Social policy has long been shaped by the global flow of ideas, as ideologies and models have been exchanged between countries; exported by colonial powers to their colonies; or imposed by external donors in the name of reconstruction or development.  Yet, social policy is often understood as the policies, processes and services provided by governments, without sufficient consideration of the global context.

 

This course examines social policy in the global context of the twenty first century.  We will analyse the impact of ideas, models and approaches developed within the international arena on social policy within nations.  We will also explore the ways in which approaches to social policy are transferred and shared between countries.  We examine key international trends in social policy and the values on which they are based – as well as key critiques of and opposition to those trends.  This course will include some comparative analysis of the influence and response to globalised ideas, models and approaches across different countries.

 

Global Social Policy moves away from the traditional silos of ‘developed’ and ‘developing’ countries, whereby social policy is considered the domain of the former and development the domain of the latter.  Rather, we will examine key approaches to social policy, evidence on ‘what works’, and major debates and controversies across the constructs of the ‘Global North’ and the ‘Global South.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

By the end of this course students should:

(a)               Understand the ways in which the global flow of ideas has shaped and continues to shape social policy within and across nations
(b)               Understand the governance structures for, and effectiveness of, global social policy-making
(c)               Understand the (sometimes competing) agendas and roles of major global actors in the area of social policy
(d)               Be able to analyse key ideas and objectives that underpin the social policy models advocated by key international agencies

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• Written comments
• Verbal comments
• Feedback to the whole class, to groups, to individuals, focus groups

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Day 1: Friday 14 February: Thinking about Social Policy in a Global Context Today, we lay the foundations for our discussions during the course. In this session, we begin the course by discussing different approaches to social policy. Social policy has traditionally been the domain of states. While ideas, policy learning and policy sharing have always circulated across state boarders, national governments have been the primary actors and were able to place bounds on the extent to which the 'external' shaped domestic social policy. In a globalising world, divisions between the state and what is beyond have broken down. An increasing range of actors influence, and sometimes define, social policy within nations. Having examined various models of the welfare state, we begin to explore the impact of globalisation on social policy. Readings for today's class are available on the Global Social Policy Wattle site.
2	Day 2: Monday 17 February, 2019: Global Social Policy Makers Today, we examine the roles of key global social policy actors, exploring the ways in which they have contributed to global priorities and directions. We examine the complexity of competition, conflict and consensus that interact to create global agendas around social policy. Readings for today's class are available on the Global Social Policy Wattle site.
3	Day 3: Friday 21 February, 2019: Protecting the Vulnerable in a Globalising World Today we explore policies designed to protect the most vulnerable. We begin by exploring the role of the international human rights frame work in influencing global social policy. We then focus on the rise of ‘social protection’ as a key element of global approaches to social policy and the growth of specific interventions, such as conditional cash transfers, that have been taken up with enthusiasm around the world. Readings for today's class are available on the Global Social Policy Wattle site.
4	Day 4: Monday 24 February: The Sustainable Development Goals - Global Social Policy in Action? We also explore the Sustainable Development Goals and their implications for global social policy. The SDGs and the associated targets are often presented as providing a blueprint for global policy. In this session we explore the SDGs and their implications for global social policy.
5	Day 5: Thursday 5 March 2019: Protecting the vulnerable across borders? We then explore the role of social policy in supporting and protecting people who move across borders (as workers, asylum seeker or refugees). Here we examine both the international agreements designed to protect people across borders, the global advocacy campaigns in support of greater protections, and the rise of concern (in some cases hostility) towards (some) people who move beyond their own national borders. Here, we ask what the future of global social policy is as populism and nationalism appear to be on the rise. Readings for today's class are available on the Global Social Policy Wattle site.
6	Day 6: Friday 6 March, 2019: Recapping and Workshopping Ideas Today will be an opportunity to workshop your ideas for your virtual Global Social Policy Conference paper, and to get some peer feedback. We will discuss the future of global social policy, and the intersection between social policy and the rise of discontent with globalisation. What role for global social policy in a post-Brexit, Trump-influenced world?

