Course coordinator
Dr Adam Hannah
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2025 (28/07/2025 - 22/11/2025)
- Study level
- Postgraduate Coursework
- Location
- External
- Attendance mode
- Online
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Politic Sc & Internat Studies
This course examines the strengths and limitations of a comparative approach to the analysis of public policies. It evaluates different methodological approaches used in the comparison of policies between and within countries, and critically assesses the potential for policy transfer. Selected policy areas of current or ongoing concern in contemporary political systems are used to illustrate the types of lessons that can be drawn from comparison. The course equips students with the ability to critically evaluate comparative policy studies and to engage effectively in current debates over policy directions.
We will consider the 'art' and 'science' of comparison in public policy, investigating how comparisons are used by researchers and practitioners alike. Using case studies from across the policy spectrum and range of key theories and methods, we will seek to better understand the political and social forces that shape policymaking and to equip ourselves to draw lessons from jurisdictions across the world.
Course contact
Course coordinator
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Adam Hannah
Timetable
Additional timetable information
The course comprises 12 seminars, commencing in week 1. External students may participate in the seminars live via Zoom (Tuesdays 4-6pm). Seminars will also be recorded and posted to the course Blackboard.
Aims and outcomes
This course aims to introduce students to comparative policy analysis, and to encourage a reflective, critical and practical appreciation of the conceptual frameworks that have been used to compare policies across countries and policy areas.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Identify and investigate the political and social forces that shape policymaking in diverse contexts.
LO2.
Explain and critically appraise key theories of comparative public policy.
LO3.
Apply comparative research methods to contemporary policy problems and justify methodological choices.
LO4.
Compare and contrast policy approaches between jurisdictions and identify appropriate lessons for policy practice.
LO5.
Persuasively communicate research findings and approaches in written and oral forms.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participation/ Student contribution, Reflection |
Class discussion facilitation
|
20% 15 marks for leading discussion; 5 marks for reflection |
4/08/2025 - 27/10/2025 |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation |
Comparative research proposal
|
30% 10 marks for preparation; 20 marks for in-class writing exercise |
2/09/2025 5:00 pm |
| Essay/ Critique |
Policy learning report (3000 words)
|
50% |
20/10/2025 5:00 pm
Oral Hurdle meetings will occur during Week 13 (27-31 October). |
A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.
Assessment details
Class discussion facilitation
- In-person
- Online
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance, Written
- Category
- Participation/ Student contribution, Reflection
- Weight
- 20% 15 marks for leading discussion; 5 marks for reflection
- Due date
4/08/2025 - 27/10/2025
- Other conditions
- Time limited.
Task description
Each student will have an opportunity to lead a discussion activity with a small group. Students will be required to:
(a) Prepare an activity for students on their table of 15 minutes in duration, building on the course readings for the week. This should include either slides or a handout for students, to be submitted as part of the assessment. The aim of the activity is to create an opportunity for students to discuss and reflect on the key themes and applications of the one of the readings for the week. Further instructions on how to develop the assessment will be provided via the course Blackboard.
(b) In the week following the activity, students will submit a 500-word reflection. This should address:
- What they hoped students would learn from the activity.
- The most interest discussion points raised by their group members.
- Any changes they would make if they were to run the activity again in the future.
These are due within one week of your activity.
Students who are not able to attend classes via Zoom will complete an alternative version of this assessment with the course coordinator.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may use AI and/or MT in the development of the class activity, or during the activity itself. You should clearly describe any use of AI tools in both the materials provided to group members and the follow-up reflection.
Submission guidelines
Submit written reflection and slides/handout via Turnitin.
Submission:
Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using Turnitin.
In uploading an assignment via Turnitin you are certifying that it is your original work, that it has not been copied in whole or part from another person or source except where this is properly acknowledged, and that it has not in whole or part been previously submitted for assessment in any other course at this or any other university.
When you successfully submit your assessment to Turnitin after previewing the uploaded document (to make sure that you have chosen the correct file), you should see the “Submission Complete!” message. After this, a downloadable Digital Receipt will display on your Assignment Dashboard. It is your responsibility to download the Digital Receipt as proof of submission. Turnitin will not send this receipt to you automatically.
If you don’t see the downloadable receipt on your assignment dashboard, you should regard your submission as unsuccessful.
If the submission was not successful:
- Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).
- Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again.
- If you cannot submit again, then email your course coordinator immediately.
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
If students are unable to complete their activity in class, they can organise a short meeting with the course coordinator to discuss what they had planned to do in class.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Unless an extension is granted, penalties for late submission apply. Students are penalised 10% of the maximum possible mark allocated for the assessment item for every calendar day that an assessment item is late.
Marks will be deducted each day for up to 7 calendar days, at which point the submitted item will not receive any marks unless an extension has been approved. Each 24-hour block is triggered from the time the submission is due.
