Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Social Science School
Concepts and theories of globalisation and development in specific historical contemporary and comparative contexts, within framework of different sociological approaches; survey of literature; case studies of globalisation and implications for development strategies in developing societies.
Over a century ago, sociologists were concerned with how Western countries had made the transition from what they called 'traditional' to 'modern', capitalist societies, and the social impacts of doing so. Half a century ago, sociologists turned to debating how other so-called 'developing' societies might follow their paths, and the forces at work driving these ongoing changes. Today, however, pressing issues centre around problematising the very notion of development, whether globalisation will continue to have its way in a so-called 'post-colonial' era, as well as theﾠimpacts ofﾠsettler colonial societies in continuing legacies of colonial dispossession and disruption. Growing attention is also focused upon the diverse forms of resistance and resurgence, locally, nationally and globally, that are arising in response to urgent 21st century challenges, including the climate crisis, the global health pandemic, and rising inequality and injustice.
Course contact
School enquiries
Course staff
Lecturer
Guest lecturer
Associate Professor Christine Slade
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
This course is delivered via a weekly 3 hour workshop, each Wed between 2 - 5pm.
Aims and outcomes
This course aims to ﾠintroduce ﾠyou to a broad range of theories in international development that will assistﾠ you to understand and interpret the complexities inherent in recent debates on global development, particularly in relation to changes that generate and maintain social injustices and inequalities in both so-called developed and developing countries, and including in colonial and settler colonial contexts. This course aims to introduce you to debates about colonial and post-colonial societies, including the resonance of post-colonialism as framework in setter colonial states such as Australia.ﾠ
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Demonstrate your understanding of major concepts and theories of international development, including by applying them to explain contemporary development-related debates and issues.
LO2.
Discuss how intersecting social location shapes development experiences in post-colonial and settler colonial societies
LO3.
Explain the causes of, and imagine diverse responses to, experiences of global inequalities
LO4.
Analyse the interconnections between environmental and social justice in development debates
LO5.
Apply development ethics in analysing global development issues
LO6.
Practice careful listening and respectful engagement with others, as part of demonstrating your understanding of the importance of collective learning environments.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quiz |
Concepts and Theories of Development Quiz
|
20% 4 short answer questions, each worth 5% |
16/04/2025 5:00 pm
This is an in class quiz. |
| Presentation |
Development Book Club: Group Presentation
|
40% 15 minutes, with 5 min questions |
Student presentations will run from week 9 - week 12 (30 April - 21 May). Students will be allocated groups and presentation time slots by week 3 (12 March). All student presentations will be recorded. |
| Reflection |
Weekly in class reflection journal
|
40% 2200 words |
26/02/2025 5:00 pm 12/03/2025 5:00 pm 26/03/2025 5:00 pm 2/04/2025 5:00 pm 9/04/2025 5:00 pm 16/04/2025 5:00 pm 30/04/2025 5:00 pm 7/05/2025 5:00 pm 14/05/2025 5:00 pm 21/05/2025 5:00 pm 28/05/2025 5:00 pm |
Assessment details
Concepts and Theories of Development Quiz
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Quiz
- Weight
- 20% 4 short answer questions, each worth 5%
- Due date
16/04/2025 5:00 pm
This is an in class quiz.
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
Task description
A short answer in class quiz will be held in week 8 Wed (16 April). Questions will require students to showcase learnings related to key theories and development debates covered in the course up to and including week 8. This will be in class, with students required to hand write answers. There will be 4 questions, worth 5 marks (5%) each. Students will be required to write up to 250 words per answer, a total of 1000 words Max. A printed copy of the quiz and paper for answers will be provided.
This assessment task is to be completed in-person. 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
Submitted in class in week 8 (16 April).
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
You can request a deferred exam if you can provide evidence of unavoidable circumstances that prevented you from sitting your original exam at its scheduled date and time. Your application must include supporting evidence. The request will be assessed based on the evidence you provide when you apply.
An application on the basis of a Student Access Plan (SAP) or Extension Verification Letter (EVL) alone will not be accepted. If you are applying on medical grounds, a medical practitioner must assess your condition and provide a signed medical certificate that covers the day of the examination. You must obtain a medical certificate no later than two business days after the date of the original examination. Further details of acceptable evidence for deferred examination can be found here.
For information on eligibility and application instructions, please view the following page on myUQ: Deferring an exam - my.UQ - University of Queensland
Late submission
You will receive a mark of 0 if this assessment is submitted late.
No late submission, as this is an in class quiz.
