Checking date: 11/05/2022


Course: 2023/2024

Evaluation of public policy
(16638)
Dual Bachelor in International Studies and Law (2015 Study Plan) (Plan: 351 - Estudio: 321)


Coordinating teacher: NUÑEZ VARO, JOAQUIN MARIA

Department assigned to the subject: Social Sciences Department

Type: Compulsory
ECTS Credits: 6.0 ECTS

Course:
Semester:




Objectives
BASIC AND GENERAL COMPETENCES CG4 - Be able to manage information: identify, organize and analyze relevant information critically and systematically within the context of international relations. CG5 - Be able to debate and formulate critical reasoning, using precise terminology and specialized resources, when analyzing international and global phenomena, employing both the concepts and knowledge from different disciplines as well as the methods of analysis, paradigms and concepts pertaining to the Social Sciences. CB1 - Be able to show that they possess and comprehend facts and contents in an area of study which, based on a previous general secondary school level, have been extended to those included in advanced textbooks and in some aspects proceed from the most advanced studies in this area. CB2 - Be able to show that they have learned how to apply their knowledge professionally to their future jobs or tasks and that they possess the competences needed to develop and defend arguments and solve problems in that area of study. CB3 - Be able to show that they are capable of collecting and interpreting the relevant data (normally within their area of study) needed for formulating judgments which require critical thought on social, scientific and ethical topics of relevance. CB4 - Be able to show that they are able to transmit information, ideas, problems and solutions both to specialized and non-specialized publics. CB5 - Be able to show that they have developed the learning skills required to perform further studies with a high degree of self-dependence. OVERLAPPING COMPETENCES CT1 - Acquire the capacity to communicate knowledge in oral and written form, both to specialized and to non-specialized publics. CT2 - Acquire the capacity to establish good interpersonal communication and to work both in interdisciplinary and international teams. CT3 - Acquire the capacity to organize and plan workloads, taking correct decisions based on the available information, collecting and interpreting relevant data in order to provide assessments in that area of study. CT4 - Develop the motivation and capacity to perform independent continuous learning for life, with an endowment to adapt to change and new situations. SPECIFIC COMPETENCES CE13 - Be familiar with the principles of cost-benefit analysis and its application to basic problems. CE14 - Be able to design and evaluate viable and sustainable political and socio-economic programs designed for social advancement. LEARNING OUTCOMES Applied knowledge regarding evaluation methodology and preparation of an evaluation-oriented research design. Applied knowledge regarding the experimental method in public policy, treatment and randomization, types of experimental design. Applied knowledge regarding the collection, development and interpretation of indicators to measure the impact and consequences of interventions and programmes. Applied knowledge regarding how to effectively carry out a real evaluation in the social field. Applied knowledge regarding the preparation of an evaluation report.
Skills and learning outcomes
Description of contents: programme
Public policies at the international level: programmes and interventions by States, supranational institutions, NGOs. Elements of Evaluation Theory: intervention logic, control groups, the concept of counterfactual. Methodological problems of policy evaluation: causality, endogeneity and selection bias. Design of experiments: experimental, quasi-experimental and non-experimental designs; validity of the conclusions of an experiment. Measurement and indicators. Impact estimation techniques. Fieldwork. Preparation of an evaluation report. Case studies: social interventions, peacekeeping missions, trade embargoes, military interventions, development cooperation and aid programmes, economic and political reforms.
Learning activities and methodology
Learning activities: - Practical exercises (tests, text analysis and practical case studies, etc.). Some of them will be graded. - Design, planning and execution of an evaluation of a public intervention or programme. Mentoring: On an individual basis, according to the established schedule.
Assessment System
  • % end-of-term-examination 0
  • % of continuous assessment (assigments, laboratory, practicals...) 100
Calendar of Continuous assessment
Basic Bibliography
  • Gertler, Paul. J. et al.. Impact Evaluation in Practice. World Bank. 2017.
  • HM Treasury. The Magenta Book. Central Government guidance on evaluation. HM Treasury. 2020.
Additional Bibliography
  • Angrist, J. & Pischke, J. . P. Mostly Harmless Econometrics. Princeton University Press. 2008.

The course syllabus may change due academic events or other reasons.