Comparative research proposal
- In-person
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 30% 10 marks for preparation; 20 marks for in-class writing exercise
- Due date
2/09/2025 5:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Secure.
Task description
Students are required to complete an in-class writing exercise during Week 6 (2/9/2025), based on a proposed comparative research project. Students will prepare an initial proposal prior to the class, which will then be used as a basis for the in-class exercise.
NOTE: if you are not able to attend class in Week 6, an alternative will be arranged by the course coordinator.
Preparation:
Students are to develop a two-page proposal for a comparative policy research project, focusing on policymaking in two countries or jurisdictions. It should utilise one specific method, either qualitative or quantitative.
The use of generative AI — specifically Microsoft Copilot — in preparation for the assessment is permitted. You will need to submit your proposal and evidence of the prompt(s) you used. Further guidance on how to develop the proposal will be provided via the course Blackboard and will be discussed in classes. If you prefer not to use AI, you may work with the course coordinator to devise your proposal.
In-class exercise:
You are to bring a printed copy of your proposal to class with you, as well as any printed or handwritten notes on research design and methods. At the beginning of class, you will be asked to modify your proposal based on instructions provided by the course co-ordinator. You will not have access to these instructions prior to the class. You will have 45 minutes to describe a) how you would modify the proposal to meet the instructions and b) to justify the key details of your research design. The writing exercise will be handwritten, and supervised over Zoom.
This aspect of the assessment task is to be completed without use of devices (aside from the use of Zoom). The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI or MT may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Submission:
The in-class exercise will be completed by hand. For students completing this externally, you will be required to take a photo of your work and submit it via email to the course coordinator.
Preparatory materials should be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using Turnitin.
In uploading an assignment via Turnitin you are certifying that it is your original work, that it has not been copied in whole or part from another person or source except where this is properly acknowledged, and that it has not in whole or part been previously submitted for assessment in any other course at this or any other university.
When you successfully submit your assessment to Turnitin after previewing the uploaded document (to make sure that you have chosen the correct file), you should see the “Submission Complete!” message. After this, a downloadable Digital Receipt will display on your Assignment Dashboard. It is your responsibility to download the Digital Receipt as proof of submission. Turnitin will not send this receipt to you automatically.
If you don’t see the downloadable receipt on your assignment dashboard, you should regard your submission as unsuccessful.
If the submission was not successful:
- Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).
- Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again.
- If you cannot submit again, then email your course coordinator immediately.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Unless an extension is granted, penalties for late submission apply. Students are penalised 10% of the maximum possible mark allocated for the assessment item for every calendar day that an assessment item is late.
Marks will be deducted each day for up to 7 calendar days, at which point the submitted item will not receive any marks unless an extension has been approved. Each 24-hour block is triggered from the time the submission is due.
Policy learning report (3000 words)
- Hurdle
- Mode
- Oral, Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique
- Weight
- 50%
- Due date
20/10/2025 5:00 pm
Oral Hurdle meetings will occur during Week 13 (27-31 October).
Task description
Part A: Policy learning report (3000 words)
This task asks you to imagine that you are a policy expert or consultant. The government has convened an independent review in preparation for policy change in a key area (it is up to you to choose the country/jurisdiction and the policy area/issue). The review has already published an initial report highlighting key the nature of the problems at hand, now it wishes to consider possible solutions.
It has asked you to prepare a short report, investigating lessons that can be drawn from another country or jurisdiction that is facing the same challenge. Your report should address the following topics:
- The approach taken in the chosen jurisdiction and its strengths and weaknesses.
- Specific lessons that can be drawn e.g. regarding causes of success/failure.
- The applicability of these lessons to your jurisdiction. Could the same approach be tried? What would need to be changed?
- Limitations of your analysis.
- Recommendations for next steps to be taken by the government.
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI and/or MT technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI and MT tools (see below).
Part B: Oral hurdle
This report is accompanied by a pass/fail hurdle to ensure that the learning objectives have been achieved. Following submission, students will discuss their assignment with the course coordinators (usually for no more than 10 minutes). These will occur during Week 13 of the course.
The oral response will be recorded for purposes of appeal. The oral response forms no part of the grade or marking process.
If the marker is satisfied that the learning objectives have been met, then the essay will be marked.
If the marker is not satisfied, then student receives a fail for the task, and an overall 3 (marginal fail or ‘S’ = Supplementary) or less for the course. Students who receive an overall score of 3 in the Course are eligible to apply for a supplementary assessment (see Assessment Procedure– Section 3 Part J).
Hurdle requirements
See task description.Submission guidelines
Submission:
Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using Turnitin.
