Students

POIX8000 – Policy Design: Concepts and Case Studies

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
Amanda Wise
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
40cp at 8000 level and admission to MPSP (OUA)
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
POIR8000
Unit description Unit description

This unit requires students to draw on theoretical and discipline knowledge and use these to engage actively in a current and topical policy problem. The students will have opportunities to consult experts in a given policy area and identify relevant evidence, expert opinion and stakeholder views. Students will explore a range of problem definitions and scenarios, and consider alternative policy solutions. Students will develop and present a comprehensive and constructive policy proposal which demonstrates an awareness of ethical, political, social, economic and cultural factors which are significant in the specific policy context.

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, critically analyse and synthesise evidence which is relevant to policy making from a wide range of cross-disciplinary sources.
  • ULO2: Apply theoretical material related to public policy to a specific real-world policy problem.
  • ULO3: Critically consider a range of factors affecting problem definition and the development of appropriate policy solutions.
  • ULO4: Identify and respond to ethical, political, social, economic and cultural factors which are significant in a specific policy context.
  • ULO5: Communicate policy recommendations effectively and appropriately to specialist and non-specialist audiences.

General Assessment Information

LATE SUBMISSION PENALTY

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.

WORD LIMITS For all assessments, the word limit is + / - 10%, NOT including bibliography.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Scoping paper 25% No Monday 11:59pm 13/09/2021
Policy analysis 40% No Sunday 11:59pm 07/11/2021
Blog posts on required readings 35% No At the completion of each module

Scoping paper

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Monday 11:59pm 13/09/2021
Weighting: 25%

This short essay should be presented as a scoping document, outlining your understanding of the policy problem which we are working on throughout this unit. You will be expected to conduct independent research for this task.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify, critically analyse and synthesise evidence which is relevant to policy making from a wide range of cross-disciplinary sources.
  • Apply theoretical material related to public policy to a specific real-world policy problem.
  • Critically consider a range of factors affecting problem definition and the development of appropriate policy solutions.
  • Identify and respond to ethical, political, social, economic and cultural factors which are significant in a specific policy context.

Policy analysis

Assessment Type 1: Project
Indicative Time on Task 2: 58 hours
Due: Sunday 11:59pm 07/11/2021
Weighting: 40%

This final assessment task requires you to present your analysis of the policy problem and its context, and to explain your choice of policy recommendations to address the problem. This essay will build on previous assessment tasks.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify, critically analyse and synthesise evidence which is relevant to policy making from a wide range of cross-disciplinary sources.
  • Apply theoretical material related to public policy to a specific real-world policy problem.
  • Critically consider a range of factors affecting problem definition and the development of appropriate policy solutions.
  • Identify and respond to ethical, political, social, economic and cultural factors which are significant in a specific policy context.
  • Communicate policy recommendations effectively and appropriately to specialist and non-specialist audiences.

Blog posts on required readings

Assessment Type 1: Case study/analysis
Indicative Time on Task 2: 12 hours
Due: At the completion of each module
Weighting: 35%

You will be required to post a short reflection of 750 words on set topics each fortnight. There will be a total of 4 of these blog posts over the semester. These will be posted on a blog inside iLearn so that other students can read and respond to your work. Your blog posts should be based on careful reflection and analysis of the unit readings.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply theoretical material related to public policy to a specific real-world policy problem.
  • Identify and respond to ethical, political, social, economic and cultural factors which are significant in a specific policy context.

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: Fully online/virtual.  WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? Online asynchronous: online students are fully online/virtual and have no timetabled classes. All virtual materials are pre-recorded for access at any time.  Students enrol Fully Online/Virtual or equivalent external mode (such as OUA) and then there is no class registration required (because there are no classes). 

Unit content is designed to be self-paced, where students work through materials at times convenient to them. There are no tutorials however there are reflection posts due at the end of each of Module. At key points in semester the unit convenor will host Optional live Zoom sessions for those who wish to join.

Unit Schedule

This unit requires students to draw on theoretical and discipline knowledge and use these to engage actively in a current and topical policy problem. The students will have opportunities to consult experts and stakeholders in a given policy area and identify relevant evidence, expert opinion and stakeholder views. Students will explore a range of problem definitions and scenarios, and consider alternative policy solutions. Students will develop and present a comprehensive and constructive policy proposal which demonstrates an awareness of ethical, political, social, economic and cultural factors which are significant in the specific policy context. 

Each semester, the unit is designed around a particular social policy probelem. In 2021 the case study of focus is refugee employment. Module 1: Policy Design, Practice and Democracy This first module introduces some key themes for the unit: the links between policy design and practice, and between policy and democracy. Module 2: Defining problems and end users In this module we first focus the range of refugee employment outcomes in Australia, in the broader context of settlement outcomes. We then focus on the policy context: the multi-level nature of immigrant and refugee settlement policy, and the marketisation of settlement services. We finish with a presentation of various framings of the refugee as recipient of settlement policy. Module 3: Designing for delivery In this module we are examining the range of instruments which might be used by policy makers to address specific policy problems. We will look at how different types of instruments might be considered appropriate for specific types of policy problems, and we will note the importance of combining instruments to address complex problems. We will also look at the challenges of delivery, or implementation, and reflect on the importance of planning, consistency and coordination. Module 4: Communication, evaluation and redesign In this module we will discuss government communication of policy, the role of the media in policy communication, policy evaluation and communication of policy redesign. We will first consider the characteristics of government communication in Australia. We will then discuss linkages between media and democracy in Australia and the portrayal of refugees and asylum seekers at election time. Next, we will focus on the meaning of policy evaluation and focus on recent examples of evaluation of refugee settlement and refugee employment policies. Lastly, we will investigate communication of policy evaluation and policy overhaul in this field.

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 2021.01R of the Handbook