| CODE | SOC5023 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | SIA and the Policy Process (1): The Policy and Legal Context | ||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Sociology | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | Objective: A general introduction on Social Impact Assessment and the policy process of planned interventions which can reduce negative social impacts and enhance positive impacts. This study-unit follows the guidelines of International Association for Impact Assessment to explore the policy process in terms of public policy, legislation, the practice of spatial planning and cultural heritage in Malta. This study-unit also explores participatory and public interests as central factors in the evaluation of social impacts of planned interventions. Content: This study-unit introduces students to the relevance of doing Social Impact Assessment in relation to its policy and legal framework. Specifically, it introduces the policy process and principles of planned interventions in line with the guidelines of the IAIA. Students shall be able to apply their knowledge by designing their own Social Impact Assessment. Additionally, students are able to investigate the enhanced benefits and mitigate the negative impact of a planned intervention. Course content: - Defining the context for a Social Impact Assessment; - General principles of SIA following the IAIA guidelines; - Public policy and the process of conducting SIA (Ms Ingrid Sultana); - Public policy and the process of conducting SIA (Ms Ingrid Sultana); - Public policy and the process of conducting SIA (Ms Ingrid Sultana); - A historical overview of spatial planning in Malta (Dr Antoine Zammit); - An understanding of urbanisation in Malta (Dr Antoine Zammit); - The policy hierarchy starting from the SPED, to the Local Plans until DC15. (Dr Antoine Zammit); - Legal context of planned intervention (Dr Claire Bonello); - Legal context of planned intervention (Dr Claire Bonello); - Legal context of planned intervention (Dr Claire Bonello); - Participatory and public interest: Cultural heritage 鈥� An Introduction (Mr Jonathan Borg); - Participatory and public interest: Cultural heritage in the EIA and development Process (Mr Jonathan Borg); - Overview lecture. Study-Unit Aims: - Introduce students to the policy and legal context of Social Impact Assessment; - Acquaint students with the basic principles of the process of doing a Social Impact Assessment in line with the IAIA guidelines; - Acquaint students with the principles of participatory practices and public interest in planned intervention. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Explain clearly the policy process of doing a Social Impact Assessment; - Write about the International guidelines for doing a Social Impact Assessment; - Explain participatory and public interest as well as the involvement of key stakeholders in the process. 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 analyze specific SIA contexts and issues; - Acknowledge the relationship between SIAs and policy making and legal frameworks. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - Compelo, A., Reynolds, L., Lindgreen A., and Beverland, M., 2018, Cultural Heritage, London: Routledge - Campeol. G. (ed). 2020, Strategic Environmental Assessment and Urban Planning, Methodological Reflections and Case Studies. Springer DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-46180-5_1 - Planning Authority, 2015, SPED. https://sustainabledevelopment.gov.mt/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Strategic-Plan-for-the-Environment-and-Development-SPED.pdf - Vanclay, F 2003, International Principles for Social Impact Assessment, Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal, 21:1, 5-12, DOI: 10.3152/147154603781766491 - Vanclay, F & Esteves, AM 2011, New Directions in Social Impact Assessment: Conceptual and Methodological Advances. Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham. - Wickenden, J. 2022, Guidance and Toolkit for Impact Assessment in a World Heritage Context, Unesco, ICCROM. Supplementary Readings: - Branch, K., Hooper, D.A., Thompson, J., & Creighton, J. (1984). Guide to Social Assessment: A Framework for Assessing Social Change (1st ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429045400 - ICOMOS, 2011, Guidance on Heritage Impact Assessments for Cultural World Heritage Properties, ICOMOS. - Vanclay & Esteves (eds) (forthcoming): Handbook on Social Impact Assessment. |
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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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