In uploading an assignment via Turnitin you are certifying that it is your original work, that it has not been copied in whole or part from another person or source except where this is properly acknowledged, and that it has not in whole or part been previously submitted for assessment in any other course at this or any other university.
When you successfully submit your assessment to Turnitin after previewing the uploaded document (to make sure that you have chosen the correct file), you should see the “Submission Complete!” message. After this, a downloadable Digital Receipt will display on your Assignment Dashboard. It is your responsibility to download the Digital Receipt as proof of submission. Turnitin will not send this receipt to you automatically.
If you don’t see the downloadable receipt on your assignment dashboard, you should regard your submission as unsuccessful.
If the submission was not successful:
- Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).
- Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again.
- If you cannot submit again, then email your course coordinator immediately.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Unless an extension is granted, penalties for late submission apply. Students are penalised 10% of the maximum possible mark allocated for the assessment item for every calendar day that an assessment item is late.
Marks will be deducted each day for up to 7 calendar days, at which point the submitted item will not receive any marks unless an extension has been approved. Each 24-hour block is triggered from the time the submission is due.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The student does not establish a viable or relevant question, does not address the question, shows no evidence of reading and minimal comprehension of the issues at hand. |
| 2 (Fail) |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The student provides a poor question, addresses the question poorly and shows very little evidence of reading. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: The student presents an adequate question, makes an effort to establish a single major argument for the essay and employs some research which is correlated with the argument. The student makes a visible effort to achieve adequate grammar, spelling and punctuation. Evidence of attempting to achieve a recognisable narrative flow appears throughout the assignment. The student addresses the question and shows evidence of required research and a basic grasp of the issues at hand. However, falls short of satisfying all basic requirements for a Pass. |
| 4 (Pass) |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The student establishes a question, makes a reasonable effort to provide evidence to support a visible argument and employs an adequate research base to support the argument. Achieves a reasonable, if not completely coherent standard of grammar, spelling, and punctuation. A recognisable line of argument is sustained throughout the essay. The student answers the question and shows evidence of adequate research and a degree of understanding of the issues at hand. |
| 5 (Credit) |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The student provides a good question, suitable evidence to support an argument and employs a comprehensive research base that directly relates to the topic, though it may not completely support the argument. Achieves reasonable levels of competence in grammar, spelling, punctuation and the development of key ideas. The student answers the question in a direct, well supported fashion and shows evidence of some wide reading and a reasonable understanding of the issues at hand. |
| 6 (Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The student demonstrates a very good grasp of the chosen topic and provides a considerable amount of evidence to support a clearly stated argument. The student employs a reasonably extensive and well-organised research base to structure evidence in support of the argument and achieves a high level of competence in grammar, spelling, punctuation and the progression of ideas and argument. The student answers the question in a direct, reasonably sophisticated fashion, employs wide research and shows a sound understanding of the issues at hand. |
| 7 (High Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The student demonstrates a highly sophisticated grasp of the topic and succeeds in addressing the question by providing a high level of evidence to support a clearly stated argument. The student employs an extensive and well organised research base to structure evidence in support of the argument and achieves impeccable levels of grammar, spelling, punctuation and narrative flow. The student answers the question in a direct and elegant fashion, employs significant research and shows a deep understanding of the issues at hand. |
Additional course grading information
Grades will be awarded on the following basis:
1.ﾠFailﾠ 1 - 19%
2. Failﾠ 20 - 44%
3. Failﾠ 45 - 49%
4. Passﾠ 50 - 64 %
5. Creditﾠ 65 - 74 %
6. Distinctionﾠ 75 - 84 %
7. High Distinctionﾠ 85 - 100 %
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Additional assessment information
Word Length Penalty
Unless otherwise indicated, in the case of written submissions with a specified word count, you are given a +10% leeway on the upper word limit. If your written submission is over this leeway limit, it will attract a 10 percentage point penalty. For example, if your essay is 1,500 words, you may write up to 1,650 before attracting a word count penalty. If your essay exceeds the upper word limit, it will attract a 10% word count penalty. Therefore, if your essay is worth 40 marks, you will lose 4 marks from your allotted grade. Unless specified, penalties only apply to exceeding the word length, not for failure to write a sufficient amount.
Students should note:
• The Author-date in-text referencing system will count toward the word length;
• References in the Footnote referencing system will not count toward the word length. If you are using footnotes, any content included in footnotes beyond the specific text reference will count towards the word length.
Marking Criteria/Rubric
Marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Additional learning resources information
Essay Guide
The School of Political Science and International Studies Essay Guide can be downloaded from the School’s Student Support webpage.
The Guide sets out guidelines you should follow in preparing written assignments.
Essay Writing Assistance
The School of Political Science and International Studies schedules regular “drop-in” sessions designed to provide one-on-one advice and assistance in essay planning and writing.
There is no need to make an appointment and you are encouraged to bring your essay with you.
