Teaching Plan Information

Presentation

This course provides an introductory approach to key concepts, theories and comparative empirical data about government and public policies. The course is organized into two main parts: one offers a macro perspective on topics of government and policy developments, both with a comparative view and with a focus on Spain and Europe; and the other offers a micro perspective by concentrating on the analysis of public policy cycles with a focus on their political and management dimensions. Throughout the course emphasis is placed on the use of concepts and theory to analyse empirical data, as well as on the need to use a historical and comparative view to interpret past and current developments.   

Associated skills

Instrumental skills: Ability to analyze and synthesize, Ability to organize and plan,
Information management skills (ability to search, select and analyze information from various sources), Oral and written communication, Presentation of collective work in public, Discussion of texts, Critical and argumentative writing.
Systemic skills: Project design and management, Understanding and analysis of different political and contextual realities, Orientation to results,
Research and comparison skills (application of basic methodological principles), critical reading of texts, ability to apply knowledge in practice.
Interpersonal skills: Preparation of team work, capacity for criticism and self-criticism.
Specific skills:
•- Identify the main theories and approaches of Political Science and Administration, Know the conceptual elaborations, theoretical frameworks and approaches that underpin scientific knowledge.
•- Recognize the structure, organization and functioning of public administrations at their different levels. This competence means knowing the structure, organization and operation of public administrations and their position within the political system.
•- Recognize planning and administrative management. Know the theoretical and practical aspects related to the planning and management of public resources.

Learning outcomes

Learning is based on the reading and discussion about empirical and theoretical knowledge. Its aim is to acquire the capacity to formulate questions and answers on the bases of that knowledge –which is always provisional. Class teaching is organized in 15 lectures (30 hours) and 10 seminars (20 hours) that will cover the topics specified in the Contents section. Specific readings will be suggested for each topic, so that students may prepare in advance for the lectures and complement information. For seminars, autonomous effort is required previously to each session, through reading, essay writing or other exercises, which allows an informed dialogue with the lecturer and the group. Seminars encourage and complement theory and empirical-based knowledge via discussions, group exercises, and oral presentations.

Contents

Introduction:

1. Government and public policies: A comparative view.

Macro perspective: Government and policy developments.

2. Policy developments in the welfare state: models and transformations.
3. Comparative policy in the health sector.
4. Comparative policy in the education sector.
5. Policy developments in public administration: management approaches.
6. Government and administration in Spain.
7. Government and administration in Europe.

Micro perspective: Public policy cycles.

8. Actors, politics and policy cycles.
9. Issues and problem definition.
10. Agenda-setting.
11. Decision-making.
12. Policy implementation.
13. Policy evaluation.

Conclusion

14. Public sector challenges.

Sustainable Development Goals

ODS 3: Good health and well-being

ODS 4: Quality education

ODS 5: Gender equality

ODS 8: Decent work and economic growth

ODS 10: Reduced inequalities

ODS 11: Sustainable cities and communities

ODS 12: Responsible consumption and production

ODS 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions

Evaluation and grading system

Assessment will be based on the evaluation of four types of items delivered by the students:

1. Each student will submit 3 brief essays (750 words each one) proposed in class. These essays will combine information from the required readings and some original contribution by the student. The essays will be assessed according to: content (definition and use of analytical concepts), structure (argument elaboration and coherence), originality (examples, argumentation, additional search), and style (syntax and grammar, references and citations). Submission deadlines will be indicated in class.
2. In groups, students will submit five seminar exercises proposed in class.
3. In groups, students will prepare and give an oral presentation on a topic jointly proposed by them and the lecturer. Four additional seminars will be dedicated to those presentations.
4. Each student will take an in-class written exam at the end of the course. A grade equal or above 4 out of 10 will be a requirement to pass the course. There will be two exam calls: only those students who take and fail the first call exam may take the second call exam. The maximum grade that can be obtained in the second call exam is 5 out of 10.

The final grade will be calculated as follows:

• The average of the grades obtained in the 3 brief essays/exercises are weighed 20%
• The average of the grades obtained in 5 seminar exercises are weighed 20%
• The grade obtained in the oral presentation is weighed 10%.
• The exam is weighed 50%.

