CPT781: Development and Urbanisation Processes

School Cardiff School of Geography and Planning
Department Code GEOPL
Module Code CPT781
External Subject Code 100590
Number of Credits 20
Level L7
Language of Delivery English
Module Leader Dr Georgina Santos
Semester Autumn Semester
Academic Year 2023/4

Outline Description of Module

The module focuses on development and urbanisation. It pays particular attention to development problems faced by developing countries as well as to urbanisation processes. We focus on both problems and potential policies that have either been tested or could be tested. We cover a number of topics, such as for example, gender equality, female neglect, health and education, or the problems of the mega-cities and urban sprawl.

On completion of the module a student should be able to

Critically discuss (1) basic concepts in development economics, such as economic growth, human development and the measures and indicators that have been proposed; (2) the challenges of education, health and gender inequality in developing countries; (3) the obstacles poor groups in developing countries face in order to access credit and insurance and the solutions that have been proposed; (4) the relationship between urbanisation and economic growth; and (5) the challenges caused by the rapid expansion of urban areas in developing countries, with rural-urban migration as a principal cause.

How the module will be delivered

The module will be delivered through lectures and seminars, in-person and on campus unless mitigating circumstances arise. Seminars will enable small group discussion about key issues relevant to the module. Students are expected to engage with additional module content on Learning Central e.g. readings or other material, to prepare for lectures and seminars, and to supplement and deepen taught components.

Skills that will be practised and developed

During the course of the module there will be plenty of opportunities to practise and master a number of skills. Students will be expected to:

  1. write clear and critical but concise answers in the form of short essays, analysing a topic in a logical manner and backing arguments up with academic references;
  2. be able to work individually as well as in a group;
  3. debate a topic in class, justifying arguments in a reasoned way;
  4. read the latest research on a topic new to the student and be able to grasp the main points, regardless of the student’s background.
  5. Verbal and written communication, problem solving and team work are important employability skills and the module offers an opportunity to practise all these.

How the module will be assessed

 

The module will be assessed with a written submission (linked to learning outcomes 1 to 5 and skills 1 and 4). This will be supported with formative assessments throughout the module.

 

 

THE OPPORTUNITY FOR REASSESSMENT IN THIS MODULE:

 

Re-assessment

 

Students are permitted to be reassessed in a module which they have failed, in line with University regulations. https://intranet.cardiff.ac.uk/staff/teaching-and-supporting-students/teaching-support/academic-regulations. The format of the reassessment will be the same as the original assessment and will take place in the Summer re-sit period.

 

Data Collection and Ethical Approval

For some assessments, students may be required to collect their own data. In such assessments ethical approval from the School Research Ethics Committee must be obtained before data collection can begin. The module leader will discuss the process for obtaining ethical approval if it is needed in this module. Ethical approval is not needed for students using existing, open data sets (e.g. anonymised secondary data). This does not include social media data (e.g., Twitter or Facebook posts), where ethical approval must be obtained. The ethical approval process will take time and you are strongly recommended to adhere to the timetable outlined by the module leader to ensure you are not delayed in your assessment.

Assessment Breakdown

Type % Title Duration(hrs)
Written Assessment 100 Set Of Questions N/A

Syllabus content

Basic concepts in development studies. Private and social returns to education. Spillovers of education. Financial markets, microfinance and insurance in developing countries. Gender inequality and missing women. Health and development. Rural-urban migration. Urbanisation and economic growth. Challenges caused by the rapid expansion of urban areas in developing countries.


Copyright Cardiff University. Registered charity no. 1136855