NGO Education Survey

Asia Pacific Development: Culture and Globalisation

This subject critically explores the notion and phenomenon of 'development' in Asia-Pacific contexts through an anthropological lens. Practices, problems and processes in social or community-based development and planned culture change raise central anthropological questions about power, identity and agency. The subject will provide students with an understanding of how anthropological approaches inform the study of meanings and concepts associated with modernity and the priorities, policies and practices of development agencies. The subject considers globalisation and transnationalism, international NGO networks, and such issues such as the politics of development knowledge, natural resource development, environment and bio-technology, poverty, labour and the global economy, gender, health and human rights. The subject includes practical workshops on research methods used in development anthropology.

Community Development

A variety of theoretical and practical approaches to community development work will be explored in this subject, through a guided reading program and the use of Australian and international case studies. In particular, this subject seeks to develop a critical analysis of the practice of community development through assessment of the social, political and ideological contexts in which it is practised.

Gender and Development

This subject is a high level critical reading subject done as a coursework component of postgraduate studies in Asia-Pacific Community Development. It explores social and economic development theories and their relation to contemporary formations of gender in the Asia-Pacific region. Changing work practices, domestic environments and sexual relations are examined from the perspective of postcolonial, feminist and practice-oriented theory.

Governance, Democratisation and the State

No individual can escape the state -- but how pervasive is it? What relationships pertain between the state, globalisation, democratisation and governance? In this subject we: examine the development of the modern state, state power and competing modern state theories; discuss the role of the state in the economy and its relationship with civil society in both advanced industrial countries and countries in the developing world; study the relationship between state power, democratisation and globalisation; and consider those issues of governance which in recent years have gained prominence in the reform agenda promoted by such international bodies as the United Nations, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

International Relations and Foreign Policy

This subject introduces students to two key areas of world politics: political/security relations, and international political economy. Global governance will form an integral part of the political and economic relations among countries. More particularly, it focuses on why and how countries enter conflict or develop cooperation with one another. Within the broader scope of the main foci in international relations, students will also learn about foreign policy making and diplomacy, military force build-up and humanitarian intervention, peace building and preventive diplomacy, international aspects of human rights, international development, environmental degradation, and international migration and refugees. Historical was well as recent cases of conflict and cooperation will be discussed.

Nonprofit Organisations: Theory and Practice

This subject offers practitioners with experience of working or volunteering in nonprofit organisations a variety of theoretical insights into the nature and dynamics of the nonprofit sector and practical insights into the operations of nonprofit organisations. Particular attention will be paid to competing rationales for the existence of the nonprofit sector and its distinctiveness from the state and forprofit sectors. Specific aspects of nonprofit organisational structure, relationships, culture, environment, technologies, goals, values, resourcing, management and governance will be canvassed. The major forces driving change in the nonprofit sector, the directions of change and the impacts of change will also be examined. Students will actively analyse aspects of relevant parts of the nonprofit sector (and selected nonprofit organisations) with which they are familiar.

Social Impact Assessment: Environmental Management

Develop an awareness and understanding of the theoretical and practical processes of Social Impact Assessment. The history and development of Social Impact Assessment is presented along side practical learning of the processess. An intergral component of the planning degree program.

Social Policy Analysis

The subject explores the social and political context of social work practice; the nature of contemporary social policy formulation and the forces that influence and shape its development. This subject provides a series of frameworks and analytical tools for understanding the social policy-making process, including formulation, implementation and evaluation. Case studies are used to develop a critical understanding of differing responses to social policy issues and problems.