| CODE | PPL3012 | ||||||||||||||||
| TITLE | Practicum | ||||||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 6 | ||||||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 8 | ||||||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Public Policy | ||||||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | A practicum is designed to provide students with practical work experience in the political, public policy or civil society fields. Students will spend a period of time in a professional setting and developing a sense of what it will be like to work in these work environments. The practicum emphasises the importance of learning by doing. A student's' primary tasks are observation and documentation. Study-Unit Aims: The aim of this study-unit is to: - Reflect on theories and concepts in public administration and identify: - Whether and how these are evident in practice - What these theories and concepts do not capture - What can be added to these theories and concepts - What can practice learn and take from these theories and concepts; - Observe and document work practices and task delivery; - Apply academic knowledge to relevant work experience. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Observe work practices and behaviour; - Assimilate and document workplace and actors' observations; - Identify, analyse and discuss how theoretical concepts in Politics and Governance learnt during the programme, are applied in the workplace; - Deepen their knowledge of ethical standards. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Exercise observation skills; - Plan and manage tasks; - Understand evidence-based practices; - Conduct oneself in a professional manner; - Interact and communicate effectively; - Keep a journal and report of the work carried out; - Critically appraise theories and concepts in public administration on the basis of practice and vice versa; - Take recommendations for good practice and argue on the basis of studies and best practice. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - Baird, N.B. (2013), Internship, Practicum, and Field Placement Handbook, Routledge, 7 ed. - Gains, F. (2014), "Observation Analysis", in Rhodes, R.A.W. and 't Hart, P. (2014), The Oxford Handbook of Political Leadership. - Schubert, J.N (1988), "Politics under the Microscope: Observational Methods in Political Research", International Political science Review, 9(4), 305-325. - Smith, C.F. (2009), "Writing public policy: A practicum", Technical Communication Quarterly, 9 (1), 77-92. Supplementary Readings: - Healey, M. and Jenkins, A. (2009), Developing undergraduate research and inquiry, Higher Education Academy. - Ryan, M. et al (2016), "Improving Research Methods Teaching and Learning in Politics and International Relations: A ‘Reality Show’ Approach", Politics, 34 (1), 85-97. - Schubert, J.N (1988), "Politics under the Microscope: Observational Methods in Political Research", International Political science Review, 9(4), 305-325. - Smith, C.F. (2009), "Writing public policy: A practicum", Technical Communication Quarterly, 9 (1), 77-92. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture, Practicum & Seminar | ||||||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Mario Thomas Vassallo |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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