Course Title: Transforming Organisations and Applied Human Rights I

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Transforming Organisations and Applied Human Rights I

Credit Points: 12


Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

HUSO2288

City Campus

Postgraduate

360H Education

Face-to-Face

Sem 2 2008,
Sem 1 2011

HUSO2288

City Campus

Postgraduate

360H Education

Face-to-Face or Internet

Sem 1 2009

HUSO2288

City Campus

Postgraduate

360H Education

Internet

Sem 1 2010

HUSO2312

City Campus

Undergraduate

360H Education

Face-to-Face or Internet

Sem 1 2010

Course Coordinator: Dr Tracey Ollis

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925-2539

Course Coordinator Email:tracey.ollis@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 98.1.2D

Course Coordinator Availability: Email for an appointment


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

The course requires the ability to undertake study at a post-graduate level, including to:
• Undertake independent research using a range of texts and electronic resources
• Examine and evaluate opposing arguments
• Apply theoretical concepts to present day workplace situations


Course Description

This is a post-graduate work integrated learning based core course. It will assist you to both understand and engage in the task of organisational transformation in ways that favour human rights practice in a variety of organisational and professional settings. It will show you how to identify and understand what an applied human rights approach means when working with clients, co-workers and fellow citizens. In particular, this course will help you to identify what this requires by way of the theory and practice of policy development, implementation, evaluation and the theory and practice of organisational change. The course will assist you to develop new and/or transformative approaches to work place organisations, explore the value of professional development, and identify core issues involved in transforming work practices. It will assist you to reflectively refine your problem solving skills and to develop new approaches to working effectively with clients and co-workers in ways that give effect to the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Upon completion of this subject you will be able to:
• Demonstrate a graduate level understanding of the key concepts and debates regarding human rights practice in organisations
• Demonstrate an understanding of some of the significant aspects of what is meant by a culture of human rights in the workplace
• Apply theoretical understandings and strategic questions to your own workplace or community organisational environment
• Understand the theory and practice of professional development and issues involved in transforming work practices
• Identify and comment reflexively on the value of different approaches to organisational change
• Identify the elements of good practice and good judgment in specific organisations
• Identify what an applied human rights approach to working with clients, co-workers and fellow citizens means
• Reflect on key aspects of the Victorian Charter in terms of its specific application to your workplace
• Identify skills and approaches required for effective human rights advocacy within your organisation
• Document and evaluate a small example of organisational transformation in your organisation


Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this subject you will be able to:
• Demonstrate a general understanding of the key concepts and debates in human rights and apply theoretical understandings and strategic questions regarding human rights practice in organisations
• Demonstrate a graduate level understanding of some of the significant aspects of what is meant by a culture of human rights in the workplace
• Understand the theory and practice of professional development and issues involved in transforming work practices
• Identify and comment reflexively on the value of different approaches to organisational change
• Identify elements of good practice and good judgment in specific organisations
• Identify what an applied human rights approach to working with clients, co-workers and fellow citizens means
• Reflect on key aspects of the Victorian Charter in terms of its specific application in an organisation
• Identify skills and approaches required for effective human rights advocacy within an organisation
• Show continuing development of your conceptual, analytical and organisational skills and a graduate level capacity to think critically and be able to engage in evidence-based research activities to inform effective written and oral presentation of your own ideas and arguments.


Overview of Learning Activities

This course comprises the following learning materials and experiences:

1. Ten weeks of interactive face to face or Blackboard discussion group workshops
2. A Course Reader (CD-ROM) with core readings for each of the aspects covered in the workshop sessions, as well as background materials on the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities. Students will be expected to read the core readings before attending the relevant workshop
3. A list of further online resources relevant to organisational change theory and practice and the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities
4. The opportunity to engage with and learn from a range of government, non-government and community-based stakeholders and experts
5. Feedback on assessment tasks designed to provide students with timely comments on their understanding of organisational change theory and the capacity to practically apply their theoretical understanding to a real-world human rights issue in an organisation
6. Face-to-face and electronic access to the Course Coordinator and relevant support staff
7. A mixture of work-integrated learning in which students engage in a project in an organisation and are given the opportunity to reflect and review in a series of integrative workshops
8. Library and internet resource orientation sessions, which can be booked through the Information Desk at Swanston Library


Overview of Learning Resources

Ife, J (2008) Human rights and social work: Towards rights based practice, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.

A Course Reader on CD ROM


Overview of Assessment

Assessment will be ongoing

Reflective journal (Blog) (2,000 words) 45%

Organisational audit project (3,500 words) 55%

Assessment 1: Reflective journal (Blog)

Students will complete an action learning reflective journal, based on the model provided at: http://facilitatedsystems.com/llogs.html. The journal will take the form of a blog and will be completed on Blackboard. This task requires students to log their thought and learning cycles about the capacity for change on the basis of human rights in their organisation (or organisational area) over a period of five weeks.
Assessment criteria
• Ability to define the priorities of the organisation (or organisational area)
• Demonstrated capacity to identify elements of good practice and good judgement in the organisation
• Demonstrated ability to identify skills and approaches required for effective human rights advocacy within the organisation
• Identification and explanation of appropriate mediums (e.g. forums/individuals/processes) of human rights change within the constraints of the organisation
• Reflexive examination of the potential opportunities and limits to your own role in the organisation and capacity to initiate change
Assessment 1 is due 20th May 2009


Assessment 2: Organisational audit project (3,500 words) 55%

Students will conduct an action learning focused human rights audit on the organisation, which should include:

• A statement explaining which Charter protected rights are relevant in this organisational context
• An outline of how the organisation is seeking to uphold these rights
• A discussion of any areas in which changes could be made
• An outline of people’s responses to the audit

Your evaluation must include a reflective analysis of the results of the audit and suggestions for any possible organisational changes that could better implement Charter protected rights.

Assessment 2 is due 24th June 2009

Assessment criteria
• Ability to reflect on key aspects of the Victorian Charter in terms of its specific application to this organisation
• Demonstrated understanding of the key concepts and debates in human rights and application of theoretical understandings and strategic questions regarding human rights practice to your organisation
• Demonstrated ability to understand the theory and practice of professional development and issues involved in transforming work practices
• Identification of skills and approaches required for effective human rights advocacy within this organisation
• Ability to identify and describe how change may be evaluated
000 words) 45%