The course involves students in the guided application of theories, concepts and analytical tools to real world policy problems/issues. The Applied Policy Project is designed as a 'capstone' course that enables students of Policy Studies to synthesize and apply their learning from preceding subjects to the sorts of issues they are likely to encounter in the workplace. Students from other programs are welcome in the course provided they meet the required prerequisites.

Students will work through a range of contemporary policy issues/problems as a group and individually, with an emphasis on direct and active student participation. The course will involve a mix of lectures, workshops, student presentations with peer feedback, and role-playing. Students will develop a real sense of the way various actors and institutions engage in policy work and be encouraged to generate confidence in their abilities to be constructive participants in policy work.

Learning Outcomes

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

1. apply knowledge of policy studies to real world cases;
2. communicate and defend ideas in a professional manner;
3. conduct research and analysis in a policy context; and
4. produce a substantial piece of written analytical work on a research topic connected to public policy (broadly conceived).

Required Resources

Students will be provided soft copies (PDFs) of all required readings for this course. This will be available on Wattle

Recommended Resources

Students will be provided soft copies (PDFs) of all required readings for this course. This will be available on Wattle

Staff Feedback

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

• written comments
• verbal comments
• feedback to whole class, groups, individuals, focus group etc

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). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

Other Information

Given that this subject includes a significant amount of self-directed work, there are not workshops/roundtables in every week. During those weeks, the convenor will be available, either in person or by email, for consultation as required.

Due to pre-existing commitments, it may also be necessary to shift some sessions to Zoom, and to a different time, in the second half of the course. This will be negotiated with the class.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Introduction and expectations
2	Policy problems and processChoosing a topic, scoping your topicBridging academic and policy audiences
3	Roundtable - 1st Policy Brief – “Scoping Paper” drafts shared and discussed
4	NO WORKSHOP – Students to work on assessment Convenor available for consultations
5	Workshop - Putting together Policy Analysis Report
6	Roundtable - Policy Analysis Report - share work in progress
7	Roundtable – Policy Analysis Report – Drafts Shared and DiscussedIntroduction to ChatGPT
8	NO WORKSHOP – Students to work on assessment Convenor available for consultations
9	NO WORKSHOP – Students to work on assessment Convenor available for consultations
10	Workshop - Summary Policy Brief
11	NO WORKSHOP – Students to work on assessment Convenor available for consultations
12	ROUNDTABLE – Sharing drafts of Summary Brief and reflections

Tutorial Registration

There are no separate tutorials for this class.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date
Policy Brief No 1	20 %	17/08/2023
Policy Analysis Report	45 %	12/10/2023
Summary Policy Brief & Self-Reflective Exercise	25 %	06/11/2023
Participation	10 %	*

* 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 Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Guideline and General Information 
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
• Code of practice for teaching and learning

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 Academic Skills website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

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.

Participation

Workshops and roundtables will be held in a single 2 hour block. Given the applied nature of the class, the format will be informal ‘tutorial’ discussion by the group.

 

Attendance at workshops and roundtables is expected. The course is designed assuming that all students will be able to attend all sessions.

 

It is expected that students will have prepared for the discussion. Students are also expected to actively participate in the tutorial discussions. This participation is essential to maximise learning (and grades) in addition to making it a rewarding social experience for everyone.

Assessment Task 1

Policy Brief No 1

Students will choose an ‘issue’, develop a discussion paper and provide an analysis report (with recommendations) over the course of the semester. This ‘issue’ has to be agreed – in writing via email – with the Convener in advance (by end of week 3).

Due 11:59pm Thursday 17 August 2023

20% weight

750 words

For this assessment task, students must demonstrate that they can:

1. recognise and scope an area of policy that can be improved, and why it needs to be addressed now;

2. review relevant literature (research and media reports) on that area of policy;

3. identify potential questions surrounding that area of policy (sensitivities, interactions, problems and solutions);

4. distinguish important stakeholders in the policy; and

5. succinctly articulate these components in a professionally written ‘scoping paper’ policy brief.

Any footnote-based referencing style is acceptable.

Assessment Task 2

Policy Analysis Report

Due 11:59pm Thursday 12 October 2023

45% weight.

3000 words.

The second assessment builds on the first. Having scoped the issue, students must demonstrate that they can:

1. research and critically analyse an area of policy in depth;

2. apply relevant academic theories and scholarship to a policy issue;

3. consider alternative views and courses of policy action, and present their implications;

4. present an argument, and a proposed course of action in a professional and persuasive manner; and

5. prepare a comprehensive, clear, professionally written and concise policy paper.

Any footnote-based referencing style is acceptable.

Assessment Task 3

Summary Policy Brief & Self-Reflective Exercise

Due 11:59pm Monday 6 November 2023

25% weight

1000 words (self-reflection section only).

For this assessment task, students will ask ChatGPT (or similar) to write a 700 word policy brief, making specific policy recommendations based on the Policy Analysis Report produced for assessment two.

Students will then analyse ChatGPT’s answer; the process of getting ChatGPT to write the answer; and a personal reflection on it.

The personal reflection could consider:

1) from a policy studies perspective:

- Could you get it to make the same/similar recommendation as you?

- How much did its recommendations change? How?

- Is it politically responsive, and relevant/contextual to current circumstances?

- How did you ensure the answer was factually correct? What was it missing that you consider is important?

2) from an assessment perspective

- Reflect on this task, as a piece of assessment. What have you learnt? Based on this experience, how useful do you think ChatGPT is for policy? For university assessment? How much work was it to get ChatGPT to produce a ‘good’ piece of work? Or did you need to have to do so much pre/post work it wasn’t worth it?

Only the self-reflection essay counts towards the word count, but students must submit both the policy brief produced by ChatGPT and their entire ChatGPT transcript.

Any footnote-based referencing style is acceptable.

This essay may also form part of a research work being undertaken by the course convenor. See Wattle for further details.

Assessment Task 4

Participation

Each student is expected to actively participate in each session, including having read assigned readings beforehand. Each student is expected prepare their own work to share with peers related to their policy project. Students are also required constructively review their peers issues papers and research presentations (in person). These will all contribute to the participation mark.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.

The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.

The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

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 permitted. 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

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material.

Returning Assignments

Within 10 business days

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted 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 Access 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