Units

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Sample subject outline - 6 Week Teaching Period - 4 2012

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

Trusts and foundations have the potential to be a force for the public good. This unit will examine the critical issues confronting those who wish to harness the resources, power and influence of such bodies to achieve their purposes to benefit the community.

Aims

The aim of this unit is to help students develop their knowledge and understanding of organised philanthropy, particularly through structures known as charitable trusts and foundations. They will be encouraged to develop critical thinking skills in relation to the issues.

Objectives

Course Learning Goals (Postgraduate)

The QUT Business School has established the Assurance of Learning (AoL) Goals to meet contemporary industry needs and standards. Achieving these learning outcomes will assist you to meet the desired graduate outcomes set at QUT - aligned with other internationally renowned business schools. Students will develop the following capabilities relevant to a contemporary global and sustainable business environment:

Have knowledge and skills pertinent to a particular discipline (KS)

1.1 Well-researched knowledge and critical understanding applied to issues at the forefront of a specialised discipline area
1.2 Ability to select and use effectively a range of tools and technologies to locate and/or generate information appropriate to the disciplinary context

Be critical thinkers and effective problem solvers (CTA)

2.1 Apply logical, critical and creative thinking and judgement to generate appropriate solutions to problems in the disciplinary context

Be professional communicators in an intercultural context (PC)

3.1 Ability to create and present professional documents and/or reports using high levels of analysis/synthesis/evaluation for a range of contexts and audiences
3.2 Ability to orally communicate and justify ideas and information, at a professional level, for a variety of contexts and audiences, including peers and discipline specialists

Be able to work effectively in a Team Environment (TW)

4.1 Operate effectively and with flexibility to achieve common goals in collaborative settings, using a range of skills, including leadership, negotiation, reflection, proactivity and support for team members

Have a Social and Ethical Understanding (SEU)

5.1 Apply knowledge of the ethical, social and cultural dimensions relevant to business situations, including appropriate standards or codes of practice, to provide courses of action

Unit Objectives

On completing this unit, you will be able to:

1. Apply critical thinking to contemporary issues in philanthropy to form an informed argument about possible solutions;
2. Develop competency in finding, selecting and generating academic literature about philanthropic issues;
3. Create coherent and informed written communication using high level analysis.

The specific course learning goals and unit objectives that apply to this unit are shown in the assessment section of this unit outline.

Content

Module 1: What are we talking about? The range of philanthropy; philanthropy and charity; the what and why of foundations, and what sort of foundation.

Module 2: Foundations and government - rationales and relationships

Module 3: Legal and regulatory frameworks - what and why

Module 4: Roles of Foundations - historical and international variety

Module 5: Governance and management - issues and tensions

Module 6: Philanthropic 'mistakes' - what, why, when and who cares?

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

Teaching and learning strategies are designed to encourage students to fulfil the aims and objectives of the unit as discussed above.

This Unit is taught over 1 introductory class and 3 intensive weekends in conjunction with GSN557.
Intensives are used to provide a basic understanding of the issues, and this understanding will be developed through the use of workshop exercises. To achieve the objectives of the unit it is essential that students complete the assigned workshop questions prior to attendance at the intensive weekend. Students are also encouraged to challenge themselves with the additional questions prior to each intensive weekend. The introduction will be held in week 1 and intensives in week 3, 4 and 6.

Proper attention to the teaching and learning strategies should enable students to meet the assessment requirements of the unit which are themselves carefully selected to help students to learn. You will be assessed on your developing knowledge, understanding and skills using a range of inter-related assessment methods.

Lecture materials and assignments will be available each week from the Blackboard site: http://www.qut.edu.au/

Assessment

Students will receive feedback in various forms throughout the semester which may include:

Informal: worked examples, such as verbal feedback in class, personal consultation

Formal: in writing, such as checklists (e.g. criteria sheets), written commentary

Direct: to individual students, either in written form or in consultation

Indirect: to the whole class

Assessment name: Essay Primer
Description: Essay Plan and Annotated Bibliography
Students are required to write an essay plan and annotated bibliography for their proposed essay for Assessment item 2.
Length/Duration: 700 - 1,000 words
Formative or Summative: Formative and summative
Relates to objectives: Unit objectives: 1, 2 and AOL goals: KS (1.1), CTA (2.1), PC (3.1), SEU (5.1)
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 5

Assessment name: Essay
Description: Students are to write an essay completing the title: 'Private foundations have no place in modern society unless/until'.
Length/Duration: 2000 - 2500 words
Formative or Summative: Formative and Summative
Relates to objectives: Unit objectives: 1, 2, 3 and AOL goals: KS (1.1), (1.2), CTA (2.1), PC (3.1), SEU (5.1)
Weight: 60%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 7

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

Prescribed Text

There is no prescribed text for this unit, with all applicable material available from the unit's Blackboard site.

Risk assessment statement

There are no out-of-the-ordinary risks associated with lectures or tutorials in this unit. You should, however, familiarise yourself with evacuation procedures operating in the buildings in which you attend classes and take the time to
view the Emergency video.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 20-Jun-2012