EUN694 Education Policy Analysis
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | EUN694 |
|---|---|
| Prerequisite(s): | EUN691. EUN691 can be enrolled in the same teaching period as EUN694. |
| Equivalent(s): | EUZ694 |
| Assumed Knowledge: | It is assumed that students understand educational practices in education settings and have practitioner experiences within a related education field or support profession. |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
|
| CSP student contribution | $592 |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $3,468 |
| International unit fee | $4,740 |
Unit Outline: Semester 1 2026, Kelvin Grove, Internal
| Unit code: | EUN694 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | EUN691. EUN691 can be enrolled in the same teaching period as EUN694. |
| Equivalent: | EUZ694 |
| Assumed Knowledge: | It is assumed that students understand educational practices in education settings and have practitioner experiences within a related education field or support profession. |
| Coordinator: | Amanda McKay | a7.mckay@qut.edu.au |
Overview
This unit is designed to give students an introduction to education policy analysis. Critical policy analysis is an important skill for education researchers and practitioners, and policies in this field have significant social consequences. This unit equips you with the skills to critically interrogate policy evidence, impacts and implications. This unit will draw on important debates in contemporary policy to explore some important ways policy works – as a practical expression of government intentions, as a mechanism for social inclusion and exclusion, and as an expression of social and political relationships. This unit provides the opportunity for you to draw together the knowledge and skills you have developed in your degree, and practice policy analysis.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Conduct education policy analysis using critical policy analysis theory and techniques.
- Critically evaluate policy analyses including those produced by Gen AI drawing on research and theory.
- Create briefing notes and presentations to advocate for policy and change.
- Reflect on and reflexively analyse education policy, policy analysis and the policy process.
- Propose and justify policy recommendations based on policy analysis and research.
Content
The unit will cover the following:
- “What is policy?”
- Introduction to policy analysis in education
- Contemporary issues and debates
- Approaches for analysing education policy
- Ethical research principles for education policy analysis
Learning Approaches
In this unit you will learn through engaging in the following:
- pre-recorded online videos
- tutorials (online and on-campus)
- online learning activities
- readings
- authentic assessment tasks in which you will apply scholarly knowledge to real world scenarios and in your own context.
This unit employs interactive and discussion-based learning and critical reflection on the intersection of theory and experience.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Feedback in this unit is provided to you in the following ways:
- a range of formative exercises discussed and undertaken throughout the unit
- feedback from peers as you investigate and discuss issues raised throughout the unit
- comments about summative assessment work included with your grade.
Assessment
Overview
There are two assessments in this unit:
1. Policy analysis - this task draws on policy analysis techniques and Gen AI skills to undertake a policy analysis.
2. Policy Briefing Note and Implementation Plan - this task draws on policy advocacy and implementation planning skills to present a briefing note and implementation plan, and reflect on the policy process.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Policy analysis
You will write a critical policy analysis of a current education issue and related policy that has an impact on your context. You will generate a policy analysis using Gen AI and also undertake a policy analysis applying a technique covered in the unit. Critically evaluate the two policy analyses.
The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See the relevant assessment details in Canvas for specific guidelines.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Policy Briefing Note and Implementation Plan
Building on your previous assessment task, you are asked to write a two-page briefing on the policy issue for a real world context (e.g., an education department, school authority, school, education provider). You will also develop an implementation plan based on the recommendations in your briefing note. You will present the briefing note and implementation plan.
Drawing on ideas from the unit you will critically reflect on your policy analysis and the policy process. You will include a reflection on how ethical research principles were taken into consideration in your analysis and implementation plan.
Your presentation will be done during a scheduled time and you will respond to questions.
The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See the relevant assessment details in Canvas for specific guidelines.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
There are no resources that are required to be purchased for this unit. Resources will be available in the unit's Canvas site.
Risk Assessment Statement
There are no out-of-the-ordinary risks associated with the general conduct of this unit.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.EU74 Master of Education
- Reflect on and reflexively analyse own practice, integrating theoretical frameworks to improve professional knowledge and practice.
Relates to: ULO4, Policy Briefing Note and Implementation Plan - Critically analyse and evaluate complex activities, contexts and phenomena related to professional practice and scholarship in the discipline of education.
Relates to: ULO2, Policy analysis - Design and justify innovative solutions to authentic problems of educational practice, drawing on discipline-specific knowledge and skills to lead and influence positive change.
Relates to: ULO5, Policy Briefing Note and Implementation Plan - Apply theories and research methods to ethically explore educational issues/phenomena and practices.
