Science, Technology & Innovation Policy

This subject is not offered in 2014.

120 hours. Attendance at all classes (tutorial/seminars/practical classes/lectures/labs/online classes) is obligatory. Failure to attend 80% of classes will normally result in failure in the subject.

An undergraduate degree or equivalent; at least 2 years of relevant experience; current employment in the sector.

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.

The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

This subject provides those working with funding and the governance of research and innovation with knowledge and insights in areas such a as:

• structured overview of STI policy (theory and practice);
• review of the state of the art in tools and methods for funding STI capacity building;
• structured forum for policy learning and exchange of ideas.

On completion, participants should be able to apply what they have learned, for example by:

• conducting and presenting science and technology policy analyses;
• preparing policy briefs;
• matching policy objectives to funding instruments;
• ability to identify and analyse science and technology policy trends.

There are two assessment tasks:

• A 3000-word written assignment due at end of subject, graded assessment.
• Four online Discussion Board tasks (4 x 500-word commentaries on set readings) due every 2 weeks, pass/fail assessment. For any discussion board task submitted late, the task increases to a 1000 word commentary.

There is one hurdle requirement:

• Participate in 3 online webinars* due every 2-3 weeks. For any webinar missed, students must write and post on the discussion board a 1000 word topic summary, drawing on the recorded webinar and related discussion board postings.

NB: All hurdle and assessment tasks must be passed.

*For any webinar missed, students must write and post on the discussion board a 1000 word topic summary, drawing from the recorded webinar and related discussion board postings.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On completing this subject, participants should be able to:

• communicate with people who work in different cultures and contexts;
• investigate policy and strategy problems, and generate options to resolve them;
• assess the risks and benefits of different solutions to policy problems;
• apply accepted policies and principles to different kinds of cases;
• make well-informed management decisions that consider specific contexts.