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SP30211: Contemporary issues in South Asian development

[Page last updated: 01 August 2022]

Academic Year: 2022/23
Owning Department/School: Department of Social & Policy Sciences
Credits: 6 [equivalent to 12 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 120
Level: Honours (FHEQ level 6)
Period:
Semester 2
Assessment Summary: CW 100%
Assessment Detail:
  • Coursework 100% (CW 100%)
Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites: In taking this module you cannot take SP30212 OR take SP30213 OR take SP30214
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 in South Asia and related debates.
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.

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.

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 development debates in South Asia. These will be presented and analysed using multi-disciplinary perspectives. Cross cutting themes will be gender and youth. Topics to be covered will include:
* Economic growth and human development
* Agrarian change
* Politics and Governance
* Civil society and NGOs
* Health
* Borders and boundaries
* Insecurity and violence
* Conflict and development
* South Asia in a changing world order
Part 2 Students will identify their own essay topics with support from the unit convenor. The last part of the unit will comprises 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.

Programme availability:

SP30211 is Optional on the following programmes:

Department of Social & Policy Sciences
  • UHSP-AFB21 : BSc(Hons) International Development with Economics (Year 3)
  • UHSP-AKB21 : BSc(Hons) International Development with Economics with Year long work placement (Year 4)

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2022/23 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2023/24 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2022/23.
  • Programmes and units are subject to change 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.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.