SWH312 Real Utopias, Social Alternatives and Policy Possibilities

Unit Outline: Semester 2 2024, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Overview

This unit critically explores a wide range of proposals, models and social alternatives for radical social change in Australia and globally. Students develop knowledge through combining discussions of the values and rationales for different emancipatory visions (‘utopias’) with the analysis of (‘real’) empirical cases of institutional design in real-world existing institutions and policy experiments. The unit connects the professional discipline of social work with the idea of emancipatory agency in practice to generate potentialities about what is possible for changing and restructuring our social institutions in a direction that fits fundamental values of social justice, self-determination and sustainability better than the present institutions do.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Describe and critically analyse the major features, principles and values associated with alternative proposals and models for radical social change in Australia and globally
2. Critically evaluate existing institutions and propose coherent and viable, alternative social models and policies that promote transformatory change
3. Source, appraise and critique relevant literature to the chosen research question that addresses an issue of social injustice or oppression in Australia
4. Communicate information and construct an academic, ethical argument appropriate for critical social work and social policy
5. Clearly articulate professional knowledge and skills for exercising emancipatory agency and restructuring institutions to better fit social work values such as social justice, self-determination and sustainability

Content

Learning Approaches

The unit uses mixed modes of teaching and integrated learning and emphasises student involvement and interaction. Each week you will attend on-campus formal lectures (1.5 hours) and interactive tutorials (2 hours).There will also be a flexible learning option with the inclusion of online tutorials. Lectures and tutorial workshops will involve discussion of relevant values and rationales for different emancipatory visions (‘utopias’) with the analysis of (‘real’) empirical cases of institutional design in real-world existing institutions and policy experiments. Multimedia (PowerPoint, video material, podcasts), case studies, news items, class discussions and other interactive activities will be used. The unit will be supported by a Canvas site and by online tools such as a discussion forum and podcasts. You will also be encouraged to link lecture material to real-world social alternatives, especially toward developing an approach for critical analysis for emancipatory agency.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

There will be written feedback following assessment and dialogue throughout the semester that enables formative learning to occur. The unit's interactive tutorials will provide opportunities for students to reflect on and articulate their learning and receive peer feedback. They will start forming ideas for their assessment and will be able to receive feedback and guidance from their tutors.

Assessment

Overview

Each assessment item is designed to assess your application of the knowledge and skills stated in the unit learning outcomes. The unit consists of two assessment items, the first being a group presentation examining examples of a real utopian project. The final piece of assessment is an essay that evaluates two ‘real utopian’ social policies to address a social issue and builds upon your learning over the semester to enable you to meet the unit aims and learning outcomes. In this way you acquire critical knowledge of real utopias and then demonstrate contextually appropriate application of this to anti-oppressive social work practice in a broad range of contexts.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Group Presentation using digital media

You shall work on this project in a small group taking the role of professionals to critically appraise one of the examples of a real world utopian project that you have covered so far in the lectures, tutorials and the required readings from Weeks 1-6 (e.g. Basic Income, Job Guarantees, Worker Ownership or Participatory Budgeting) or sourced independently with your tutors approval. You will present your option in the form of a digital poster in a simulated policy summit style presentation. The presentation should synthesise the critical analysis undertaken, present findings and possibilities and summarise implications for policy projects in practice. (More Details to be published on LMS Canvas and discussed in tutorials).

Assessment: Research Essay

In this critical essay, you will be required to conduct a comparative analysis of two ‘real utopian’ social policies and critically assess their achievability and relative capacity to adequately address an issue of social injustice or oppression in Australia.

This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.

Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.

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.

Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Resources

Resource Materials

Prescribed text(s)

Wright, E. O. (2010). Envisioning real utopias. New York: Verso.

Other

Prescribed text will be complemented with QUT Readings.

Risk Assessment Statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.

Course Learning Outcomes

SW04 Bachelor of Social Work

1. Critique and apply coherent theoretical, practical and contextually relevant social work knowledge, skills and values, and cultivate a commitment toward meeting diverse clients and community needs. [Knowledge, Practice, Values and Disposition]
   Relates to: Group Presentation using digital media, Research Essay
2. Construct and implement strategies for engaging in critical thinking and decision-making, utilising advanced research knowledge and skills to inform culturally safe practice, and promote social justice from diverse perspectives. [Practice, Knowledge, Values and Disposition]
   Relates to: Research Essay
3. Access, evaluate, and utilise relevant social work information that informs and assists in intra- and inter-professional communication in a range of contexts, through effective oral, written and digital interactions. [Practice, Knowledge]
   Relates to: Group Presentation using digital media
4. Design a plan of action for working within socially progressive, anti-oppressive, culturally safe and ethical practice, that embody an autonomous and collaborative evidence-based orientation to social work, integral to the standards of professional social work practice. [Values and Disposition, Practice]
   Relates to: Research Essay
5. Critically examine tenets of diversity and diverse perspectives in social work, and advocate for a socially just society and the promotion of human dignity that reflect different social, political, cultural and historical circumstances, on the beliefs, values and aspirations of various groups, including Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations. [Values and Disposition, Knowledge, Practice]
   Relates to: Group Presentation using digital media, Research Essay

SW05 Bachelor of Social Work (Honours)

1. Critically evaluate theoretical, practical and contextually relevant social work knowledge, skills and values and, as a change facilitator, meet diverse client and community needs that promote social justice
   Relates to: Group Presentation using digital media, Research Essay
2. Formulate and implement strategies using advanced knowledge and research skills to analyse, consolidate and synthesise social and practice evidence to generate solutions and to inform professional practice and decision-making
   Relates to: Group Presentation using digital media, Research Essay
3. Develop advanced knowledge, skills and values, to inform culturally safe communication and effective intra- and inter-professional collaboration and with a wide range of audiences and contexts, including accessing, evaluating and utlising digital health information.
   Relates to: Research Essay
4. Construct and implement strategies for practising collaboratively and independently, focused on socially progressive, anti-oppressive, culturally safe and ethical practice, integral to the standards of professional social work practice
   Relates to: Group Presentation using digital media, Research Essay
5. Access, evaluate and utilise social work information to advocate for a socially just society and the promotion of human dignity and worth that reflect different social, political, cultural and historical circumstances, on the beliefs, values and aspirations of various groups, including Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations
   Relates to: Research Essay