SOCA6310
10 units
6000 level
Course handbook
Description
Equity, diversity and inclusion have become central priorities across institutional and professional spaces. This requires specialised expertise and knowledge to ensure these priorities are addressed in the context of the complexities they present. In both public and private sectors there is a need to continue to develop a workforce that reflects a philosophy of social justice, which underpins commitments to equity, diversity and inclusion and awareness of the need for change to meet the challenge of these commitments. Because of this, terms like equity, inclusion, belonging and diversity have become watch words. But these watch words lack a clear intent and may be taken at face value. They are ambiguous and are often understood in numerous different ways. This leads to divergent, even incoherent, goals, rationales, intentions and strategies within and across institutions and organisations. This course provides an overview of the key concepts, debates and strategies for equity, diversity and inclusion across institutional and professional spaces, as they relate to themes such as gender, race, Indigeneity, disability and more. It brings in examples of international and domestic best-practice, and introduces the students to case studies from industry. At the end of this course, students will be able to critically assess the impact of social and institutional inequalities for communities and individual lives, and to produce effective strategies for different professional and institutional contexts.
Availability2024 Course Timetables
Callaghan
- Semester 1 - 2024
Online
- Semester 2 - 2024
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of the course students will be able to:
1. Construct the foundation for an equity initiative within an institution or organisation.
2. Investigate issues that impact upon professional and institutional equity, diversity and inclusion strategies and initiatives.
3. Evaluate EDI issues and design strategies and recommendations for institutional equity practices.
4. Apply diverse conceptual lenses and analytical skills to deepen understandings of EDI case studies.
5. Critique cross-societal equity problems in professional contexts.
Content
Topics that will be drawn from include:
- A history of equity and discourse: introduction to equity; intersectionality and diversity; social justice philosophies, inclusion, exclusion and marginalisation.
- Broader social inequalities: power and hegemony; neoliberalism; inequality beyond the moment.
- Organisational (in)equity: educational (in)equity; workplace and employment (in)equity; precarity; temporal inequality; economies of insecurity; relational poverty.
- Governmentality and audit culture: individual change versus system change; logic and ideology; measuring success.
Assumed knowledge
Undergraduate degree majoring in Social Science or related discipline, or recognised prior learning or experience from relevant fields of practice.
Assessment items
Case Study / Problem Based Learning: Case Study Pitch
Presentation: Presentation
Written Assignment: Peer Evaluation
Essay: Essay
Written Assignment: Strategy Development Report
Contact hours
Semester 1 - 2024 - Callaghan
Seminar-1
- Face to Face On Campus 2 hour(s) per week(s) for 12 week(s) starting in week 1
Semester 2 - 2024 - Online
Online Activity-1
- Online 2 hour(s) per week(s) for 12 week(s)
- Participation in CANVAS discussion and self-directed learning.
Course outline
- SOCA6310 - Semester 1, 2024 (Callaghan) (PDF, 238.3 KB)
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.