DEVELOPMENT STUDIES (DEST) 401)-LECTURE 01

NGOs AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

WINTER 2008: MONDAYS: 14:00-16:50 ST 128

Instructor:	Dr. Apentiik
Office Location:	SS 252
Office Phone:	(403) 220-3396
E-Mail:	rapentii@ucalgary.ca
Web Page:	-
Office Hours:	Tuesdays 12:00-13:30 or by appointment

 

Course Description

OVERVIEW

 ...while techniques and methods alone do not add up to a coherent approach, beliefs about development are worth little without the skills to put them into practice, and the wisdom and humility required to learn from experience (Deborah Eade 2003).

The last few decades witnessed an "explosion" in NGOs as important vehicles for the delivery of development assistance. This course examines the role of NGOs, their multiple accountabilities to donors, beneficiaries and other stakeholders, as well as their limitations, challenges and successes as development organizations at the community level. Some of the assumptions about NGOs, including their comparative advantage in reaching out to the marginalized groups, ensuring gender equity, capacity building, community participation and empowerment and grassroots development, will be explored. 

Objectives of the Course

To provide an opportunity for students to examine and evaluate development policies and research methodologies while building upon the theoretical and conceptual foundations covered earlier in courses

To assist students think through some of the theoretical and practical implications of key concepts such as sustainability and equity and to apply them in the context of community development work.

Textbooks and Readings:

The reading materials for the course will be made available on Blackboard and on reserve at the MacKimmie Library (in the basement floor of the reserve section of the library)

Assignments and Evaluation
                                                                  %                              DUE

ATTENDANCE & PARTICIPATION               15%                          On-going        

MID-TERM EXAM                                       25%                          March 3         

GROUP PRESENTATION                            25%                          April 7 & 14

FINAL PAPER                                             35%                          April 14 (in class)

 

 

It is the student's responsibility to keep a copy of each submitted assignment.
Note: Please hand in your essays directly to your tutor or instructor if possible. If it is not possible to do so, a daytime drop box is available in SS110; a date stamp is provided for your use. A night drop box is also available for after-hours submission. Assignments will be removed the following morning, stamped with the previous day's date, and placed in the instructor's mailbox.

Registrar-scheduled Final Examination:  NO
Please note: If your class is held in the evening, the Registrar's Office will make every attempt to schedule the final exam during the evening; however, there is NO guarantee that the exam will NOT be scheduled during the day.

Policy for Late Assignments

Assignments submitted after the deadline may be penalized with the loss of a grade (e.g.: A- to B+) for each day late.

Writing Skills Statement

Faculty policy directs that all written assignments (including, although to a lesser extent, written exam responses) will be assessed at least partly on writing skills. For details see www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/info. Writing skills include not only surface correctness (grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, etc) but also general clarity and organization. Research papers must be properly documented.

If you need help with your writing, you may use the Writing Centre.  Visit the website for more details: www.efwr.ucalgary.ca

Grading System

The following grading system is used in the Faculty of Communication and Culture:

A+ (96-100); A (92-95); A- (86-91); B+ (81-85); B (77-80); B- (71-76);
C+ (65-70); C (62-64); C- (59-61); D+ (55-58); D (50-54); F (0-49)

 

Plagiarism

Using any source whatsoever without clearly documenting it is a serious academic offense. Consequences include failure on the assignment, failure in the course and possibly suspension or expulsion from the university.

You must document not only direct quotations but also paraphrases and ideas where they appear in your text. A reference list at the end is insufficient by itself. Readers must be able to tell exactly where your words and ideas end and other people's words and ideas begin. This includes assignments submitted in non-traditional formats such as Web pages or visual media, and material taken from such sources.

Please consult your instructor or the Writing Centre (SS 106, efwr.ucalgary.ca) if you have any questions regarding how to document sources.

Students with Disabilities

If you are a student with a disability who may require academic accommodation, it is your responsibility to register with the Disability Resource Centre (220-8237) and discuss your needs with your instructor no later than fourteen (14) days after the start of the course.

Students' Union

For details about the current Students' Union contacts for the Faculty of Communication and Culture see www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/su

"SAFEWALK" Program -- 220-5333

Campus Security will escort individuals day or night -- call 220-5333 for assistance. Use any campus phone, emergency phone or the yellow phone located at most parking lot booths.

Ethics

Whenever you perform research with human participants (i.e. surveys, interviews, observation) as part of your university studies, you are responsible for following university research ethics guidelines.  Your instructor must review and approve of your research plans and supervise your research.  For more information about your research ethics responsibilities, see

The Faculty of Communication and Culture Research Ethics site: http://www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/ethics

or the University of Calgary Research Ethics site: http://www.ucalgary.ca/research/compliance/ethics/info/undergrad/

Schedule of Lectures and Readings

 

Will be available during first day of class