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SP30212: Contemporary issues in African development

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2015/6
Further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department of Social & Policy Sciences
Further information on credits Credits: 6
Further information on unit levels Level: Honours (FHEQ level 6)
Further information on teaching periods Period: Semester 2
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Summary: CW 100%
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Detail:
  • Coursework 100% (CW 100%)
Further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment: Reassessment not allowed
Further information on requisites Requisites: In taking this module you cannot take SP30211 OR take SP30213 OR take SP30214
Further information on descriptions Description: Aims:
To allow students to develop a more in-depth and contextual understanding of key development issues in Africa.
To give the student an opportunity to plan and implement a piece of research (based on secondary sources) on a topic of their own choosing.

Learning Outcomes:
By the end of the unit students will have a deeper, more coherent and up-to-date multi-disciplinary understanding of contemporary development issues and debates related to African development.
They will have improved their skills in locating and critically reviewing published research findings about the region and in discussing their views with others.
They will have identified and examined in-depth a contemporary development issue in the region.

Skills:
Cross-cultural and interpersonal sensitivity
Comprehensive and scholarly written communication
Effective oral communication
Ability to select, summarise and synthesis written information from multiple sources
Ability to synthesise multidisciplinary perspectives on the same problem Ability to formulate a research question, then develop and present an original & coherent answer
Ability to produce work to agreed specifications and deadlines
Ability to work independently, without close supervision of guidance
Ability to work effectively as part of a group or team.

Content:
Part 1 comprises a review of , contemporary debates on African Development. These will be presented and analysed using multi-disciplinary perspectives. Cross cutting themes will be gender and youth. Topics to be covered will include:
* Politics and governance
* Economic development
* Agriculture, food security and natural resources
* Insecurity and conflict
* Urbanisation and migration
* Health and population challenges
* Education
* Mobile technology and ICT
Part 2. Students will identify their own essay topics with support from the unit convenor. The last part of the unit will comprise a series of seminar presentations and discussions based on students essay topics in order to develop oral presentation skills and give formative feedback on essay development.
Further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

SP30212 is Optional on the following programmes:

Department of Economics
  • UHES-AFB02 : BSc(Hons) Economics and International Development (Year 3)
  • UHES-AKB02 : BSc(Hons) Economics and International Development with Year long work placement (Year 4)

Notes:
* This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2015/16 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2016/17 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2015/16.
* Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.
* Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.