Development Book Club: Group Presentation
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Mode
- Oral
- Category
- Presentation
- Weight
- 40% 15 minutes, with 5 min questions
- Due date
Student presentations will run from week 9 - week 12 (30 April - 21 May). Students will be allocated groups and presentation time slots by week 3 (12 March). All student presentations will be recorded.
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
Task description
You are required to work as a group to deliver an oral presentation of a book review, based on a book provided from the list below, or an alternative book approved by the course convenor. The purpose of this assessment is for your group to reflect on the effectiveness of different forms of writing in engaging complex development theories and ideas. Please select a book that interests your group (keeping in mind that you will need to compromise as a group to reach a shared agreement about which one book you will read together). The list below is not intended to be exhaustive, merely to get you excited about which book might be right for you and your group. Please have a chat to the course convenor about selecting a book if needed. Please note you MUST seek approval for any book not included on this list. Please note that you are NOT ALLOWED TO USE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AT ALL for this assessment task. You will receive in class training on how to work effectively in groups.
In preparing your group presentation, the group should regularly meet to discuss the ideas of the book as you read it (think of it as your own small book club).
As a guide, a book review presentation should contain the following:
- an introduction to the book, including an overview of key themes/contents of the book and why your group selected the book;
- the purpose of the book, including with particular focus on its relevance to development scholarship and thinking;
- strengths and weaknesses of the book - from the perspective of your group members, and
- who you would recommend to read it and why?
The presentation will need to show that all of you have contributed to the presentation; that is, you will all stand up and present together, and share the division of labour regarding the content to be delivered. You should also all be there to support each other in addressing questions from the audience.
This is a 15 minute presentation, with 5 minutes for discussion and questions with the class.
The Books:
Ghosh, A. (2021) The Nutmeg's Curse. Parables for a Planet in Crisis. The University of Chicago Press.
Klein, N. (2023) Doppelganger. A Trip into the Mirror World. Penguin Books.
Marya, R. and Patel, R. (2021) Inflamed. Deep Medicine and the Anatomy of Injustice. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, New York.
McKenna, M. (2021) 'Return to Uluru' Black Inc. Victoria.
Shiva, Vandana, (2016) 'Who Really Feeds the World? The Failures of Agribusiness and the Promise of AgroEcology', North Atlantic Books, USA.
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
In class presentations
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Students seeking deferral must approach the course convenor with evidence as to why a deferral may be warranted. It will only be considered in case of medical / health or other emergency.
Late submission
You will receive a mark of 0 if this assessment is submitted late.
There is no late submission, this is a group presentation that must be presented on set date, agreed to by group members by week 3.
Weekly in class reflection journal
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Reflection
- Weight
- 40% 2200 words
- Due date
26/02/2025 5:00 pm
12/03/2025 5:00 pm
26/03/2025 5:00 pm
2/04/2025 5:00 pm
9/04/2025 5:00 pm
16/04/2025 5:00 pm
30/04/2025 5:00 pm
7/05/2025 5:00 pm
14/05/2025 5:00 pm
21/05/2025 5:00 pm
28/05/2025 5:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
Task description
At the end of each workshop you will be required to reflect on your weekly learnings. This will include reflecting on content delivered by the lecturer, in class discussion and set readings for the week. You should aim to write up to 200 words each week (some weeks you might find you want to write in sentences, other weeks perhaps you will want to draw a diagram, or a picture, to reflect your learnings), and this will be submitted to the lecturer before leaving the class for the week. You will be provided with a reflective journal, which the lecturer will bring each week for you to add your weekly reflections to. Feel free to bring things to decorate your journal, to make it your own. You will receive feedback on your writing around week 3, and reflections will be marked at the end of semester.
To assist you in this activity, you should engage with some of these questions each week. You should aim to engage in diverse ways each week, for example, some weeks picking up some of these questions, and then in other weeks taking on different questions listed.
- What are the key themes and ideas you have learnt about this week (for example in the readings, through lecture content or in class discussion)?
- Was there anything that particularly excited and/or challenged you this week, that you would like to talk about, including related to your values, or about yourself more broadly?
- Are there aspects of course content that raise ethical questions for you?
The reflections journal is expected to be undertaken weekly, starting in week 1 and ending in week 13 (there is no class in week 4, so there is no requirement to reflect this week). Each week you will write 200 words (week 1 - 12, excluding week 2 & 4). This will add to a total of 10 weeks, or 2200 words MAX. In week 13 you will then have the opportunity to select your 7 best weeks of reflection, which will then be marked.
This assessment task is to be completed in-person. 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
You must submit your reflective journal each week in class, directly to the lecturer. This will be submitted as a hard copy journal, which you will be provided with in week 1.
