Policy Briefing Paper

Overview

Students prepare a policy briefing paper, on an issue of contemporary importance, based on a request from a voluntary/community sector body in liaison with the Northern Ireland Science Shop. If a suitable request is unavailable, the briefing will be on a topic agreed with the module convenor. The briefing paper is developed using government publications and parliamentary records as primary sources. These are supplemented by academic and other publications from within the policy-making community. Students meet with the requesting body on several occasions in order to clarify the request and to deliver the final draft of the briefing.

Learning Objectives

To research and analyse comtemporary policy issues of interest to the community and voluntary sectors.

Skills

Development of group work skills; expertise in interrogating a wide variety of data sources for relevant information; the application of theory to an empirical issue; communication skills including the use of visual/graphic material.

Assessment