Students

ANTH3023 – Development Studies

2026 – Session 1, Online-flexible

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Chris Vasantkumar
chris.vasantkumar@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
130cp at 1000 level or above
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

Why are some countries rich and others poor? Why do billions live on less than $5 a day while the 26 richest billionaires together own as much wealth as the poorest 50 percent of the planet’s people? What, if anything, should we do about this? This unit tackles these questions anthropologically, focusing on development as a key means of closing the gap between rich and poor. The unit explores the history of global poverty and economic inequality, the emergence of the contemporary development framework in the post-WWII era, and the complexity of the relationship between culture and development. It also examines the ways in which culture can both impede and aid development projects. Finally it pays critical attention to why programs designed to help people in the developing world have sometimes fallen short of their intended goals.

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: Assess the origins and continuing effects of economic inequality on a global scale.
  • ULO2: Demonstrate an awareness of key players on the contemporary development scene such as the IMF, World Bank and development NGOs.
  • ULO3: Analyse and articulate how and why development remains controversial in the contemporary world.
  • ULO4: Apply anthropological perspectives to the implementation of development projects and programs.
  • ULO5: Describe how anthropological approaches can improve development outcomes in the real world

General Assessment Information

Late Submission Policy

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a mark of ‘0’ (zero) will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm on the date indicated. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue. This late penalty will apply to non-timed sensitive assessment (incl essays, reports, posters, portfolios, journals, recordings etc). Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs etc) will only be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application. Special Consideration outcome may result in a new question or topic. 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due Groupwork/Individual Short Extension AI Approach
Reflective portfolio 40% No 05/06/2026 Individual No Open
AI critique 30% No 03/04/2026 Individual No Open
Presentation 30% No 08/05/2026 Individual No Open

Reflective portfolio

Assessment Type 1: Experiential task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: 05/06/2026
Weighting: 40%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Open

600 word reflections about news articles related to unit content
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Assess the origins and continuing effects of economic inequality on a global scale.
  • Demonstrate an awareness of key players on the contemporary development scene such as the IMF, World Bank and development NGOs.

AI critique

Assessment Type 1: Reflection task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: 03/04/2026
Weighting: 30%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Open

1000-1200 word critique of AI generated content
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Assess the origins and continuing effects of economic inequality on a global scale.
  • Demonstrate an awareness of key players on the contemporary development scene such as the IMF, World Bank and development NGOs.
  • Analyse and articulate how and why development remains controversial in the contemporary world.

Presentation

Assessment Type 1: Presentation task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 27 hours
Due: 08/05/2026
Weighting: 30%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Open

5 minute recorded presentation about a real world development project using unit materials
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyse and articulate how and why development remains controversial in the contemporary world.
  • Apply anthropological perspectives to the implementation of development projects and programs.
  • Describe how anthropological approaches can improve development outcomes in the real world

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
  • Academic Success 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.

3 An automatic short extension is available for some assessments. Apply through the Service Connect Portal.

Delivery and Resources

Lectures delivered live on Thursday, recordings available on iLearn within 24 hours thereafter. All unit information and discussion forums will be available on iLearn. Readings made accessible via Leganto. 

Unit Schedule

Unit Schedule

Week

Date

Lecture Topic (Fridays)

 

Assessments Due 

Note: discussion forums and weekly quizzes commence in week 2)

1

26 Feb

 Introduction to the Unit

 

 

2

 5 Mar

 Coming to Terms with the Problem I: Worlds of Inequality

 

 

3

 12 Mar 

 Coming to Terms with the Problem II: Defining Wealth and Poverty

 

  
4

 19 Mar

 Coming to Terms with the Problem III:: Human Rights and the North Atlantic Universe    

5

 26 Mar Coming to Terms with the Problem IV: Global Interconnection from Colonialism to Neoliberalism

 

  

6

2 Apr

 International Aid I: Development, The First 60 Years (1940s-2000s)

 

 AI Critique due 11:55pm, April 3

 

 

* Mid-semester Recess 6 Apr-19 Apr

 

 
7 23 Apr International Aid II: Development Institutions (WB, IMF, WTF?!)

 

 

 

8

 30 Apr International Aid III: Alternatives to the North Atlantic Universe or Convergence? Development since the 00s  

 
9 7 May  International Aid IV: Trump and the End of Aid   Presentation due 11:55pm, May 8
10 14 May  Putting It All Together I: Lost In Translation. Why Well-Intentioned Projects Fail.  E.g., The Millennium Villages

 

 
11 21 May Putting It All Together II: Rights in Conflict    

12

28 May

 Putting It All Together III: Can One Person Change the World?  Fair Trade, Voluntourism and Other Forms of Individual Action 

 

 

13

 4 June Putting It All Together IV: The End of Development? Alternatives To (And Within) Development  

Reflective Journals due 11:55PM, May 15
   

 

    

 

 

  

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 connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

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

Academic Success

Academic Success provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

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

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

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.

Changes since First Published

Date Description
20/02/2026 Assessment submission date correction.

Unit information based on version 2026.04 of the Handbook