Teaching Plan Information

Presentation

This course provides an introductory approach to key concepts, theories and comparative empirical data about government and public policies. The course is organized into two main parts: one offers a macro perspective on topics of government and policy developments, both with a comparative view and with a focus on Spain and Europe; and the other offers a micro perspective by concentrating on the analysis of public policy cycles with a focus on their political and management dimensions. Throughout the course emphasis is placed on the use of concepts and theory to analyse empirical data, as well as on the need to use a historical and comparative view to interpret past and current developments.   

Associated skills

Instrumental skills: Ability to analyze and synthesize, Ability to organize and plan,
Information management skills (ability to search, select and analyze information from various sources), Oral and written communication, Presentation of collective work in public, Discussion of texts, Critical and argumentative writing.
Systemic skills: Project design and management, Understanding and analysis of different political and contextual realities, Orientation to results,
Research and comparison skills (application of basic methodological principles), critical reading of texts, ability to apply knowledge in practice.
Interpersonal skills: Preparation of team work, capacity for criticism and self-criticism.
Specific skills:
•- Identify the main theories and approaches of Political Science and Administration, Know the conceptual elaborations, theoretical frameworks and approaches that underpin scientific knowledge.
•- Recognize the structure, organization and functioning of public administrations at their different levels. This competence means knowing the structure, organization and operation of public administrations and their position within the political system.
•- Recognize planning and administrative management. Know the theoretical and practical aspects related to the planning and management of public resources.

Learning outcomes

Learning is based on the reading and discussion about empirical and theoretical knowledge. Its aim is to acquire the capacity to formulate questions and answers on the bases of that knowledge –which is always provisional. Class teaching is organized in 15 lectures (30 hours) and 10 seminars (20 hours) that will cover the topics specified in the Contents section. Specific readings will be suggested for each topic, so that students may prepare in advance for the lectures and complement information. For seminars, autonomous effort is required previously to each session, through reading, essay writing or other exercises, which allows an informed dialogue with the lecturer and the group. Seminars encourage and complement theory and empirical-based knowledge via discussions, group exercises, and oral presentations.

Contents

Introduction:

1. Government and public policies: A comparative view.

Macro perspective: Government and policy developments.

2. Policy developments in the welfare state: models and transformations.
3. Comparative policy in the health sector.
4. Comparative policy in the education sector.
5. Policy developments in public administration: management approaches.
6. Government and administration in Spain.
7. Government and administration in Europe.

Micro perspective: Public policy cycles.

8. Actors, politics and policy cycles.
9. Issues and problem definition.
10. Agenda-setting.
11. Decision-making.
12. Policy implementation.
13. Policy evaluation.

Conclusion

14. Public sector challenges.

Sustainable Development Goals

ODS 3: Good health and well-being

ODS 4: Quality education

ODS 5: Gender equality

ODS 8: Decent work and economic growth

ODS 10: Reduced inequalities

ODS 11: Sustainable cities and communities

ODS 12: Responsible consumption and production

ODS 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions

Evaluation and grading system

Assessment will be based on the evaluation of four types of items delivered by the students:

1. Each student will submit 3 brief essays (750 words each one) proposed in class. These essays will combine information from the required readings and some original contribution by the student. The essays will be assessed according to: content (definition and use of analytical concepts), structure (argument elaboration and coherence), originality (examples, argumentation, additional search), and style (syntax and grammar, references and citations). Submission deadlines will be indicated in class.
2. In groups, students will submit five seminar exercises proposed in class.
3. In groups, students will prepare and give an oral presentation on a topic jointly proposed by them and the lecturer. Four additional seminars will be dedicated to those presentations.
4. Each student will take an in-class written exam at the end of the course. A grade equal or above 4 out of 10 will be a requirement to pass the course. There will be two exam calls: only those students who take and fail the first call exam may take the second call exam. The maximum grade that can be obtained in the second call exam is 5 out of 10.

The final grade will be calculated as follows:

• The average of the grades obtained in the 3 brief essays/exercises are weighed 20%
• The average of the grades obtained in 5 seminar exercises are weighed 20%
• The grade obtained in the oral presentation is weighed 10%.
• The exam is weighed 50%.