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IS40910

Academic Year 2024/2025

Digital Policy (IS40910)

Subject:
Information Studies
College:
Social Sciences & Law
School:
Information & Comms Studies
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
10
Module Coordinator:
Dr Elizabeth Farries
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
Online
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

Technological innovation continues to bring new considerations to policy-making in our digital age. The pacing is incredibly rapid: Tech research, design, production, implementation and practice must be synthesised with economic, social and cultural considerations which in turn require evaluations of legality and human rights.

With this contextualisation, students will consider fundamental digital policy issues with special attention to public and private sector developments. Developments considered in previous terms included surveillance, digital security, intellectual property, digital inclusion, platform regulation, disinformation and democracy, digital identity, artificial intelligence governance, privacy and data protection.

In each term, specific module topics will be presented in order to critically theorise policy development questions.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

1. Research and describe contemporary digital policy issues
2. Demonstrate familiarity with national, EU, and international regulatory frameworks in their social and cultural contexts
3. Understand and explain how and why the following issues matter in digital policy arenas: social, economic, cultural rights, human and legal rights
4. Demonstrate knowledge of the technical, human, and organisational dimensions of policy making

Indicative Module Content:

Drawing on the state of the art in social science, policy analysis, law, ethics, and design, this module will provide a multidisciplinary introduction to current challenges, debates, and approaches to designing, implementing, and developing policy for different organisational and technological contexts. Topics will include the policy process, current trends and issues in policy making, industry, academic, and civil society organisation perspectives. Module will include lectures, group discussions, and hands-on activities.

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24
Autonomous Student Learning

176
Total

200

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lecture
In-class discussion
Critical reading and writing
Desk research

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Practical Skills Assessment: Digital Policy Reflection Week 14 Graded No
30
 No
Assignment(Including Essay): Project: Policy brief Week 14 Graded No
70
 No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Written feedback will be delivered through the Brightspace VLE after the project is submitted.

Name Role
Jennifer Waters Tutor

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Wed 14:00 - 15:50
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