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Using Evidence (PADM90008)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
October
Overview
Availability | October |
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Fees | Look up fees |
Using Evidence is one of the core subjects in the Melbourne Master of Public Administration. The Melbourne MPA is an interdisciplinary, globally-focused degree program for managers that work within or with government. This subject is one of three professionally-oriented subjects and it builds on the World of Public Administration and the core discipline subjects to develop the professional skills of participants with a particular focus on using evidence in managerial practice.
This subject will explore the issues of evidence construction and use in practice, allowing participants to reflect on their professional experience and develop their ability to be ‘smart consumers’ of information in a professional setting. It will explore how evidence is created, by whom, and for what purpose, exposing participants to the ongoing debates regarding evidence-based policy-making, data-driven decision-making, and, more broadly, the creation of knowledge. It will place a particular emphasis on the complex relationship between scientific advancement and the challenges this poses to policy makers and public managers.
Intended learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this subject should:
- Understand the nature of evidence, its foundation, and how it is created;
- Acquire knowledge of the social, theoretical, historical and disciplinary bases of evidence and how this impacts on decision making during the managerial, policy design and implementation phases;
- Develop a deep understanding of the skills and capabilities required to meet contemporary management practice; and
- Appreciate how to apply new skills and capabilities in decision making to managerial practice.
Generic skills
On completion of this subject students should have:
- a sound understanding of the principles of evidence and evidence-based decision-making, and their foundations;
- a high-level ability to combine theory and practice in order to address managerial challenges, and to do so in response to the meaningful use of evidence;
- a high-level ability to combine professional skills with discipline-based expertise, in particular in relation to the use of evidence;
- a highly-developed capacity to adapt to new situations and reflect upon professional practice, using evidence-based policy-making and data-driven decision-making in order to meet managerial challenges; and
- flexible communication skills with a highly-attuned sensitivity to a diverse audience, and to the issues specific to cross-cultural communication.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
PADM90007 | The World of Public Administration |
July (On Campus - Parkville)
February (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
Previous study in public policy, political science, management, law, business, economics, international relations, non-profit management or cognate area.
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Additional details
- Assessment Task 1: Practice application paper of 1000 words where students write up a practical issue related to key themes in the subject (20%) due the week prior to the face-to-face seminars
- Assessment Task 2: Syndicate project (group presentation and paper):
- Group presentation (20%) scheduled during the face-to-face seminars
- Group paper of 1500 words exploring key aspects of the group presentation (20%) due two weeks after completion of the face-to-face seminars
- Assessment Task 3: Professional reflection paper of 2500 words where students apply key concepts from the course to the practical issue from assessment task 1 (40%) due four weeks after completion of the face-to-face seminars
- Hurdle requirement: Students are required to attend a minimum of 100% of classes in order to pass this subject, and regular class participation is expected
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
- October
Principal coordinator Jeff Borland Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 24 hours total: this subject is comprised of seminars and workshops delivered as an intensive over 3 days Total time commitment 170 hours Pre teaching start date 2 October 2017 Teaching period 9 October 2017 to 22 October 2017 Last self-enrol date 3 October 2017 Census date 13 October 2017 Last date to withdraw without fail 3 November 2017 Assessment period ends 17 November 2017 October contact information
Time commitment details
Total 170 hours
Additional delivery details
Delivery mode:
Intensive, and with a pre-teaching period.
Pre-teaching Period Requirements:
Students will be required to access the LMS and the readings provided in order to prepare for the first assessment task. Note: this is due in the first week of the teaching period, which is prior to face-to-face teaching. Students will be able to contact the subject coordinator for support during the pre-teaching period.
Please note that to enrol in this subject:
- Students must be admitted to the Master of Public Administration, Master of Public Administration (Enhanced), Graduate Certificate in Public Administration (Advanced) or Specialist Certificate in Public Administration
- Students must have successfully completed PADM90007 The World of Public Administration
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Readings will be provided online through the subject's LMS site prior to the commencement of subject.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
Subject coordinator approval required
Last updated: 3 November 2022