Astudio Cymru Gyfoes

Module Identifier: DA20820
Module Title: Astudio Cymru Gyfoes
Academic Year: 2027/2028
Semester: Semester 1
Co-ordinator: Professor Rhys Jones
Reading List: View on Aspire
Other Staff: Dr Hywel Griffiths

Assessment

Assessment Type	Assessment details	Proportion
Semester Assessment	Essay: Essay addressing a key social scientific concept and its relationship with Wales 2500 Words	50%
Semester Assessment	Poster: Poster outlining a policy engagement with a key social scientific issue in Wales 750 Words	50%
Supplementary Assessment	Essay: Essay addressing a key social scientific concept and its relationship with Wales 2500 Words	50%
Supplementary Assessment	Poster: Poster outlining a policy engagement with a key social scientific issue in Wales 750 Words	50%

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

Demonstrate an understanding of key concepts in the social sciences and how they relate to academic work in Wales.
Demonstrate an understanding of key concepts in the social sciences and how they relate to public policy in Wales.
Understand the relationship between Welsh academic and policy approaches to these concepts, and broader international debates and trends.
Develop effective ways of communicating policy issues to different audiences.

Brief description

This module provides students with a broad overview of key themes in the social sciences and the way in which they relate to Welsh society, politics and culture.

In particular, the module shows: 1) the attempts that have been made to develop Welsh understandings of key themes in the social sciences; 2) the way in which these themes have been approached in public policy in Wales, particularly since devolution; 3) how these themes have enabled Wales to be positioned within broader international and global debates around these themes.

The module possesses a strong emphasis on employability and should place students in a strong position to access jobs in various sectors of public policy in Wales.

The module will be taught through a combination of recorded lectures (including tasks) and face-to-face seminars.

Aims

This module provides students with a broad overview of key themes in the social sciences and the way in which they relate to Welsh society, politics and culture.

Content

The topics covered in any particular year may vary slightly depending on staffing arrangements, but will normally be selected from the following themes:

- Education
- Social inequalities
- Religion, faith and secularity
- Community
- Language and protest
- Language planning
- Social class and welfare
- Well-being
- National identity
- Migration
- Gender
- Sexuality

Module skills

Skills type	Skills details
Co-ordinating with others	Students will have ample opportunity for team work in the seminars but these skills will not be tested as such.
Creative Problem Solving	The module is designed to develop an understanding among students of how Wales has approached various research and policy problems that span the social sciences. Students will be encouraged to use that learning in their policy poster.
Critical and analytical thinking	Students will be encouraged to critically analyse a wide variety of social scientific themes and concepts and how they relate to Wales. Research skills will be tested through the essay and poster.
Digital capability	Students will be expected to use word processing technology, digital photographs and maps to complete their essay and poster. Students will be expected to use information technology to aid further reading.
Professional communication	Written communication skills will be developed and tested through the essay and poster. The seminar discussions will feature discussions between staff and students, which will develop strong verbal communication, and ample opportunities for one-to-one and group discussions.
Real world sense	The module possesses a strong emphasis on employability and should place students in a strong position to access jobs in various sectors of public policy in Wales.
Reflection	Students will be encouraged to develop flexibility and adaptability as they encounter a new concept and policy challenge from week to week.
Subject Specific Skills	This module will develop a range of practical skills for social scientists. While they are not subject specific, they address the fundamental issue of how various academic and policy themes have been approached effectively in interdisciplinary ways.

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 5