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Unit of study_

GOVT4603: Wicked Problems and Policy Innovation

Semester 2, 2022 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Students have encountered the study of public policy and administration in theory as well as practice. This unit builds on, and challenges, their understanding by looking at wicked problems: those that are multi-dimensional, multi-scalar, and inter-disciplinary. It encourages them to engage deeply with the challenges of contemporary policy-making. Because the topics are "wicked", the approach to them will be flipped so that rather than going from the general to the specific, the reverse will be the case. Students will be challenged to take what appears to be a simple problem, but as it is a sub-set of a broader and more complex set of issues, to go from a narrow to broad conception of it.

Unit details and rules

Unit code GOVT4603
Academic unit Government and International Relations
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
24 credit points at 3000-level in the Politics and International Relations stream, including GOVT3601 and a minimum of 126 credit points
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Robert MacNeil, robert.macneil@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Participation Discussion Boards/ Seminar participation
Discussion Boards
20% Ongoing 1000wd
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
Assignment Policy Brief
Policy Brief
35% Week 06
Due date: 11 Sep 2022 at 23:59
1000wd policy briefing
Outcomes assessed: LO2
Assignment Policy Brief
Policy Brief
45% Week 13
Due date: 06 Nov 2022 at 23:59
2500wd
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2

Assessment summary

- First Policy Brief: As is typical of wicked problems, the policy response to climate change will implicate effectively every branch of government as states attempt to address the wide range of interacting environmental, economic, social, geopolitical, and cultural problems associated with the broader issue. This assessment will ask students to focus in on one of these specific issue areas, and think through potential government responses.

 

- Second Brief: Students will select the topic that interested them the most, and write a research essay to enhance their specialized knowledge of it. You will need to develop a specific research question on the topic, and structure the essay around a specific thesis statement and argument. The essay will be graded primarily on your demonstrated ability to do independent research and formulate a coherent and structured argument about the chosen subject matter.

 

- Participation: each week students will find a discussion board question corresponding to the materials for that topic. Students will be asked to make an original comment in the form of a short response to the question. Additionally, students will be asked to include, at the bottom of their comment, a question for that week. This can either be a specific question about the content to which you would like an answer, or a broader question for discussion.

Assessment criteria

 

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

 

 

 

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Late submissions will be assessed a late penalty of 5% per day.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. Introduce the key theoretical debates about the causes and consequences of wicked problems in public policy.
  • LO2. Develop an understanding of the theory and practice of governing wicked problems in the context of a wide range of other social, political, economic, cultural, environmental, technological, justice, security, and geopolitical issues.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

This is the first time this unit has been offered.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

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