| Unit name | The International Analysis of Poverty and Social Exclusion |
|---|---|
| Unit code | SPOLM1068 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Fahmy |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School for Policy Studies |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
Tackling poverty, inequality and social exclusion are currently core aims of international and domestic policy for example as reflected in the 2015 Sustainable Development agenda. How best to define and measure poverty and social exclusion is therefore critical in the development of effective policies in this area. On the basis of international agreements and legislation, for the first time in recorded human history nations have come together to agree on the eradication of poverty as a key goal of international policy. However, achieving this ambitious goal requires both an accurate, evidence-based understanding of the nature, extent and drivers of global poverty and impoverishment, and an awareness of the complex dynamics of policy making in national and international contexts. This unit seeks to develop your understanding of these complex issues in order to advance more effective policy responses in different development contexts.
How does this unit fit into the programme of study
This unit is one of several optional units you can choose to take in the second term of study. This unit provides an opportunity for you to develop your understanding of the complex relationship between theory, research and policy in tackling global poverty. In doing so, you will develop your awareness of the relationship between poverty, politics and the policy process and how this operates in different policy settings in the global North and South.
An overview of content
This unit examines different approaches to the definition and measurement of poverty and social exclusion and their implications for understanding the extent, nature and causes of poverty and social exclusion alongside the policies required to tackle it. These themes will be illuminated through discussion of a variety of international policy areas, including human rights, global development, gender, and poverty across the life course. The focus of this unit is on developing your awareness of the range of theoretical approaches and methods involved in research in this area and their implications for the development of effective evidence-based policies. Throughout the unit, the emphasis is on understanding the relationship between empirical research and anti-poverty policy development at national and supranational levels. The unit will conclude with a consideration of the prospects for eradicating poverty and the policies needed to achieve this.
How will students be different as a result of the unit:
You will develop your understanding of the nature, extent and dynamics of global poverty. On this basis, you will be in a better position to evaluate the effectiveness of anti-poverty interventions in different national contexts through a heightened awareness of the complex relationship between politics, power and the policy process in shaping anti-poverty policies, practice and research.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of the unit, you will be able to:
Teaching will be delivered through face-to-face weekly lectures and classes. Your learning is supported via the online learning platform, Blackboard, where lecture materials and tasks are listed weekly. Each week you will be asked to undertake a specific task or reading to discuss in the class session. There is also an emphasis on self-directed study and reading.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
A group-based formative task delivered in the last week of the unit delivery in which you will be facilitated to work in groups to produce a shared essay plan which addresses one of the summative assessment (Essay) topics. You will receive peer review and verbal feedback from your class tutor on your plans
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
Essay (3,000 words maximum, 100%)
This assessment covers all of the unit learning outcomes.
When assessment does not go to plan
Subject to the university regulations for taught programmes, you may be offered an opportunity for reassessment. If you are eligible to resubmit and where appropriate, you may submit a revised version of your previous assignment, or complete an alternative assessment in the same format as the original assessment.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. SPOLM1068).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
