Global Policy Challenges

Module title	Global Policy Challenges
Module code	POC3094
Academic year	2019/0
Credits	15
Module staff	Dr David Benson (Convenor)

Duration: Term	1	2	3
Duration: Weeks	11

Number students taking module (anticipated)	10

Module description

Multiple transnational challenges face policy-makers in the 21^st Century, raising questions over how they should be governed in practice. In this respect, the United Nations has set out a normative agenda for future global policy up to the year 2030 via its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), agreed by national governments in 2012. These goals encompass the critical issues of our times, including reducing poverty, ensuring access to clean water, promoting clean energy, preserving oceans, reducing inequality and maintaining global security. Achieving them will require innovative critical thinking and novel, interdisciplinary policy solutions. In this module you will therefore seek to identify, discuss and evaluate emerging policy responses to these challenges at multiple institutional levels as basis for lesson-drawing. Drawing on theories of governance as an analytical lens you will: examine the context to the SDGs; provide an overview of the UN targets; introduce a range of governance theories (for example, multi-level governance, network governance, global governance, regulatory governance, collaborative governance, urban governance); and provide an empirical and theoretical analysis of critical policy challenges to attaining the SDGs. The module will be of interest to students from many disciplines, including political science, international relations, geography, Flexible Combined Honours, Science Technology Society and can be taken by physical scientists with an interest in policy.

No prior knowledge skills or experience are required to take this module and it is suitable for specialist and non-specialist students, and is thus very suited to students on interdisciplinary pathways.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The module’s objective is to examine critical policy challenges facing policy makers on a global scale, through achievement of four main aims. Firstly, to introduce key concepts such as sustainable development, governance and policy. Secondly, to introduce a selection of theories of governance, including multi-level governance, network governance and collaborative governance. Thirdly, to identify, discuss and theoretically analyse major global policy issues as a basis for learning and lesson-drawing. Finally, to develop a range of transferable research skills, including formulating research questions, data collection, critical analysis of different policy options, plus interdisciplinary and normative problem-solving: which are key skills required for future policy makers in a rapidly globalizing world

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

1. Demonstrate knowledge of sustainable development, governance and policy key concepts, theoretical arguments and major academic texts.
2. Assimilate taught materials and utilise them to analyse critical global policy issues.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

3. Research, write and present analytical assignments on political issues.
4. Formulate rigorous political arguments.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

5. Communicate arguments effectively through coursework submissions and seminar contributions.
6. Develop and present policy relevant recommendations based in analysis.

Syllabus plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:

Global policy challenges
Governance theoretical frameworks
Sustainable development - conceptual and policy responses
An overview of the MDGs, SDGs and critical targets
Eradicating poverty and hunger
Improving health
Ensuring access to clean water
Promoting clean energy
Creating sustainable cities
Preserving the oceans
Climate action
Lesson-drawing on policy responses

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
22	128	0

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity	22	11 x 2 hour seminars
Guided Independent Study	60	Directed reading
Guided Independent Study	6	To complete the formative research proposal
Guided Independent Study	12	To complete the poster
Guided Independent Study	50	To complete the consultancy report.

Formative assessment

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
UN consultancy report proposal	300 words	1-6	Written

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
100	0	0

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
UN consultancy report	70	3000 words	1-6	Written
Research poster	30	1 A3 research poster	1-6	Written

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
UN consultancy report	UN consultancy report, 3000 words	1-6	August/September re-assessment period
Research poster	Research poster, 1 A3 research poster	1-6	August/September re-assessment period

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Baker, S. (2015) Sustainable Development. London: Routledge;
Evans, J.P. (2011) Environmental Governance. London: Routledge.
Conca, K. (2015) An Unfinished Foundation: The United Nations and Global Environmental Governance. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Bevir, M. (2009) Key concepts in Governance. London: Sage.

Key words search

Governance, global, policy, sustainable development goals

Credit value	15
Module ECTS	7.5
Module pre-requisites	none
Module co-requisites	none
NQF level (module)	6
Available as distance learning?	No
Origin date	14/12/2016
Last revision date	14/12/2016