Unit information: Communicating Economics in 2022/23

Unit name	Communicating Economics
Unit code	EFIM30049
Credit points	20
Level of study	H/6
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director	Professor. Davies
Open unit status	Not open
Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units)	EFIM20033 Intermediate Microeconomics AND EFIM20034 Intermediate Macroeconomics AND EFIM20011 Econometrics 1 OR EFIM20038 Microeconomic Analysis AND EFIM20037 Macroeconomic Analysis AND EFIM20010 Applied Quantitative Research Methods
Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units)	None
Units you may not take alongside this one	None
School/department	School of Economics
Faculty	Faculty of Social Sciences and Law

Unit Information

Economists need to be able to communicate their expert analysis and advice to different audiences, via a range of media. In this unit, students will explore the challenges of communicating a technical and quantitative subject – and how to overcome them.

The course will run as a series of interactive sessions. Students will reflect on how to communicate economic knowledge and will gain hands-on experience in how to use different media (including writing economic briefs and blogs, making videos and producing infographics) to communicate messages to decision-makers and wider public audiences. External speakers will provide advice and experience.

The unit aims to:

• train students to communicate expert economics knowledge in an accessible way to different audiences
• respond to criticism that economists are insufficiently skilled in communicating complex economic concepts to the audiences they are trying to reach
• improve and test intuitive understanding of complex economics appropriate for the level of study
• expose students to knowledge and experience from professional communication experts
• provide a learning experience in line with the labour market demands graduates will face.

Your learning on this unit

The course trains students to communicate complex economic ideas to different non-specialist audiences.

By the end of the course, students will

• be able to communicate expert economics knowledge in an accessible way to different kinds of non-expert audiences, such as the general public, politicians, A-level and first year students and colleagues within policy or business organisations.
• be able to produce concise writing and compelling videos/podcasts appropriate for the target audience
• be aware of challenges when communicating to non-expert audiences and show familiarity with real world examples of good and inadequate communication.

How you will learn

Teaching will be delivered through a combination of large and small group classes, supported by online resources

How you will be assessed

Portfolio of assignments (100%). Students will submit three out of four assignments. Students choose a maximum of three to submit.

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. EFIM30049).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.