UnitLevel 5Postgraduate

EDF5669 Policy, politics and power

Faculty of Education

EDF5669 Policy, politics and power is a level 5, 12-credit-point, postgraduate unit from the Faculty of Education, offered in 2021 in Semester 1 at Clayton. It has no prerequisites.

Credit points
12
Offered in 2021
Semester 1
Clayton
Assessment
No exam
2 tasks
Workload
288 hours
per semester

This is the 2021 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.

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Requisites

Before EDF5669

No prerequisites or corequisites besides the enrolment rules below.

After EDF5669

No unit lists EDF5669 as a prerequisite in the 2021 handbook.

Enrolment rules

PREREQUISITES:

Must be enrolled in B6021 Master of Professional Management or D6001 Master of Teaching.

Or must have passed:

EDF4610 Interacting with research in education contexts
EDF4611 Investigating education issues in global contexts

Overview

In this unit, you will examine the ways politics and power shape education policy. You will investigate different types of education policy, including ‘official’ policy and unofficial policy in the form of discourses and norms. You will develop an understanding of the external drivers on leadership and explore how power and influence are held over education policy by different groups and organisations. In exploring these issues, students will examine pressing issues relating to leadership and policy, including the impact of privatisation and commercialisation of education, globalisation, and ask questions such as who is education in its current form working for? How can we make a difference as leaders? In considering these questions, you will explore ethics, autonomy, and agency in relation to education policy, politics, power, and the persistent wicked problems of leadership.

Offerings in 2021

Teaching periodCampusMode
First semesterClaytonFlexible

Assessment

  • Policy enactment analysis in context (4000 words or equivalent)
    50%
  • Individual conference presentation (4000 words or equivalent)
    50%

Learning outcomes

When you finish this unit, you should be able to:

  1. 1

    understand different aspects of educational policy including how policy is enacted in a variety of educational contexts

  2. 2

    articulate the various influences on education policy, demonstrating an understanding of politics and power as they relate to contemporary education policy

  3. 3

    analyse the way education policy reflects dominant political and ideological beliefs about education

  4. 4

    apply theoretical and methodological analysis approaches towards policy enactment in their own educational contexts.

Workload and teaching

  • Teaching approachActive learning

Minimum total expected workload equals 288 hours per semester comprising:

a. Contact hours for flexible students:
• 12 contact hours and 24 hours equivalent of online activities over the semester; or
• 36 hours equivalent of online activities over the semester*

b. Requirements for offshore Kaplan-based students:
• 20 contacts hours to be delivered as an intensive block
• 16 hours equivalent of online activities

c. Additional requirements (all students):
• independent study to meet the minimum required hours per semester.

*International students studying in Australia are not permitted to undertake this contact hour delivery mode.

For the unit teaching schedule, please visit the timetable.

You will be provided with the opportunity to engage with relevant literature and resources. Further, you will be encouraged to deepen your understanding of topic areas through collegial discussion and debate, and by participating in activities designed to extend your understanding.

Learning resources

Recommended resources

Please visit the unit Moodle site for further information.

Contacts

Unit Coordinators
Dr Amanda Heffernan
Chief Examiners
Dr Amanda Heffernan

Common questions

What are the prerequisites for EDF5669?

EDF5669 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.

When is EDF5669 offered?

In 2021, EDF5669 runs in Semester 1 at Clayton.

How much work is EDF5669?

The handbook expects about 288 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.

Does EDF5669 have an exam?

No. EDF5669 has 2 assessment tasks and no exam.

More details

Credit points
12
Level
5
Study level
Postgraduate
Faculty
Faculty of Education
Type
Coursework
EFTSL
0.250
Student contribution
SCA Band 1
Study abroad
Available