Students

GEOP8010 – Social Impact Assessment

2021 – Session 2, Fully online/virtual

Session 2 Learning and Teaching Update

The decision has been made to conduct study online for the remainder of Session 2 for all units WITHOUT mandatory on-campus learning activities. Exams for Session 2 will also be online where possible to do so.

This is due to the extension of the lockdown orders and to provide certainty around arrangements for the remainder of Session 2. We hope to return to campus beyond Session 2 as soon as it is safe and appropriate to do so.

Some classes/teaching activities cannot be moved online and must be taught on campus. You should already know if you are in one of these classes/teaching activities and your unit convenor will provide you with more information via iLearn. If you want to confirm, see the list of units with mandatory on-campus classes/teaching activities.

Visit the MQ COVID-19 information page for more detail.

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convenor
Alison Ziller
Lecturer
Fiona Miller
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MEnvPlan or MPlan or GCertEnvPlan or MEnvEd or MEnvMgt or MEnvStud or MDevCult or MEnv or MPH or MPPP or MSusDev or MAppAnth or MPASR or GradDipPASR or MWldMgt or MSocEntre or GradDipEnv or GradDipSIA or GradCertSIA or GradCertSusDev or GradDipSusDev or GradCertSocEntre or MGlobalHlthDevStud or GradCertGlobalHlthDevStud or GradDipPP or MDevStud or MDevStudGlobalHlth or MSc in (Environmental Health or Remote Sensing and GIS) or MPPPMDevStud or MIntPubDip or MPSP
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

Social impact assessment (SIA) is an important assessment tool which applies social science methodologies to the evaluation of a wide range of public policy proposals, including those relating to land use planning, social policies and public health. This unit addresses the theory and methods of SIA, discusses the public policy processes which use this assessment, and applies a critical perspective to the ethical dilemmas facing the SIA practitioner. There is a practical focus to the unit through the use of current case studies, and this provides students with an insight into pressures and political difficulties frequently encountered. Students will learn how to recognise and respond to these problems, and present issues to non-specialist audiences.

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: Explain the theory underpinning SIA and its role and use in practice
  • ULO2: Recognise key social impact issues that occur in land use development and public policy assessment
  • ULO3: Apply knowledge and key concepts from social impact assessment to critical evaluation of planning and policy decisions
  • ULO4: Identify and discuss ways of integrating social issues into public sector discourse and practice
  • ULO5: Research and discuss complex ideas about social change, social process and assessment of social impacts
  • ULO6: Recognise ethical issues and risks in evaluation and impact assessment

General Assessment Information

Please note the Faculty policy in relation to late assessment submissions is as follows:  Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – 10 marks out of 100 credit will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted seven days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests, etc.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Research essay 30% No 23.59 27/09/21
Critique of a case study 40% No 23.59 23/08/21
Visual representation of key SIA issues 30% No 23.59 01/11/21

Research essay

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: 23.59 27/09/21
Weighting: 30%

1500 word research essay drawing on academic and grey literature to explain social impact issues raised by a proposed project or policy


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain the theory underpinning SIA and its role and use in practice
  • Recognise key social impact issues that occur in land use development and public policy assessment

Critique of a case study

Assessment Type 1: Case study/analysis
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: 23.59 23/08/21
Weighting: 40%

2000 word critical review of a social impact assessment or similar document


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply knowledge and key concepts from social impact assessment to critical evaluation of planning and policy decisions
  • Identify and discuss ways of integrating social issues into public sector discourse and practice
  • Research and discuss complex ideas about social change, social process and assessment of social impacts
  • Recognise ethical issues and risks in evaluation and impact assessment

Visual representation of key SIA issues

Assessment Type 1: Practice-based task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: 23.59 01/11/21
Weighting: 30%

Visual representation of social impact issues in a form suited to an identified audience with 600 words accompanying written commentary


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify and discuss ways of integrating social issues into public sector discourse and practice
  • Research and discuss complex ideas about social change, social process and assessment of social impacts
  • Recognise ethical issues and risks in evaluation and impact assessment

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

Internal students: weekly classes on campus, lectures/tutorials, weekly readings and discussion topics

External students: recorded lectures, weekly readings, online discussion forums,

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

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

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/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.


Unit information based on version 2021.01 of the Handbook