Professional Skills - Policy Making

1.5 EC

Semester 1 & 2, period 2, 5

52241PSP2Y

Owner Master Biological Sciences
Coordinator C.M. Nijnens MSc
Part of Master Earth Sciences, Master Biomedical Sciences, track Oncology, Master Biomedical Sciences, track Cognitive Neurobiology and Clinical Neurophysiology, Master Biomedical Sciences, track Psychopharmacology and Pathophysiology, Master Biomedical Sciences, track Infection and Immunity, Master Biomedical Sciences, track Cell Biology and Advanced Microscopy, Master Biomedical Sciences, track Experimental Internal Medicine, Master Biological Sciences, track Green Life Sciences, Master Biomedical Sciences, track Molecular Neurosciences, Master Physics and Astronomy, Master Biomedical Sciences, track Physiology of Synapses and Networks, Master Biomedical Sciences, track Developmental and Therapeutic Biology, Master Biomedical Sciences, track Medical Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Master Biomedical Sciences, track Cardiovascular Sciences, year 1Master Biological Sciences, track Ecology and Evolution, Master Biological Sciences, track Evolution of Behaviour and Mind, Master Biological Sciences, track Freshwater and Marine Biology, Master Biological Sciences, track General Biology, Master Quantum Computer Science,
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Course manual 2024/2025

Course content

This Policy Making course focuses on understanding policy processes as well as practicing policy making skills. In four sessions you will learn to discern and analyze policy problems, design a policy intervention, and write a convincing policy document. 

  • Session 1 focuses on the policy making cycle and analyzing the problem (causality model).
  • Session 2 focuses on policy formulation and the different instruments policy makers can make use of for implementing their solutions.
  • Session 3 focuses on decision making and implementation.
  • Session 4 is all about presenting your policy solution and evaluating policies.

For all sessions you will need to prepare and after each session there will be a homework assignment.

Study materials

Literature

  • Selected chapters from the books: 

    M. Howlett, M. Ramesh and A. Perl, “Studying Public Policy, Policy Cycles and Policy Subsystems,” Oxford University Press, Toronto, 2009.

    M. Howlett, M. Ramesh and A. Perl, “Studying Public Policy, Principles and Processes,” Oxford University Press, Toronto, 2020.

Objectives

  • Sketch a causality model for a policy problem and identify policy solutions.
  • Compare different policy solutions and recommend the most suitable one.
  • Write a policy text that is fitting for the policy context.
  • Defend and justify the proposed policy solutions.
  • Reflect on own policy-making knowledge and skills.

Teaching methods

  • Self-study
  • Presentation/symposium
  • Working independently on e.g. a project or thesis
  • Workgroups
  • Reflection

Learning activities

Activity

Hours

Workgroups

8

Self study

34

Total

42

(1.5 EC x 28 uur)

Attendance

Requirements of the programme concerning attendance (OER-B):

  1. Attendance during practical components exercises is mandatory.

Additional requirements for this course:

All sessions are planned on campus (we do not offer hybrid sessions). Participation during the four sessions is mandatory. If you are not able to join one of the sessions, contact the course coordinator to discuss your possibilities of passing the course (missing more than 1 session will result in a negative assessment (fail) of the course).

Assessment

Item and weight Details

Final grade

Assignment 4: REFLECTION REPORT

Must be ≥ 55

The course is assessed with pass/fail based on a rubric (see Canvas).  

Assignments

There are four assessed assignments:

1) Causality model

2) Policy Proposal - text scheme

3) Policy Proposal - final version

4) Reflection report

All assignments are made individually and graded based on a rubric.

Fraud and plagiarism

The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl

Contact information

Coordinator

  • C.M. Nijnens MSc