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Unit name |
Children in a Global Context |
Unit code |
SPOL32008 |
Credit points |
20 |
Level of study |
H/6
|
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
|
Unit director |
Dr. Lanau Sanchez |
Open unit status |
Open |
Pre-requisites |
None
|
Co-requisites |
None
|
School/department |
School for Policy Studies |
Faculty |
Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Description including Unit Aims
This unit will examine childhood in an international context. It applies a child rights framework to describe and discuss the current situation of children around the world. There will be a focus on the interaction between poverty and the economic and social rights accorded to women and children.
Teaching will be topic based, considering for example
- Perspectives on global development
- Conceptualisation and measurement of child poverty and wellbeing
- The rights of children to basic services (health and nutrition, shelter, water and sanitation)
- The place of children and child rights in development programmes
- Policies to provide social justice for children
Seminars are mandatory and will incorporate guided discussion and group exercises.
Aims:
- To present a child centred view of international development
- To present a critical reading of theory and research of relevance to global policies for children
- To familiarise students with the notion of children’s agency
- To give students an informed view of the global context for childhood
- To explain the interchanges between policy areas
- To familiarize students with human rights-based approach as a conceptual framework.
- To illustrate the multiple contexts for a happy childhood
Intended Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course students will:
- Be familiar with the UNCRC
- Be familiar with the impacts on children of topics covered
- Understand debates about the conceptualisation and measurement of child poverty
- Be aware of the scope and nature of international development programmes aimed at improving child wellbeing
- Have experience of using indicators of child wellbeing
Teaching Information
Lectures, seminars and student led study.
Assessment Information
Formative assessment: 2,000 word essay using the State of the World’s Children (current edition each year) focussing on a topic set each year and using student’s quantitative skills.
Summative assessment: 3,000 word essay following students’ own study. Students will be asked to research one subject covered in the course and complete a 3,000 word essay
Reading and References
- Adamson, P., Bradshaw, J., Hoelscher, P. and Richardson, D. (2007) Child Poverty in Perspective: An overview of child well-being in rich countries, Innocenti Report Card, vol. 7, Unicef Innocenti Research Centre, Florence, Italy. (Pamphlet HV713 CHI also online at http://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/73187/1/Document.pdf )
- Ben-Arieh, A. and H. Wintersberger (eds.): 1996, Monitoring and Measuring the State of Children – Beyond Survival, Eurosocial Report No. 62 (European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research, Vienna, Austria). [http://www.euro.centre.org/data/1135178691_3590.pdf]
- Dean, H. (2010) Understanding Human Needs. Bristol: policy Press.
- Gordon D, Nandy S, Pantazis C, Pemberton S, Townsend P (2003), Child Poverty in the Developing World, Bristol: Policy Press. [Pamphlet HV804 CHI]
- Johnstone, G. (ed.) (2013) A Restorative Justice Reader. 2nd edn. London: Routledge. [HV8688 RES]
- Minujin A and Nandy S (Eds.) (2012) Global child poverty and well-being: Measurement, concepts, policy and action, Bristol: The Policy Press. (HV804 GLO, and as an e-book); also available at:
[www.equityforchildren.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Global_Child_Poverty_and_Well-Being_2012_Minuj.pdf]