Work Placement in Conflict, Security and Development
| Module title | Work Placement in Conflict, Security and Development |
|---|---|
| Module code | POLM085 |
| Academic year | 2024/5 |
| Credits | 30 |
| Module staff | Dr Weeda Mehran (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 2 | 9 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 20 |
|---|
Module description
This module is composed of six forms of structured activity: i) Preparatory session to prepare you for specific work placements /research projects; ii) Academic seminars focusing on (a) the actors in conflict, security and development, and (b) research methodologies for studying and assessing the nature of conflict, security and development and the effectiveness of international aid; iii) Policy- and practice-focused seminars with visiting speakers who are professionals in conflict, security and development in the UK and/or overseas; iv) A two-week (75-hour) FTE work placement/research project in the UK or overseas, either undertaken in block over Easter break (if outside of Exeter) or several hours per week (if in Exeter); v) Plenary, reporting and presentation sessions following completion of your work placement; and vi) Meetings with academic advisor before and after your work placement.
You will be assisted in finding placements at one of the international institutions, companies and NGOs with which the university has contact, or a placement with a relevant organisation identified yourself. Alternatively, research assistantships with Exeter academics working on a contemporary policy issue are available. The university cannot guarantee you a particular placement or assistantship. You must be active from the outset in pursuing placement opportunities of your choice to give you the greatest chance of achieving your preference.
This module is only available to students on the MA Conflict Security and Development programme.
Module aims - intentions of the module
By the end of this module, you will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the strategies and tactics of conflict, security and development work on a global scale, from local projects to global frameworks. Furthermore, you will analyse and evaluate the effectiveness of individual projects and programmes, whole organisations, overarching legal and policy frameworks and international interventions in the areas of conflict, security and development. You will demonstrate knowledge of academic and practical research methodologies. You will demonstrate this knowledge in the form of a policy report and a project report document, which you will develop with respect to your work placement organisation or chosen topic of research.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. demonstrate substantive knowledge and understanding of the institutional and political context of at least two types of organisations working in conflict, security and development in the UK or overseas;
- 2. describe, analyse and deploy two or more research methodologies in the area of conflict, security and development.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. exercise informed judgement concerning the practical constraints of organisations working in Conflict Security and Development;
- 4. demonstrate the ability to understand the effect of the organisations institutional and political contexts on its policies and programmes;
- 5. exhibit an understanding of the relationship between knowledge and practice;
- 6. analyse and evaluate the nature and effectiveness of organisations in terms of theoretical frameworks deployed in the study of conflict, security and/or development and the analysis of global governance.
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 7. conduct independent research;
- 8. exercise critical judgment in the form of cogent and persuasive writing
- 9. make rigorous and not merely persuasive arguments in the form of a well-designed presentation;
- 10. develop a personal profile and curriculum vitae for work in conflict, security and development; and
- 11. perform in a work environment in a manner in keeping with the expectations of the host organisation.
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:
1. Introduction to module and placements
2-4. Actors in Conflict Security and Development including: a) International organisations – third-parties or neoimperialists? b) Non-governmental organisations –change-makers or donors’ puppets? c) National governments – partners or spoilers or agents? d) Business – resource-extractors or drivers of reform?
5-7. Methodologies in the study of Conflict Security and Development including: 1) indexes and rankings of conflict, security and development; 2) formal Monitoring & Evaluation of programmes; 3) political risk analysis/conflict analysis; 4) ethnography of aid; 5) process tracing
8-11. Working in conflict, security and development – practitioner talks
12-14. Reporting and plenary discussions
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 28 | 197 | 75 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 12 | 6 x 2-hour seminars led by module convenor and including small group work, presentations, discussion, reflection |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 8 | Practitioner Seminars: 4 X 2-hour seminars led by visiting speakers |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 8 | Work placement preparation and reporting seminars: 4 X 2-hour seminars led by module convenor and/or by students |
| Guided Independent Study | 30 | Independent and assisted preparation for placement: Contact with organisation, arrangements for travel, accommodation and visa (where necessary), arrangements of work activities, meetings with appointed academic advisor, email and telephone communication with work supervisor |
| Placement | 75 | Work placement: Two weeks work or the equivalent across a term |
| Guided Independent Study | 167 | Reading, reflection, essay writing, presentation preparation |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| One work placement application | One-page covering letter, completed application form and two-page CV | 1, 3, 10 | Oral feedback in office hours & written feedback over email |
| One work placement review | Two-page self-assessment form | 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 | Oral feedback in office hours & written feedback over email |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 80 | 0 | 20 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Project report document | 50 | 3,000 words | 1-7, 11 | Written/oral |
| Project report presentation (individual) | 20 | 15 minutes (= 1,500 words) + 300-word handout | 1-7, 9-11 | Written/oral |
| Policy report | 30 | 1,500 words | 3-6, 8 | Written/oral |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project report document | Project report document (3,000 words) | 1-7, 11 | August/September re-assessment |
| Project report presentation | 15 minutes (= 1,500 words) + 300-word handout) | 1-7, 9-11 | By arrangement with convenor |
| Policy report | Policy report (1,500 words) | 3-6, 8 | August/September re-assessment |
Re-assessment notes
Rearranged presentations will take place in lecturer’s office at a mutually agreeable time in term 3.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Library resources:
Conflict, Security and Development [Electronic journal]
Fisher et al, Working with Conflict
Hoglund & Oberg, Understanding Peace Research
Stephen Hopgood, Keepers of the Flame
Ho-Won Jeong, Understanding Conflict and Conflict Analysis
Nordstrom and Robben, Fieldwork Under Fire
Samantha Power, Chasing the Flame
Edward Schatz, Political Ethnography
Wall and Mollinga, Fieldwork in Different Environments
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
ELE: http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/
| Credit value | 30 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 15 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 7 |
| Available as distance learning? | Yes |
| Origin date | 01/05/2013 |
| Last revision date | 03/04/2023 |
