Department of Economics & International Development, Unit Catalogue 2008/09 |
EC50185 South Asia regional research specialism |
| Credits: 6 |
| Level: Masters |
| Semester: 2 |
| Assessment: ES100 |
| Requisites: |
| In taking this unit you cannot take EC50187 or take EC50189 or take EC50191 |
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Aims: To allow students to develop a more in-depth and contextual understanding of key development issues in South Asia 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.
To enable students to develop a systematic and detailed multidisciplinary understanding of their chosen topic and to critically evaluate recent research related to it. Learning Outcomes: By the end of the unit students will have a deeper, more coherent and up-to-date multi-disciplinary understanding of development issues in South Asia. 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 and developed a systematic, detailed and critical multi-disciplinary perspective on it. Skills: Cross-cultural and interpersonal sensitivity (Taught/Facilitated) Comprehensive and scholarly written communication (e.g. essays) (T/F/Assessed) Effective oral communication (e.g. seminar presentations) (T/F/A) Ability to select, summarise and synthesis written information from multiple sources (T/F/A) Ability to synthesise and critically evaluate multidisciplinary perspectives on the same problem (T/F/A) Ability to formulate a research question, then develop and present an original & coherent answer (T/F/A) Ability to produce work to agreed specifications and deadlines (T/F/A) Ability to work independently, without close supervision of guidance (T/F/A) Ability to work effectively as part of a group or team (F/). Content: Part 1 comprises a review of major economic, social, and political trends in South Asia, contemporary development debates and related literature. Part 2 comprises individual tutorials aimed at helping each student to identify a substantive essay topic of their own choice and develop a critical perspective on it. These topics are likely to draw on material covered in other Semester 2 units that do not have a regional focus. In this way this unit provides a way for students to develop expertise in the region by applying what they are learning in other units and to use these to develop a multi-disciplinary and critical perspective on them. Part 3 comprises a series of seminar presentations and discussions based on students essay topics. |