Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

This module sets out to encourage students to critically assess development issues concerning international aid, poverty, growth, entrepreneurship, innovation, capitalism, and the role of government in development. It aims to encourage participants to engage in informed debate about major issues relating to development and to reflect on the relationship aims to develop dialogue and communication to heighten awareness and advance knowledge of current global issues. The purpose of the module is to develop understanding of key issues concerning international development crucial for the full appreciation and participation of other modules in the course.

Outline Of Syllabus

This module revolves around the reading of core texts followed by group discussions, chaired by the module leader. Initially students will be provided with the readings and possible themes for debate. These readings are part of the inital process carried out in student study time. The first session introduces in a taught form definitions and measurements of poverty and growth and sets out the approaches for the small group teaching/colloquium sessions. The colloquium sessions are based upon the set texts and readings. The goal is to encourage learning through debate and discussion.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

By the end of the course students will be able to:
1: Identify define key issues concerning development;
2: Identify the roles, if any, that freedom, incentives, international aid and government may have in stimulating development;
3: Recognise and engage with topical debates concerning development;
4: Identify how the course themes and issues relate to current development issues and policies in developing and developed countries;
5: Identify key factors that explain the emergence from poverty of countries and locations within countries.

Intended Skill Outcomes

The intended skills outcomes are:

To be able to interpret the concepts of measurement of poverty and growth;

Critically evaluate the role of markets and government interventions in the provision of aid in developing countries;

Recognise requirements for successful development;

Analyse and participate in current issues surrounding development issues.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The lectures and seminars provide a theoretical and contextual framework for the whole module. This is then furthered by the private study which includes the reading of and preparation for the discussion of the texts. The colloquium style group learning/discussions provide the opportunity to discover, through the exploration of ideas concerning development issues.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The Oral Assessment takes place during the colloquium session itself, which will involve continuous assessment on behalf of the tutors during the sessions, using objective and subjective measures, to explore the understanding of the texts and students' ability to put forward their own comments concerning the development issues set out by this module.

The Essay will assess the understating of the development issues within the modules - maximum word length 3,000.

The oral assessment and essay will allow the ability of the student to be assessed, both in terms of being able to express views and beliefs in a well thought out manner through debating sessions as well as on paper. The assignment enables students to express their ideas in a more controlled and thoughtful way than in the debating sessions. Both methods will judge student capability in settings in which they may find themselves in a working environment.

General Notes

N/A