SD1S17 - Public Affairs 01 Aug 2023 - 31 Aug 2026 | Version 3

Associated Module Information

Module Code: SD1S17
Module Title: Public Affairs
Faculty: Faculty of Business and Creative Industries
Faculty Group: Leadership and Public Services
Faculty Sub Group: Leadership and Public Services
Module Leader: Colin Morgan
Module Team: Craig Hooper, Robert Campbell, Jessica Marshall
First Intended Intake: SEP 2015 Final Year of Intake:
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 4
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100647 - public policy
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 3
Valid From 01 Aug 2023
Valid To 31 Aug 2026

Module Aims

To develop understanding of public affairs

To enhance the development of key skills

Content Summary

This module will introduce students to UK Public Affairs, Politics, Democracy and Participation, Accountability,The Social and Economic context, the Development and Delivery of Public Services, Public, Private, Voluntary and Third Sectors, Structure and operation of central government, Local verses central control, Devolution and UK Public Services, Structure and operation of local government, Structure and operation of local administration., ‘Brexit’, Electoral systems, Local expenditure (raising local revenue and spending it), Media and Public Services, Emerging issues (eg. Improvement in public services, collaborative and partnership working, citizen participation).

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 24
Seminar 24
Directed Study 80
Formative Assessment - Independent 72
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Explain the nature of UK public sector developments.
LO2 Discuss relevant issues relating to public affairs in the UK

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Written Assignment (CW) Essay (CW) 2 A written test, administered within the timetabled teaching period – which is time constrained and held under examination conditions. 120 2400 50 No 40
Written Assignment (CW) Essay (CW) 1 A written assignment, creating an argument on a topic within the public affairs curriculum 0 2000 50 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Essay (CW) 2 ✔ ✔
Essay (CW) 1 ✔ ✔

Reading List

Shaw, M. (2017) Public Policy Analysis Guide for Practitioners and Students Independently Published (Available from Amazon,co.uk)

Morrison, J. (2017) Essential Public Affairs for Journalists (5th ed.) Oxford, Oxford University Press.

Leach, R. (2015) Political Ideology in Britain, (3rd ed.) Hampshire, Palgrave Macmillan.

Hughes, O. E. (2017) Public Management and Administration. (5th ed.) Hampshire, Palgrave Macmillan.

Heywood, A. (2017) Political Ideologies, An Introduction. (6th ed.) Hampshire, Palgrave Macmillan.

Hefferman, R. & Hay, (2016) Developments in British Politics. (10th ed.) London, Palgrave.

Flynn, N. & Asquer, A. (2016) Public Sector Management, (7th ed.) London, Sage.

Evans, G. & Menon, A, (2017) Brexit and British Politics, Cambridge, Polity Press.