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Foundations of Digital Government (PADM20001)
Undergraduate level 2Points: 12.5Online
From 2023 most subjects will be taught on campus only with flexible options limited to a select number of postgraduate programs and individual subjects.
To learn more, visit COVID-19 course and subject delivery.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Overview
Availability | Semester 1 - Online |
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Fees | Look up fees |
Governments are increasingly functioning in an online world. Many public services are being delivered or administered through online portals, and engagement with citizens is being undertaken via social media. In many cases the default option is for citizens to engage with government services online (e.g. the MyGov portal). Policy makers are also increasingly drawing on big data and predictive algorithms to inform and evaluate policy.
This subject introduces the topic of digital technologies and government, and explores the tools and method of digital government and regulation, and the ethical, legal and policy tensions of government increasingly shifting to the digital realm. More broadly this subject will explore ideas of digital governance, which has applications beyond government, as many private sector organisations implement data governance strategies, and as public-private partnerships on digital projects come under greater scrutiny.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject, students should be able to:
- Define and describe the concept of digital government and other related terms
- Describe and critique a range of real-world example of digital government in Australia and abroad
- Demonstrate an understanding of why digital government is occurring and how it is situated in a social and historical context of modernity and rationality
- Articulate the different types of technologies and processes being used by government and the opportunities and risk they present
- Demonstrate the ability to translate academic knowledge into policy recommendations.
Generic skills
- An ability to prepare a research project report
- An ability to undertake effectively group work and collaborative learning
- An ability to communicate research findings effectively in written and oral formats
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
Students should have a general interest in the role of information technology within government and society.
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: 31 January 2024
Assessment
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Research Poster
| Week 4 | 25% |
Weekly blog posts on case-studies (6 x 200 word posts and 3 x 100 word replies)
| Weeks 6, 8, 10 | 35% |
Policy proposal
| Week 12 | 40% |
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 1 - Online
Coordinators Timothy Kariotis and John Howe Mode of delivery Online Contact hours 2-hour combined lecture/workshop Total time commitment 147 hours Teaching period 28 February 2022 to 29 May 2022 Last self-enrol date 11 March 2022 Census date 31 March 2022 Last date to withdraw without fail 6 May 2022 Assessment period ends 24 June 2022
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Subject materials will be available via the LMS.
- 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.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 31 January 2024