DEVT 2101 - Empowerment, Gender & Community Development

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2023

This course investigates crucial interconnections between empowerment, gender and community development, examining the ways in which gender and community participation, influence development policies, processes and programs; and the extent to which development, gendered relations, and communities are transformed in the process. It examines key concepts and theoretical frameworks of development with a particular focus on the intersection of development terms such as community, participation, sustainability, gender, equality & empowerment, in light of current issues in development discourse and critical analysis of development practice and policy. In the course, then, we explore the use of certain concepts and ideals, such as empowerment, gender equality, sustainable development, as well as central issues in development practice and policy. These include the interaction between poverty and gender; the empowerment of women through work and microfinance/credit; and the proposed empowerment of communities (and countries) through the `girl effect?. The complexities of corporate community development are also examined, as is the practice of tourism (volunteer/cultural) as sustainable community development; the issue of gendered violence, legislation and human rights at the level of local communities; and an analysis of the Sustainable Development Goals from the standpoint of gender and the community.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code DEVT 2101
    Course Empowerment, Gender & Community Development
    Coordinating Unit Anthropology and Development Studies
    Term Semester 2
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 3 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Prerequisites At least 12 units of Level I undergraduate study
    Incompatible ANTH 2021 or ANTH 3021 and DEVT 2001 or DEVT 3001
    Assessment Poster or Essay, Report or Essay, Workshop participation
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Alison Dundon

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes

     1. Secure and accurate understanding of the nature and theories of development at the community and/or grassroots level as well as the main critiques of development from a gender-based perspective.

    2. Knowledge of and insight into key issues and concerns raised about the nature of development and development studies from a critical perspective.

    3. Ability to understand and apply key theoretical approaches to contemporary development contexts and situations.

    4. Capacity to critically evaluate central themes, propositions and concepts in development studies, particularly those concerned with community development and gender-based development.

    5. Commitment to an academically rigorous comprehension of the diversity of community and participatory development contexts, policies and practices.

    6. Sensitivity and ability to work collaboratively in teams as well as individually in a learning and research intensive environment.

    7. Understanding of and commitment to continuous learning and research into development policies and programs, and acknowledgement of specific cultural and social issues in global development programs and policies.

    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)

    Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth

    Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.

    1,2

    Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving

    Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.

    3.4

    Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills

    Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.

    6

    Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness

    Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.

    5

    Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency

    Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.

    7

    Attribute 6: Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural competency

    Graduates have an understanding of, and respect for, Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander values, culture and knowledge.

    1

    Attribute 7: Digital capabilities

    Graduates are well prepared for living, learning and working in a digital society.

    7

    Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence

    Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.

    6, 7
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Essential and supplementary readings are available online at the course MyUni site as listed in the Course Outline. There is also a detailed set of instructions and requirements for each assessment item and associated criteria marking sheets. 
    Recommended Resources
    For those who wish to read beyond the essential readings for each week or for use in developing and researching assessments, supplementary readings have also been suggested for each week and will be available on MyUni.
    Online Learning
    Lectures will be pre-recorded each week and made available on MyUni. Course lecture PowerPoints and additional notes or references will also be made available on MyUni. The PowerPoints only refer to the main points or issues raised in the lectures and are not a substitute for listening to recorded lectures. Assignment questions & topics will also made available on MyUni. Workshops will be held online as well as face-to-face as far as possible & reasonable.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes

    Course work is made up of three components: pre-recorded lectures, workshops and assessment items. Students participate in regular face-to-face or online workshops. There are essential readings set for each workshop, beginning from Week One, which are available on MyUni. These readings are designed to complement the material discussed in the lectures and are essential for participation in the workshops. All students are expected to have read each week’s essential reading/s. Delivery of lecture material, which introduces and examines the central themes of the week’s topic, will be pre-recorded and made available on MyUni before the weekly workshops.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    1 hour of lectures (or equivalent) per week  = 12 hours per semester
    1 x 2-hour workshop (or equivalent) per week  = 24 hours per semester
    6 hours reading per week  = 72 hours per semester
    2 hours research per week  = 24 hours per semester
    2 hours assignment preparation per week  = 24 hours per semester
    TOTAL WORKLOAD = 156 hours per semester

    Learning Activities Summary

    Key Topics & Issues

    Buzzwords & Contested Concepts

    Empowerment in Development

    Gender and Development

    Participation in Community Development

    The Girl Effect

    Volunteering & Volunteer Tourism

    Microfinance & Microcredit

    Mining & Corporate Community Development

    Buen Vivir - 'living well'

  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment Tasks 
    1. Contested Concepts Quiz/es 20%
    2. Case Study Analyses 30%
    3. Report or Final Essay 50%
    Assessment Related Requirements
    Students are encouraged to attend and participate in a workshop (online or face-to-face) each week. Attendance at, and participation in, workshops each week (either Zoom or F2F) is fundamental for effective learning in this course, and the ability to successfully complete assignments as the workshops are interconnected with the assessment items.
    Assessment Detail

    No information currently available.

    Submission
    Assignments are to be submitted online via the Course MyUni site. There will be no extensions for written work without adequate documentation as set out in the MACA form & process (Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment). Late assignments will be penalised at 2% per day (based on a 7 day week). According to Faculty policy, essays more than 7 days late will be graded as 0%. Failure to submit any written work will result in an FNS grade (Failure No Submission).
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.