The day and time of these sessions will be finalized at the beginning of each semester and published on the Student Support webpage.
Student Services
Student services offer a variety of short courses during the semester which will help you improve your study, research and writing skills and thus your academic performance in this course.
Library Resources
UQ Library offers training in software, assignment writing, research skills, and publishing and research management.
The University’s library holdings for Political Science and International Studies are primarily located in the Central Library.
There is a help desk in the Library. Students are also welcome to contact the BEL/HASS Librarians for assistance.
Email: librarians@library.uq.edu.au
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 (28 Jul - 03 Aug) |
Seminar |
Course Introduction WEEK 1 introduces students to the course aims, intended learning outcomes, and course requirements. Once this is has been discussed, we will explore some of the key ways in which comparative analysis can be used in public policy and introduce the basics of case selection and research design. |
Week 2 (04 Aug - 10 Aug) |
Seminar |
Quantitative research for comparative public policy WEEK 2 dives into research methods, starting with quantitative (or statistical) research. We will discuss the many benefits and some of the limitations of quantitative analysis, including how cross-national datasets allow to learn about global patterns of policymaking and how we can begin to investigate the causal linkages between variables in a given context. |
Week 3 (11 Aug - 17 Aug) |
Seminar |
Qualitative research for comparative public policy WEEK 3 shifts to qualitative research. While quantitative studies can give a sense of relationships between variables, qualitative studies, such as interviews and ethnographic methods, offer much deeper analyses of specific contexts and subjective experiences of policy and policymaking. |
Week 4 (18 Aug - 24 Aug) |
Seminar |
Institutions and institutional explanations From WEEK 4, we move to consider the key explanations available to us when analysing policy choices and outcomes. First, we address institutions, the fundamental building blocks of all political and policy systems. We will discuss how formal institutional rules and structures, norms and practices and policy 'feedback effects' shape and constrain the choices available to governments and policymakers, and how these vary from place to place and jurisdiction to jurisdiction. |
Week 5 (25 Aug - 31 Aug) |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
*** NO CLASS *** Use this week to prepare for your research proposal assignment. |
Week 6 (01 Sep - 07 Sep) |
Seminar |
Ideas, frames and narratives WEEK 6 focuses the role of ideas, frames and narratives in shaping how we understand policy and policy issues and opening up opportunities for policy change. We will discuss different forms of ideas and how these may be analysed and used in comparative analysis. NOTE: We will also complete our in-class research proposal assignment this week. |
Week 7 (08 Sep - 14 Sep) |
Seminar |
Interests and advocacy groups WEEK 7 will address the role of groups and coalitions in shaping policy processes and outcomes. What brings diverse coalitions of actors together and how do groups, organisations and communities pursue their interests in policymaking? |
Week 8 (15 Sep - 21 Sep) |
Seminar |
Comparing bureaucratic and administrative traditions WEEK 8 addresses the diverse bureaucratic traditions that shape public administration in different contexts. While the influence of ideas such as New Public Management is sometimes assumed to have a homogenising effect on public agencies globally, in fact diverse traditions and practices continue to shape issues such as the nature of policy advice and the relationships between agencies and Ministers. |
Week 9 (22 Sep - 28 Sep) |
Seminar |
Policy Capacity It is often argued that the contemporary state has been 'hollowed-out', that its capacity has been weakened. Is this true? And what is policy capacity anyway? In WEEK 9, we will investigate policy capacity in its analytical, operational and political forms and consider how it might be measured and evaluated. |
Mid Sem break (29 Sep - 05 Oct) |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
********** MID SEMESTER BREAK ********** No Seminar this week ****************************************** |
Week 10 (06 Oct - 12 Oct) |
Seminar |
Policy transfer, diffusion and learning WEEK 10 considers that factors that lead policies to 'travel' from one jurisdiction to another. To what extent can we emulate policy successes in other places? And how should we take local context into account? |
Week 11 (13 Oct - 19 Oct) |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
Convergence and global policymaking For WEEK 11, we turn our attention to the influence of globalisation and international organisations. We question whether policymaking has become more similar across the globe and what local policymakers can take from the work of global policy networks and institutions. |
Week 12 (20 Oct - 26 Oct) |
Seminar |
Case Study: Ethical policy advice WEEK 12 sees us applying what we have learned so far to a comparative case study on the role of ethical policy advice. How do different countries approach the issue of ethics? And how can we ensure that ethical issues are not subsumed by practical and political concerns? |
Week 13 (27 Oct - 02 Nov) |
Seminar |
New directions in comparative public policy In WEEK 13, we will wrap up the course by considering some of the major contemporary challenges and developments in public policy globally, such as the rise of new technologies, and discuss how comparative analysis can help us understand them. |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments for Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.