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Infographic	10 %	26/02/2020	12/03/2020	1,2,3,4
Virtual Conference Presentation	20 %	10/03/2020	21/03/2020	1,2,3,4
Analysis Framework	20 %	19/03/2020	01/04/2020	1,2,3,4
Global Social Policy Analysis Paper	50 %	17/04/2020	02/07/2020	1,2,3,4

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website Students may choose not to submit assessment items through Turnitin. In this instance you will be required to submit, alongside the assessment item itself, hard copies of all references included in the assessment item.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Assessment Task 1

Infographic

Assessment for Global Social Policy takes a portfolio approach. Because the course is very intensive, you will only be asked to focus on one topic for the purposes of your assessment, and the tasks are integrated.

There will be a strong element of peer-sharing and peer-learning, to ensure everyone benefits from the knowledge each student will build around their chosen topic.

Foundation for Assessment Tasks:

As the foundation for your assessment, you need to choose a significant global social policy issue/topic and a country/sub-national/regional. This will then be the focus of your assessment tasks for the course. All tasks contribute to the final GSP analysis paper, which is the major assessment task (in terms of weight).

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Assessment Task 1: Infographic

For your first assessment task, you are asked to produce a infographic of 4-pages plus a list of references. More details about this task are available on the course Wattle site.

Due date: 26 February, 11:55pm

Length: Maximum 4 pages

This task is worth 10% of your overall mark

Task rubric is available on the Wattle site

Assessment Task 2

Virtual Conference Presentation

Your virtual conference presentation builds on your infographic and allows you to gain valuable feedback before writing your GSP analysis paper.

Your conference presentation should be a maximum of 10 minutes in length and focus on presenting your key argument and a concise overview of the material you will use to support that argument in your policy analysis paper.

Your are encouraged to watch the presentation of fellow students, and to provide constructive feedback.

Your virtual Conference presentation should be uploaded by 11.55pm on Tuesday 10 March

Your conference presentation is worth 20% of your overall grade (the abstract is required but not assessed).

More details about this task, and information about how to upload your presentation, are available on the course Wattle site. Task rubric is available on the Wattle site.

Assessment Task 3

Analysis Framework

In order to research, analysis and write your major GSP Analysis Paper, you need to decide how you will analyse your chosen issue. In this brief paper, you need to decide which analytic approach you will use for your GSP Analysis Paper, and explain the approach and why you have chosen it.

This brief paper is up to 1200 words, and sets out the analytic framework you will be used to analyse your chosen topic. It will form an important basis your GSP analysis paper.

More details about this task are available on the course Wattle site. Task rubric is available on the Wattle site.

Length: 1200 words

Due: Thursday 19 March, 11:55pm

The Analysis Framework is worth 20% of your overall mark

Assessment Task 4

Global Social Policy Analysis Paper

You will have identified a key issue within Global Social Policy that is of interest to you early in the course, which you will research and present at our GSP Conference.

The GSP Analysis Paper builds on - and moves beyond - your infographic and your analysis framework. While you cannot simply reuse word-for-word those two tasks, you can draw on them and incorporate them into your GSP Analysis Paper. Your Analysis Paper takes each of the earlier tasks further and (importantly) deeper.

Your final paper should be in the form of an essay. It should be a maximum of 3000 words in length. Your final paper is worth 50% of your final mark and is due on Monday 17 April.

?Task rubric is available on the Wattle site

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of our culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically. This means that all members of the community commit to honest and responsible scholarly practice and to upholding these values with respect and fairness. The Australian National University commits to embedding the values of academic integrity in our teaching and learning. We ensure that all members of our community understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with. The University has policies and procedures in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Visit the following Academic honesty & plagiarism website for more information about academic integrity and what the ANU considers academic misconduct. The ANU offers a number of services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. The Academic Skills and Learning Centre offers a number of workshops and seminars that you may find useful for your studies.

Online Submission

The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure The Course Convener may grant extensions for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information. In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service — including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy. If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes. Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students