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Professional Practice in Policy Research (PPMN90010)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 25On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
Contact information
March
Dr Kidjie Ian Saguin: kidjieian.saguin@unimelb.edu.au
Dr Noore Siddiquee: noore.siddiquee@unimelb.edu.au
September
Dr Michael McGann: mmcgann@unimelb.edu.au
Ms Maria Katsonis: maria.katsonis@unimelb.edu.au
Overview
Availability | March September |
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Fees | Look up fees |
This subject, a capstone option in the Master of Public Policy and Management, will examine contemporary real-world issues in public policy making, public sector governance and public management in a variety of contexts. Using input from professional practitioners as well as independent research, students will draw on the expertise that they have developed during the MPPM and apply it in real time to a contemporary project. Working both in teams as well as independently, students will identify and formulate key problems, develop a set of alternatives to address them, evaluate the alternatives against a set of criteria and recognise the trade-offs between them. Students will address the political, as well as the empirical aspects of the problems, and will develop advanced analytical, research and report-writing skills.
Intended learning outcomes
Students who complete this subject should be able to:
- Explain relevant empirical research and evidence-based analysis in relation to specific policy debates
- Apply key concepts of policy analysis and appropriately selected research methods within the framework of a specific policy issue, developing a coherent analytical approach
- Formulate compelling arguments and policy recommendations based on sound evidentiary basis, relevant theoretical concepts and the strong command of the latest scholarship in public policy
- Evaluate the limitations and constraints of policy analysis tools in the context of specific policy issues, demonstrating the impacts of these limitations
Generic skills
Students who complete this subject should be able to:
- Apply critical thinking and reasoning skills
- Demonstrate effective communication skills
- Demonstrate organisational skills and ability to work collaboratively
- Present critical analysis of sources.
Last updated: 4 March 2025