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Late submission
You will receive a mark of 0 if this assessment is submitted late.
There is no late submission option. If you do not attend class for one week, you will not be able to submit a reflective journal entry.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 1 - 29 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 2 (Fail) | 30 - 44 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Supplementary assessment is an additional opportunity to demonstrate that the learning requirements for an eligible course have been satisfied and that the graduate attributes for the course have been attained. Supplementary assessment may only be granted where Supplementary Assessment – procedures allow. A passing grade of 4 (or P) is the highest grade that can be awarded in a course where supplementary assessment has been granted. For further information on supplementary assessment please see my.UQ.
Additional assessment information
Academic Integrity: All students must complete the Academic Integrity Modules https://www.uq.edu.au/integrity/
UQ Assignment Writing Guide: School of Social Science Guide for Written Assessments
Release of Marks: The marks and feedback for assessments will be released to students in a timely manner, prior to the due date of the next assessment piece for the course. This is with the exception of the final piece of assessment. The marks and feedback for the final assessment item will only be made available to the student on the Finalisation of Grades date at the end of semester.
Assessment Re-mark: For information on requesting an assessment re-mark, please view the following page on my.UQ: https://my.uq.edu.au/querying-result
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.
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 (24 Feb - 02 Mar) |
Workshop |
Week 1: Introduction and Course Overview Introduction to course content, teaching team, key concepts, readings, requirements and assessment. Including time for in class reflection journal writing. Lecturer Prof Kristen Lyons |
Week 2 (03 Mar - 09 Mar) |
Workshop |
Week 2: Development and Globalisation Introduction to our global world: Defining development, globalisation and post-colonial societies. Including time for in class reflection journal writing. Lecturer Prof Kristen Lyons **Due to the University-wide closures in response to Cyclone Alfred, assessment and teaching activities in this course have been revised. Please refer to the course Blackboard site for the revised teaching and assessment plan.** |
Week 3 (10 Mar - 16 Mar) |
Workshop |
Week 3: Post Colonial/Settler Colonial Societies Including time for in class reflection journal writing. Lecturer Professor Kristen Lyons Allocate book club groups. Basic group work training commences. |
Week 4 (17 Mar - 23 Mar) |
Team Based Learning |
Week 4: Establishing Your Book Club! Each book club group should meet to discuss which book they will review. There is no formal class today, students can meet anywhere (either face to face or zoom) for this initial book club meeting. The lecture room will be available however please note there will be no teaching staff, this is intended as a space for students to establish their club, and to settle on their book for the assessment task. |
Week 5 (24 Mar - 30 Mar) |
Workshop |
Week 5: Self Care in the Development Space Workshop on self care and emotional labour led by Ass Prof Christine Slade. Including time for in class reflection journal writing. |
Week 6 (31 Mar - 06 Apr) |
Workshop |
Week 6: Explaining Development/Underdevelopment Structural Analysis of Development and its failings. Including time for in class reflection journal writing. Lecturer Prof Kristen Lyons follow up on group work dynamics - progress and responding to challenges. |
Week 7 (07 Apr - 13 Apr) |
Workshop |
Week 7: Responses to the Failings of Development Alternative, Grassroots and Post Development. Including time for in class reflection journal writing. Lecturer Prof Kristen Lyons Visit to UQ Art Museum https://art-museum.uq.edu.au/these-entanglements |
Week 8 (14 Apr - 20 Apr) |
Workshop |
Week 8: Gender and Development Including time for in class reflection journal writing. Lecturer Prof Kristen Lyons |
Week 9 (28 Apr - 04 May) |
Workshop |
Week 9: Aboriginal Australia and Development (Book club presentations start) Including time for in class reflection journal writing. Lecturer: TBC Book club presentations start today. readings to be confirmed. |
Week 10 (05 May - 11 May) |
Workshop |
Week 10: Sustainable Development & Green Economy (Book club presentations continue) Including time for in class reflection journal writing. Lecturer Prof Kristen Lyons Book club presentations continue today. |
Week 11 (12 May - 18 May) |
Workshop |
Week 11: Globalisation, Resistance and Hope Including time for in class reflection journal writing. Lecturer Prof Kristen Lyons Book club presentations continue today. |
Week 12 (19 May - 25 May) |
Workshop |
Week 12: Future Directions: Where to from here? (Book club presentations continue) Including time for in class reflection journal writing. Lecturer Prof Kristen Lyons Book club presentations continue today. |
Week 13 (26 May - 01 Jun) |
Workshop |
Week 13: Final Reflections Book club presentations completed today. Final reflections and submission of reflections journal in class today. |
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 - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.