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Practising Community-led Development (DEVT90044)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable (login required)(opens in new window)
Contact information
September
Email: sfisher@unimelb.edu.au
Overview
| Availability | September |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
This subject involves the study of development practice. It focuses on ways in which development practitioners can work effectively with communities to achieve development outcomes. To begin, we consider the assessment of local needs and the methods available to achieve a proper understanding of local priorities. Then we examine examples and case studies (including from Aboriginal organisations in Australia) that illustrate ways of working effectively with the community, including community action and mobilisation, partnership building, engagement with government and other stakeholders and the ethics of working with communities. We move on to consider how best to attract and mobilise resources, including communicating through project design documents and proposals. We explore Indigenous perspectives on development projects, including the work of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations in Australia and from Latin America, addressing project governance and decision-making, cross-cultural considerations and the scope and nature of project achievements when viewed from a local perspective. The final session addresses questions of innovation in development practice and looks at recent developments in processes, concepts and methods. Along the way, extensive use will be made of real-life case studies, stories and the voices and opinions of people working on practical development projects, especially practitioners and community members. The challenges and compromises faced in tackling complex economic, social and human development issues are discussed throughout the subject. The subject encourages a high level of interaction and students will engage in participatory learning methods and group work (although all assessments will be individual).
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject, students should:
- Be equipped with essential skills in practising community-led development
- Have a comprehensive understanding of principles and methods for working effectively on community projects
- Have developed skills in communicating about development projects
- Be able to engage with the complexities of cross-cultural development practice
- Understand the aptitude and knowledge required to be effective development practitioners.
Generic skills
- Skills in developing and implementing community-based projects
- Skills in proposal-writing
- Skills in facilitation
- Skills in working independently and being members of a team
- Problem-solving skills relating to obstacles and risks encountered in community-based development projects.
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
Understanding of development issues and project management.
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 |
|---|---|---|
An essay
| During the teaching period | 40% |
An essay
| During the examination period | 60% |
| Hurdle requirement: As this is an Intensively-taught subject, Lecture/Seminar attendance is compulsory for all classes and regular class participation is expected. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
| 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. | During the assessment period | N/A |
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Dates & times
- September
Coordinator Steve Fisher Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Total of 32 contact hours: This subject is comprised of seminars and workshops delivered as an intensive over 5 days. Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 6 September 2024 to 18 October 2024 Last self-enrol date 13 September 2024 Census date 20 September 2024 Last date to withdraw without fail 18 October 2024 Assessment period ends 8 November 2024 September contact information
Email: sfisher@unimelb.edu.au
Time commitment details
Total 170 hours
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.
Additional delivery details
Seminars/workshops run from 10am until 4pm.
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Readings will be provided online through the subject's LMS site prior to the commencement of the subject.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Informal specialisation 200 Point Master of Development Studies (Gender & Development) Informal specialisation 150 Point Master of Development Studies (Gender & Development) Informal specialisation 100 Point Master of Development Studies (Gender & Development) - Links to additional information
- 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
- 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