| CODE | SOC5019 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | Introduction to Social Impact Assessment | ||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Sociology | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit will provide a sociological introduction to Social Impact Assessment (SIA). The first part of the study-unit will define and discuss social impacts and Social Impact Assessments, with particular reference to their basic principles and guidelines. The study-unit will then evaluate whether SIAs are relevant to the policy process, and why they may be required in particular social/developmental settings and political situations. Finally, the study-unit will introduce how SIAs can be carried out. Sociological concepts and tools will be applied during the discussion of the course of the entire study-unit. Study-Unit Aims: - To promote a sociological understanding of social impacts; - To appraise the basic principles of SIAs; - To develop critical contextualization of SIAs; - To foster an understanding of the skills involved in the conducting and interpreting of SIAs. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Conceptualize Social Impacts; - Define Social Impact Assessment; - Employ the sociological imagination to value SIAs; - Identify and demonstrate the need or otherwise of SIAs; - Examine and discuss the tools required to conduct and interpret SIAs. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Sociologically reflect and critically engage with SIAs; - Apply the course material to analyse specific SIA contexts and issues; - Appreciate the relationship between SIAs and policy making. Main Texts: - Vanclay & Esteves (eds) (2024): Handbook on Social Impact Assessment and Management. (Elgar). - Vanclay, F., Esteves, A.M., Aucamp, I. & Franks, D. 2015 Social Impact Assessment: Guidance for assessing and managing the social impacts of projects. Fargo ND: International Association for Impact Assessment. https://www.iaia.org/uploads/pdf/SIA_Guidance_Document_IAIA.pdf. Other readings will be assigned during the study-unit. |
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| ADDITIONAL NOTES | Pre-requisite Qualifications: Same for Masters in Social Impact Assessment | ||||||||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||||||||
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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