Comparative Public Policy (PPMN90061)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
Contact information
April
Associate Professor Azad Singh Bali: a.bali@unimelb.edu.au
Overview
| Availability | April |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
How do we compare responses to the pandemic across countries? Which countries have the best health outcomes? Or, which are doing the most to address climate change? Responding to these and similar questions requires a comparative perspective. To that end, the subject builds on the students’ foundational understanding of public policy and introduces them to theoretical approaches, frameworks, and methods to compare public policies and programs. Through a series of case studies, students will explore the advantages and limitations of comparisons by engaging with real-world policy programs and policy responses across different national contexts. Building on these in-class activities, students will develop their own research project to compare public policy programs and formulate theoretically-informed arguments explaining variations in public policy and interpreting implications of contrasting approaches.
Intended learning outcomes
Students who complete this subject should be able to:
- Identify differences in public policies and their contexts at the national and sub-national levels
- Formulate theoretically-informed policy questions that compare policy programs
- Apply critical frameworks of comparative policy analysis to explain variations in public policy programs
- Interpret the implications of contrasting approaches to real-world public policy problems based on a theoretical and empirical analysis.
Generic skills
Students who complete this subject should be able to:
- Apply critical thinking, reasoning and reflection skills
- Demonstrate effective oral, written and non-verbal communication skills
- Demonstrate organisational skills
- Employ research skills.
Last updated: 3 March 2025
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| PPMN90007 | Theories of Policy Process |
March (On Campus - Parkville)
July (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
Public Policy, Public Management, Governance.
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 March 2025
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Class preparation activities
| During the teaching period | 20% |
Proposal on comparative research project/report
| 2 Weeks from the start of teaching period | 20% |
Oral defence of research project (10 minutes)
| 3 Weeks from the start of the teaching period | 20% |
Research project on comparative public policy
| 1 Weeks after the end of teaching | 40% |
| Hurdle requirement: Hurdle requirement: 1. Attendance hurdle requirement: This subject has a minimum requirement of 80% attendance at tutorials, seminars, or workshops. There is an expectation that students attend lectures. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
| Hurdle requirement: Hurdle requirement: 2. Late Penalty and Assessment hurdle requirement: Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at five per cent (5%) of the possible marks available for the assessment task per day or part thereof. All pieces of assessment must be submitted to pass the subject. Each submitted assessment must be complete, constitute a genuine attempt to address the requirements of the task and will not be accepted after 20 University business days from the original assessment due date without written approval. | Throughout the semester | N/A |
Last updated: 3 March 2025
Dates & times
- April
Coordinator Azad Singh Bali Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 24 hours: a 4-hour seminar for six weeks from the teahcing start date Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 14 April 2025 to 30 May 2025 Last self-enrol date 23 April 2025 Census date 2 May 2025 Last date to withdraw without fail 30 May 2025 Assessment period ends 27 June 2025 April contact information
Associate Professor Azad Singh Bali: a.bali@unimelb.edu.au
Time commitment details
170
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Last updated: 3 March 2025
Further information
- Texts
- Subject notes
- Related Handbook entries
- Links to additional information
Last updated: 3 March 2025