POGO8099 Community and Social Policy

Offered By	Policy & Governance
Academic Career	Graduate Coursework
Course Subject	Policy and Governance
Offered in	Summer Session, 2009 and Summer Session, 2010
Unit Value	6 units
Course Description	When the Rudd Labor Government was elected in November 2007, social inclusion became a government priority. Lying behind government policy rhetoric about social inclusion is the idea that individuals who are marginalized or excluded from the mainstream need to be more connected to the community. The idea that social networks (social capital) can help in the fight against poverty and social exclusion is also being promoted by major development institutions such as the World Bank. But is social capital the answer? This course gives students the opportunity to develop a critical understanding of one of the most important concepts driving developments in social policy, both in Australia and internationally. The course examines different theoretical perspectives and critiques of those perspectives and explores the ways in which the concept of social capital is being applied through examples and case studies taken from a number of countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
Learning Outcomes	On successful completion of this course you will be able to: demonstrate an understanding of the different ways academics have conceptualized social capital; demonstrate an understanding of the critiques of each conceptualization; demonstrate an understanding of the policy implications of these different ways of thinking about social capital; and demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between social capital and social exclusion; critically assess structure and arguments in an academic paper or article.
Indicative Assessment	Essay (relates to Learning Outcomes 1, 2 and 3) 50% In-class quiz (relates to Learning Outcomes 2 and 4) 20% Peer Review exercise (relates to Learning Outcome 5) 20% Response to peer reviews (relates to Learning Outcome 5) 10%
Workload	30 contact hours spread over 6 days.
Course Classification(s)	AdvancedAdvanced courses are designed for students having reached 'first degree' level of assumed knowledge, which provide a deep understanding of contemporary issues; or 'second degree' and higher levels of knowledge; or for transition to research training programs. and SpecialistSpecialist courses are designed for students having reached 'first degree' level of assumed knowledge, which provide for the acquisition of specialist skills; or 'second degree' and higher level of knowledge; or for transition to research training programs; or knowledge associated with professional accreditation.
Areas of Interest	Policy Studies
Assumed Knowledge and Required Skills	2-3 years work experience in the public sector is highly desirable.
Preliminary Reading	Winter, I 2000, ‘Major themes and debates in the social capital literature', in I. Winter (ed) Social capital and public policy in Australia, Australian Institute of Family Studies, Melbourne. Woolcock, M and Narayan, D 2006, ‘Social Capital: Implications for Development Theory, Research and Policy Revisited' in Anthony J. Bebbington, Michael Woolcock, Scott Guggenheim and Elizabeth Olson (eds), The Search for Empowerment: Social Capital as Idea and Practice at the World Bank, Kumarian Press These readings can be accessed through the ANU Library e-reserve system. Students thinking about taking this course are encouraged to check out the preliminary readings to see if course content is of interest.
Programs	Master of Public Administration
Other Information	Delivery Mode: Summer intensive. Classes will run from 9.30am-4.30pm on: Friday 16 January 2009 and Monday 19 January 2009 Friday 30 January 2009 and Monday 2 February 2009 Friday 13 February 2009 and Monday 16 February 2009
Academic Contact	Dr Ann Nevile

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