HPOL5008: Semester 1, 2020

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Units HPOL5008 Semester 1 2020 [Block mode]

Unit of study_

HPOL5008: Evidence into Health Policy and Planning

Semester 1, 2020 [Block mode] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

The aim of this unit is to increase students' understanding about the links between evidence and policy and planning and to build skills for making an evidence based case for change and implementing evidence based policy. The unit also advances conceptualisations of evidence for policy to include citizen, consumer and community experience as evidence. The teaching of this course will include: lectures, critical appraisal workshops, guest presentations from leading policy makers and student presentations of how evidence from research can assist them to address real world issues.. By the end of this unit students will be able to: Use evidence to identify areas that require policy change; Search for and critically appraise evidence for policy design and implementation; Understand key theories of the use of evidence in policy and practice; Critically analyse the role of evidence in policy and political processes; Understand citizen and community experience as evidence; Use evidence effectively in a case for policy change.

Unit details and rules

Unit code	HPOL5008
Academic unit	Public Health
Credit points	6
Prohibitions ?	None
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Carmen Huckel Schneider, carmen.huckelschneider@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Andrew Wilson, a.wilson@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Carmen Huckel Schneider, carmen.huckelschneider@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Assignment	Systematic literature search strategy Written assessment	10%	Week 05	1 page
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	A case for change Written assessment	30%	Week 07	2000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Presentation Presentation	20%	Week 11	6 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Submission to a government inquiry Written assessment	40%	Week 14 (STUVAC)	2500 words
Outcomes assessed:

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined in marking rubrics for individual assessments.
Distinction	75 - 84	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined in marking rubrics for individual assessments.
Credit	65 - 74	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined in marking rubrics for individual assessments.
Pass	50 - 64	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined in marking rubrics for individual assessments.
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

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.

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.

Learning support

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.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Aim of this week: To think critically about the evidence into policy relationship. With online readings and discussions, students will work through different ways the evidence-to-policy relationship can be depicted.	Online class (10 hr)
Week 02	Aim of this week: To develop and practice skills required to critically appraise health-policy relevant literature	Online class (10 hr)
Week 03	Aim of this week: To learn key priniciples of using evidence for planning change, and using change as a tool to gather new evidence. Students will become familiar with different change managment tools and key priniples of implementation science.	Online class (10 hr)
Week 04	Students attend an intensive 2-day workshop in week 4. During the workshop, students will discuss and debate the role of evidence in policy making processes and develop skills in the critical appraisal of evidence for policy	Block teaching (16 hr)
Week 05	Aim of this week: Practice critique of data reports in health policy.	Online class (10 hr)
Week 06	Aim of this week: To understand and implement key principles of clear communication of evidence for expert and non-expert audiences.	Online class (10 hr)
Week 07	Aim of this week: Students work independently on their assignments - Making a case for change	Independent study (10 hr)
Week 08	Aim of this week: To return to conceptualisations of the Evidence-to-Policy relationship and contrast different perspectives.	Online class (10 hr)
Week 09	Aim of this week: To understand, collate and apply expanded types of evidence, including consumer experience as evidence, ethical reasoning as evidence and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge.	Online class (10 hr)
Week 10	Aim of this week: To examine barriers and faciliators to the use of evidence at organisational levels.	Online class (10 hr)
Week 11	Students will attend a 2-day intensive workshop in week 11. Students will expand conceptualisations of evidence for policy to include consumer experience,ethical reasoning and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge and experience. Students will also engage in a practice and critique of oral presentations for policy change.	Block teaching (16 hr)
Week 12	Aim of this week: To gain insights into the use of evidence in public debate, including ofiicial inquiries and the media.	Online class (10 hr)
Week 13	Aim of this week: To work on final assignment: Writing a submission to a public inquiry	Independent study (10 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Class requirements: Students are expected to attend two 2-day intensive compulsory workshops on-campus, online lectures, online discussions and other online activities.

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.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library eReserve, available on Canvas.

Learning outcomes

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.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

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

LO1. use evidence to identify areas that require policy change
LO2. search for, and critically appraise, evidence for policy design and implementation
LO3. understand key theories of the use of evidence in policy and practice
LO4. (critically) analyse the role of evidence in policy and political processes
LO5. identify facilitators and barriers to the use of evidence in policy
LO6. understand expanded conceptualisations of evidence for policy
LO7. use evidence effectively in a case for policy change.

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
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

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

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered.

Additional information

More information can be found on Canvas.

Additional costs

There are no additional costs for this unit.

Site visit guidelines

There are no site visit guidelines for this unit.

Work, health and safety

There are no specific WHS requirements for this unit.

Disclaimer

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

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Additional costs

Site visit guidelines

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

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