Relates to: ULO1, Policy analysis - Employ a range of communication modes to transmit knowledge, skills and ideas to specialist and non-specialist audiences in professional and scholarly contexts.
Relates to: ULO3, Policy Briefing Note and Implementation Plan
Unit Outline: Semester 1 2026, Online
| Unit code: | EUN694 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | EUN691. EUN691 can be enrolled in the same teaching period as EUN694. |
| Equivalent: | EUZ694 |
| Assumed Knowledge: | It is assumed that students understand educational practices in education settings and have practitioner experiences within a related education field or support profession. |
Overview
This unit is designed to give students an introduction to education policy analysis. Critical policy analysis is an important skill for education researchers and practitioners, and policies in this field have significant social consequences. This unit equips you with the skills to critically interrogate policy evidence, impacts and implications. This unit will draw on important debates in contemporary policy to explore some important ways policy works – as a practical expression of government intentions, as a mechanism for social inclusion and exclusion, and as an expression of social and political relationships. This unit provides the opportunity for you to draw together the knowledge and skills you have developed in your degree, and practice policy analysis.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Conduct education policy analysis using critical policy analysis theory and techniques.
- Critically evaluate policy analyses including those produced by Gen AI drawing on research and theory.
- Create briefing notes and presentations to advocate for policy and change.
- Reflect on and reflexively analyse education policy, policy analysis and the policy process.
- Propose and justify policy recommendations based on policy analysis and research.
Content
The unit will cover the following:
- “What is policy?”
- Introduction to policy analysis in education
- Contemporary issues and debates
- Approaches for analysing education policy
- Ethical research principles for education policy analysis
Learning Approaches
In this unit you will learn through engaging in the following:
- pre-recorded online videos
- tutorials (online and on-campus)
- online learning activities
- readings
- authentic assessment tasks in which you will apply scholarly knowledge to real world scenarios and in your own context.
This unit employs interactive and discussion-based learning and critical reflection on the intersection of theory and experience.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Feedback in this unit is provided to you in the following ways:
- a range of formative exercises discussed and undertaken throughout the unit
- feedback from peers as you investigate and discuss issues raised throughout the unit
- comments about summative assessment work included with your grade.
Assessment
Overview
There are two assessments in this unit:
1. Policy analysis - this task draws on policy analysis techniques and Gen AI skills to undertake a policy analysis.
2. Policy Briefing Note and Implementation Plan - this task draws on policy advocacy and implementation planning skills to present a briefing note and implementation plan, and reflect on the policy process.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Policy analysis
You will write a critical policy analysis of a current education issue and related policy that has an impact on your context. You will generate a policy analysis using Gen AI and also undertake a policy analysis applying a technique covered in the unit. Critically evaluate the two policy analyses.
The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See the relevant assessment details in Canvas for specific guidelines.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Policy Briefing Note and Implementation Plan
Building on your previous assessment task, you are asked to write a two-page briefing on the policy issue for a real world context (e.g., an education department, school authority, school, education provider). You will also develop an implementation plan based on the recommendations in your briefing note. You will present the briefing note and implementation plan.
Drawing on ideas from the unit you will critically reflect on your policy analysis and the policy process. You will include a reflection on how ethical research principles were taken into consideration in your analysis and implementation plan.
Your presentation will be done during a scheduled time and you will respond to questions.
The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See the relevant assessment details in Canvas for specific guidelines.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
There are no resources that are required to be purchased for this unit. Resources will be available in the unit's Canvas site.
Risk Assessment Statement
There are no out-of-the-ordinary risks associated with the general conduct of this unit.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.EU74 Master of Education
- Reflect on and reflexively analyse own practice, integrating theoretical frameworks to improve professional knowledge and practice.
Relates to: ULO4, Policy Briefing Note and Implementation Plan - Critically analyse and evaluate complex activities, contexts and phenomena related to professional practice and scholarship in the discipline of education.
Relates to: ULO2, Policy analysis - Design and justify innovative solutions to authentic problems of educational practice, drawing on discipline-specific knowledge and skills to lead and influence positive change.
Relates to: ULO5, Policy Briefing Note and Implementation Plan - Apply theories and research methods to ethically explore educational issues/phenomena and practices.
Relates to: ULO1, Policy analysis - Employ a range of communication modes to transmit knowledge, skills and ideas to specialist and non-specialist audiences in professional and scholarly contexts.
Relates to: ULO3, Policy Briefing Note and Implementation Plan