Course Title: International Project Management, Monitoring and Evaluation

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: International Project Management, Monitoring and Evaluation

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
HUSO2168	City Campus	Postgraduate	330H Social Science & Planning	Distance / Correspondence or Face-to-Face	Sem 2 2006
HUSO2168	City Campus	Postgraduate	365H Global, Urban and Social Studies	Distance / Correspondence or Face-to-Face	Sem 2 2008
HUSO2168	City Campus	Postgraduate	365H Global, Urban and Social Studies	Face-to-Face or Internet	Sem 2 2010, Sem 2 2011, Sem 1 2017

Course Coordinator: Dr. Panayiota Romios

Course Coordinator Phone: +(61 3) ) 9925 2674

Course Coordinator Email: panayiota.romios@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 37.05.42

Course Coordinator Availability: by appointment (email me)

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

This course is a core course for the Master of International Development program and there are no prerequisites other than those required for entry to the program as a whole. However, it is strongly recommended that students interested in doing this course should complete HUSO2159 - International Project Planning and Design.

Course Description

The course introduces key principles and practices in the management, monitoring and evaluation of international development projects (based on Australian experience), and equips you with financial and project management skills appropriate for entry-level employment in a development agency. It describes the management approaches of key players in the development process; the donors (the main emphasis will be on Australian Aid, but reference will be made to other bilateral and multilateral agencies, private philanthropic agencies and the Australian public); implementing agencies (Australian NGOs and commercial contractors); and recipients (government and non-government agencies and individuals in developing countries).

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

At the conclusion of this course it is envisaged that you will have:

• Critical understanding of the project management cycle
• Critical understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the different approaches
• Critical understanding of the role of the Logframe Approach
• Critical understanding of the role of participatory techniques
• Critical understanding of the theoretical perspectives and debates to practice and policy issues and dilemmas
• Developed skills in the preparation of critical oral and written argument appropriate for studies at postgraduate level.

At the conclusion of this course it is envisaged that you will have:

1. Developed a critical understanding of the overall project management cycle (focussing in this course on management and monitoring).
2. Developed an understanding of different approaches to project management and monitoring, including the strengths and weaknesses of the different approaches.
3. Developed a critical understanding of the role of the Logframe Approach, including its relevance, techniques, strengths and weaknesses for project management.
4. Developed a critical understanding of the role of participatory techniques in project management and monitoring.
5. Developed skills in relating theoretical perspectives and debates to practice and policy issues and dilemmas.
6. Developed the capacity to recognise the ways in which diverse theoretical perspectives lead to alternative and competing possibilities for analysis and action.
7. Developed skills in the preparation of critical oral and written argument appropriate for studies at post graduate level.

Overview of Learning Activities

Your learning experience for this course consists of the following components:

1. Participation in a variety of lectures, seminar presentations, tutorials and class discussions.
2. An analysis of critical issues, competing debates and emerging literature on the themes of development management, monitoring and evaluation.
3. Assessment tasks (outlined below) designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of key themes and debates.
4. The opportunity to liaise with the course lecturer and ask questions about particular topics, readings or assessment tasks. Liaison with the lecturer can be by phone, e-mail or by arranging an appointment.

Primary learning activities may include lectures, guest lecturers, readings, independent research, activities and discussion in class and online, analysis of case studies and personal reflection. You may also experience a combination of class participation, class presentations, group work and debates in order to develop your skills in collaborative and participatory practice; critical understanding of the key approaches in development management, monitoring and evaluation and how it forms the basis for clear and accurate reporting on the results achieved; and, becomes an opportunity for critical analysis and organisational learning informing decision making and impact assessment.

Overview of Learning Resources

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems. Learning resources will include a set of readings for each component of the class, all available via Canvas or electronically via the university library. A range of additional resources and links will also be available through these sources, to enhance your learning.

Overview of Assessment

You will be assessed on how well you meet the course’s learning outcomes and on your development against the program learning outcomes. Assessment may include academic essays, reflective journals, practical case studies and class participation where you will develop your critical analysis; cultural competence; understanding of the key monitoring and evaluation approaches; application of Logframe and indicators; discernment of the results of projects; recognition of the need to address issues of accountability, transparency and participation in project management. Feedback will be given on all assessment tasks.