Critical Policy Analysis

Unit code: ECW8001 | Study level: Postgraduate
Credit points
24
(Generally, 1 credit = 10 hours of classes and independent study.)
Location
Footscray Park
Other
Prerequisites
N/A
Overview
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Overview

Professional practice and research in education and training is located within local, national and international policy contexts that shape what is possible to think, write, say and do. These powerful policy discourses tend to represent complex broad problems in simplified ways and recommend solutions that may have unintended consequences. This unit explores historical and contemporary educational policy discourses evident in a range of professional areas. This unit will enable graduate researchers to situate their own professional practice within the local, national and international education and training policy environment. Graduate researchers will be introduced to a range of approaches to policy analysis that will enable them to critique and evaluate relevant policies.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate critical reflection and analysis of selected education and training policies through a systematic investigation;
  2. Situate the learner's professional practice and biography within a national and international policy context; and
  3. Appraise and debate the factors driving education and training policies relevant to their profession and generate options for further consideration.

Assessment

For Melbourne campuses

Assessment type: Other
|
Grade: 30%
Critical analysis of literature on education and training policy contexts (via online discussion forum) (equivalent to 2500 words)
Assessment type: Essay
|
Grade: 70%
Interrogate current education and training policy in relation to the context of their profession and research interest (equivalent to 5000 words)

Required reading

Specific readings will be provided for each session, with the session presenters contributing selected readings. All participants in the unit are encouraged to share readings.

There is no required textbook but graduate researchers may also choose to purchase some of the following texts if they wish. These texts are also available in the VU Library Collection: Bacchi, C. (2009). Analysing policy: what’s the problem represented to be? Frenchs Forrest, NSW: Pearson Bates, J., Lewis, S., Pickard, A., (2011) Education Policy, Practice and the Professional, Continuum international Publishing Group, London and New York Ball, S. J., (2007) education plc, Understanding private sector participation in public sector education, Routledge, Abingdon, Oxon Pawson, R., (2006) Evidence – based Policy A Realist Perspective, SAGE Publications Ltd, London Rogers, R. (2011) (ed.) An introduction to critical discourse analysis in Education. 2nd edition. London: Routledge.

As part of a course

This unit is not compulsory for any specific course. Depending on the course you study, this unit may be taken as an elective.

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