Course Title: Policy Governance

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Policy Governance

Credit Points: 12.00


Course Coordinator: Kate Driscoll

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 8287

Course Coordinator Email: kate.driscoll@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Availability: by appointment


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None


Course Description

In this course you will investigate key trends in contemporary governance. You will critically examine the place of hierarchy, community participation and engagement, persuasion, the use of markets, contracts and networks in the development and delivery of public policy.
You will explore the increasingly blurred boundaries between states, markets and civil society, which mean that the traditional lines of government activity are no longer just bounded by the space of bureaucratic control.

Contemporary governing has been transformed through new organizational arrangements, interdependencies and relationships between and across the public, private and NGO sectors. Shifts in the nature of governance strategies and approaches mean that the reach of the state is both ubiquitous and relentless. This is not the small state envisioned by neoliberals but a more complex and subtle form of government whose influence has grown rather than diminished.
 


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Upon successful completion of the course you will be able to:

  • Identify the key features of contemporary governance approaches
  • Describe and analyse the debates and theoretical perspectives regarding governance approaches
  • Assess and critique the range of governance approaches being used for policy development, infrastructure and capital development, and service delivery
  • Prepare high level written argument which analyses and theorises governance arrangements



Overview of Learning Activities

Workshops will use current examples of governance arrangements being used by governments with commercial enterprises and NGO’s. Workshop activities will explore case studies and readings through seminars and class discussions.


Overview of Learning Resources

Reading material will be available online and in addition a prescribed text may be used. In addition RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems.


Overview of Assessment

You will be assessed on the above learning outcomes. Assessment tasks may include essays, case studies, reports and presentations. You will be required to complete assessment tasks equivalent to 5,000 words