AD1GLI: International Development: Global and Local Issues

Module code: AD1GLI

Module provider: School of Agriculture, Policy and Development

Credits: 20

Level: Level 1 (Certificate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Garth Holloway, email: garth.holloway@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 27 June 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

In this module, you will explore the role and aims of the Sustainable Development Goals. You will investigate the role of aid and trade in development and gain an understanding of key issues in development.  You will identify the challenges currently confronting societies, governments, and households and examine how researchers seek to understand these challenges in order to enhance welfare, global sustainability, and the protection of rural livelihoods. You will engage with a range of experienced practitioners and you will learn through diverse teaching methods, including assigned readings, participatory discussions, and directed exercises. These activities will help you understand the formal theories underpinning development processes and the nuances surrounding participatory governance, and will prepare you for future employment in fields of International Development.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Understand and describe different development theories and their various interpretations
2. Discuss policies and intervention strategies adopted by national and international agencies to achieve development targets
3. Engage in informed debate about contemporary development concerns related to the environment, governance, human rights and civil society
4. Explain the ways in which development issues affect individuals and households, and how development actors (including government) respond
5. Develop an awareness of, and sensitivity to, local development issues
6. Develop a range of transferrable skills including literature searching and critical enquiry in relation to the experiences of others in development practice

Module content

• What is development? - theories of development and historical interpretations of development
• Development interventions - policies and strategies
• Livelihoods and poverty
• Social inclusion/exclusion and gender - tackling inequalities
• Development actors - the State, the market and civil society
• Current issues in development

Test one

• Case studies (either thematic or country-specific to illustrate main issues)
• Food demand and supply and allocation
• Food insecurity
• Theories of famine
• A brief introduction to the household production model

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

A variety of teaching methods will be used. Class sessions will include lectures, group discussions based on video clips or other media, and interactive learning.  Learning activities outside the classroom will involve guided reading.

Study hours

At least 44 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Two online practice tests available in week five of the semester.

Two online practice tests available in week eleven of the semester.

Reassessment

Additional costs