Module manager: Dr Lata Narayanaswamy
Email: l.narayanaswamy@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2026/27
It is advised that students have some knowledge of, or familiarity with, the academic study of global development through previous coursework before studying this module. In line with the guidance for Discovery Modules, this is attainable to a broad group of students as ‘global development’ is studied in many schools, notably POLIS, Sociology, Geography, History, Earth and Environment, Education, ITS and LUBS amongst others.
PIED 3207 International Development and Social Policy (the module has simply been renamed)
This module is approved as a discovery module
This module explores recent scholarship that critically reframes the relationship between social protection and global development, understood broadly as those policies designed to improve human welfare and social development, and the diverse global development challenges faced by the global South. The module uses a case-study based approach to explore cross-cutting themes including, for example, climate, education, labour/employment, health, housing, gender and intersectional inequality. Students explore questions around how social protection might be designed and implemented, and by whom, to address human needs, and thereby achieve more positive global development outcomes.
This module investigates the relationship of policy and policy processes in global development to address social inequalities and human development. Widening understandings of social protection beyond Western/Eurocentric frameworks is a core element of the module, challenging what this term means and how ideas around policies to promote social welfare are being adapted, translated and challenged in developing country contexts. Students explore various approaches to theorising about the role of the state, the market, communities, and individuals in providing social protection and tackling social inequalities. It analyses notions of need, entitlement, solidarity, merit and redistribution and the capacity of social protection within this to respond to these interrelated global challenges, alongside case studies that chart new approaches to social policy and development emerging from the Global South.
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
1.Identify a range of approaches to social protection, and examine both the strengths and limitations of these approaches for addressing global development challenges.
2.Critically evaluate theories of social redistribution and welfare, analyse the roles of key actors, and assess their effectiveness in a changing global context.
3.Evaluate and assess the aims, strategies and limitations of the various actors involved in social protection formulation given the variability and diversity of governance and policy structures in a range of global development contexts.
4.Communicate great ideas and insights to time‑poor decision-makers.
5.Marshal theories, data and critical insights into convincing arguments for diverse actors.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 11 | 1 | 11 |
| Seminar | 11 | 1 | 11 |
| Private study hours | 178 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 22 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
Independent study facilitated by resources on the VLE and resources in the library. Students will also be required to conduct independent research into particular case studies in preparation for seminars, essays and exams.
A formal formative assessment opportunity will be provided for the summative assessment task, which is specifically pedagogically aligned to that task. As part of this, each student will receive feedback designed to support the development of knowledge and skills that will be later assessed in the summative task.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | - | 100 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 30/04/2026
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team