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IS40960

Academic Year 2026/2027

Digital Policy II (IS40960)

Subject:
Information Studies
College:
Social Sciences & Law
School:
Information & Comms Studies
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
10
Module Coordinator:
Professor Aphra Kerr
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
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. Tech research, design, production, implementation and practice are shaped by economic, social and cultural considerations and require evaluations of legality and human rights.

Following the policy development issues and processes examined in Digital Policy I, this module will further explore the emergent policy issues presented by technological innovation.

Starting from a discussion of the values and principles that inform digital policies in multiple jurisdictions students will be introduced to methods for developing public policy that are democratically engaged, transparently developed, legally accountable, human rights proofed, and clearly communicated.

Students will be provided with opportunities to practice key public policy methods including research and analysis; briefing drafting; and oral advocacy and strategic communications. Students will gain practical understanding of public policy processes and gain specific skills including researching, assessing, developing, drafting, delivering and defending public policy options.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

1. Demonstrate ability to critically research and synthesise literature for digital policy development processes.
2. Demonstrate ability to draft digital policy briefs that take into consideration technical, legal and human rights considerations.
3. Demonstrate ability to communicate strategically about digital policy options to parliamentary bodies and the public.

Indicative Module Content:

Drawing on the state of the art in social science, policy analysis, law, ethics, and design, this module will build on Digital Policy I to explore current challenges, debates, and approaches to designing, implementing, and developing policy for different organisational and technological contexts.

The United Nations identified seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as core to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and UCD contributes in general to SDG 4 Quality Education. Further SDGs explored within this module if relevant are listed below. A scale of 1 - 5 indicates the extent to which the SDG is covered.


 

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Autonomous Student Learning

176
Lectures

24
Total

200

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures
Guest speakers
In-class discussion and presentations
Critical reading and writing
Desk research

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

Complietion of Digital Policy I is an asset but not a requirement.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade Component repeat (in-module) Offered
Group Work Assignment: In class continuous assessment scheduled for last two weeks of semester. Week 11, Week 12 Graded No
30
 No
Individual Project: End of semester continuous assessment to be described at beginning of semester. Week 14 Graded Yes
40
 Yes
Individual Project: Mid semester continuous assessment to be described at beginning of semester Week 7 Graded No
30
 No

As part of UCD's student support, under the Additional Consideration policy, extensions may be available for the following assessments in the module: Assignment (including essay/poster), Portfolio, Reflective Assignment, Report(s), and Individual Project.


Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Summer 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?

All assessment will be provided online in Brightspace.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 21, 22, 25, 26, 30, 31, 32 Wed 14:00 - 16:50
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 23, 24, 29 Wed 14:00 - 16:50
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