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GEPL345 Regional Development: Processes and Policies

Updated: 14 December 2009
Credit Points 6
Offering
Responsible Campus Teaching Period Mode of Study Online Level
Armidale Semester 1 Off Campus C - Internet access required
Armidale Semester 1 On Campus C - Internet access required
Intensive School(s)
Start Finish Attendance Notes
12 April 2010 14 April 2010 Non-Mandatory Non-mandatory
Supervised Exam There is no UNE Supervised Examination.
Pre-requisites 12cp or candidature in a postgraduate award
Co-requisites None
Restrictions GEPL245 or GEPL445
Notes None
Combined Units GEPL445 - Regional Development: Processes and Policies
Coordinator(s) Neil Argent (nargent@une.edu.au)
Unit Description

Non-metropolitan regions across the Western world face a number of complex developmental problems, including population decline, dependence on a narrow range of industries, outdated infrastructure and, often, a weakened political position. This unit is concerned with identifying the particular economic development problems confronting non-metropolitan regions today, and understanding their causes. Via a comparative analysis of regional development issues in Australia and Canada, GEPL345 explores the factors underlying regional performance and, in doing so, teaches a range of practical diagnostic skills and techniques. In addition, students learn a set of strategies and approaches that can be applied by governments and non-government organisations in order to foster successful local and regional development.
Materials No text required
Disclaimer Unit information may be subject to change prior to commencement of the teaching period.
Assessment
Title Exam Length Weight Mode No. Words
Essay 33% 1800
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-4 GA: 1-6
Essay 33% 1800
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-4 GA: 1-6
Practical assignment/report 34% 1800
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-4 GA: 1-6

Learning Outcomes (LO) Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:
  1. appreciate the general nature of non-metropolitan regional development issues in developed world nations;
  2. understand the complex causes of these issues;
  3. understand the regional development policy-making process, and to identify 'best practice' in regional policy; and
  4. demonstrate competence in a range of relevant databases and analytical techniques.

Graduate Attributes (GA)
Attribute Taught Assessed Practised
1 Knowledge of a Discipline
Students are taught the philosophical and historical development of economic geography and its application to regions. Student understanding of key concepts is assessed in the first written assignment. 		True True True
2 Communication Skills
Students at this level of study are expected to be competent in written and graphical communication. Essay writing skills will also be practiced and assessed in assignments 1, 2 and 3. 		True True
3 Global Perspectives
Throughout the unit students will learn to compare and contrast Australian regional development issues with those in other nations and cultures. Students' abilities to apply this cross-cultural and national perspective are assessed in the final two essay assignments. 		True True True
4 Information Literacy
Apart from the literature searches that normally precede essay writing, students will be taught the range of secondary information and data sources frequently used in regional development research. This will be assessed in assignments 1, 2 and 3. 		True True True
5 Life-Long Learning
Students will develop a critical appreciation of the difficulties involved in defining a region, and identifying cause, symptoms and cures for non-metropolitan regional development problems. All three assignments will assess this. 		True True True
6 Problem Solving
Students will develop a deep understanding of the many issues currently confronting Australia's non-metropolitan regions, will be able to interpret these within an international context and by using a range of theoretical perspectives and practical concepts and tools that lie at the heart of economic geography and regional development. These skills will be assessed in all 3 assignments. 		True True True
7 Social Responsibility
Through their engagement with key theories and ideas introduced and developed in this unit, students will gain an appreciation of social justice issues as they pertain to Australian and Canadian rural communities and will develop skills in the recognition of these issues. 		True True
   

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