy in a Globalised World

2020 – Session 2, Fully online/virtual

Notice

As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group learning activities on campus for the second half-year, while keeping an online version available for those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.

To check the availability of face to face activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Francesco Stolfi
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MPSP or MPASR or GradCertPASR or GradDipPASR
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit examines a range of issues relevant to the understanding of how policies are made in increasingly entwined national and international contexts, considering international and domestic institutions and actors. The unit will be taught as a series of modules covering topics such as migration flows, climate change, populism, national and global inequalities, austerity, liberalisation, international policy actors and institutions, contexts and modes of governance, policy-making in non-democracies and democratization processes, political economy of welfare states, varieties of capitalism.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Identify and critically analyse current theories of governance and apply them to several political systems around the world.
  • ULO2: Identify, critically analyse and discuss the major debates and controversies involved in issues such as populism, immigration, austerity, democratization.
  • ULO3: Engage in independent research showing the ability to build on international scholarship and international examples to address a public policy problem.
  • ULO4: Show competent knowledge of the theoretical literature as well as of the empirical cases covered in the readings.
  • ULO5: Evaluate the quality, validity and reliability of research relating to a specific policy problem.
  • ULO6: Communicate research findings and views accurately and effectively using a variety of techniques (written, spoken, visual).

General Assessment Information

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – two (2) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted more than seven (7) days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests.

 

Assignment Submission All written assignments must be submitted using the “Turnitin Assignments” facility on the iLearn website. This facility includes software which scans the uploaded assignments for plagiarism. Follow the instructions on the screen carefully. Your assignment should be uploaded before midnight on the due date. In all cases, you should ensure that you keep a copy of the assignment.

Return of marked work Marked assignments will be returned via the same facility on iLearn. When marks are released, you will need to go back in to the assignment submission box, and open your uploaded assignment. When you click on the “GradeMark” button, you will be able to see the marker’s comments on your work. You can save or print the essay with the comments.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Essay 50% No 15/11/2020
Quiz 20% No Weekly
Participation 15% No Weekly
Peer Learning Exercise 15% No 11/10/2020 and 08/11/2020

Essay

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 70 hours
Due: 15/11/2020
Weighting: 50%

 

The essay, provides students with the opportunity to explore a topic of interest in depth. Students should develop a considered answer to a specific question based on reading a wide range of sources

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify and critically analyse current theories of governance and apply them to several political systems around the world.
  • Identify, critically analyse and discuss the major debates and controversies involved in issues such as populism, immigration, austerity, democratization.
  • Engage in independent research showing the ability to build on international scholarship and international examples to address a public policy problem.
  • Show competent knowledge of the theoretical literature as well as of the empirical cases covered in the readings.
  • Evaluate the quality, validity and reliability of research relating to a specific policy problem.
  • Communicate research findings and views accurately and effectively using a variety of techniques (written, spoken, visual).

Quiz

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 5 hours
Due: Weekly
Weighting: 20%

 

Quizzes on the mandatory readings

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Show competent knowledge of the theoretical literature as well as of the empirical cases covered in the readings.

Participation

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: Weekly
Weighting: 15%

 

Informed and constructive participation in online discussions and activities

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify and critically analyse current theories of governance and apply them to several political systems around the world.
  • Identify, critically analyse and discuss the major debates and controversies involved in issues such as populism, immigration, austerity, democratization.
  • Show competent knowledge of the theoretical literature as well as of the empirical cases covered in the readings.
  • Evaluate the quality, validity and reliability of research relating to a specific policy problem.
  • Communicate research findings and views accurately and effectively using a variety of techniques (written, spoken, visual).

Peer Learning Exercise

Assessment Type 1: Non-academic writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: 11/10/2020 and 08/11/2020
Weighting: 15%

 

Provide informed and constructive feedback on fellow students’ draft essay

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify and critically analyse current theories of governance and apply them to several political systems around the world.
  • Identify, critically analyse and discuss the major debates and controversies involved in issues such as populism, immigration, austerity, democratization.
  • Show competent knowledge of the theoretical literature as well as of the empirical cases covered in the readings.
  • Evaluate the quality, validity and reliability of research relating to a specific policy problem.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

 

Delivery:

Online lectures.

 

Resources:

This unit has an iLearn website which can be accessed via iLearn.mq.edu.au.

Information about required readings and how to access them is on the iLearn site.

 

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct​

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.