Department of International Relations

Faculty of Social Sciences

National University of Modern Languages (NUML)
Islamabad

COURSE OUTLINE & TEACHING PLAN

BSIR Program

Course Name Governance and Public Policy

Course Code [To be assigned by the department]

Credit Hours Credit Hours: 2

Course Prerequisites [To be specified by the department if applicable]

Semester Spring 2024

Instructor Abdul Majeed

Consultation Day/s & Consultation Day/s & Hours:

Hours

E-mail [email protected]

Course Description

This course delves into the intricate world of governance and public policy, exploring the
multifaceted roles and dynamics between state, private sector, and civil society. It navigates
through the core principles of good governance as defined by leading global institutions and
examines the challenges and issues confronting governance practices, particularly in the context
of developing countries. By analyzing various models and theories of public policy, alongside
contemporary case studies, students will gain profound insights into policy analysis, formulation,
and implementation. Special emphasis is placed on the economic and climate policy dimensions,
reflecting on the pressing global and local environmental challenges. The course aims to equip
students with the analytical tools and theoretical knowledge to critically evaluate governance
structures and public policies, fostering an understanding of their implications on human
development and societal well-being.
Course Objectives
• To offer students a comprehensive introduction to the field of Governance and policy
studies with a focus on democratic politics, and organizational decision-making.
• To build understanding of critical concepts such as collaboration, institutional design,
multi-level and inter-sectoral leadership, and learn to creatively compare or combine
different disciplinary perspectives on governance.
• It also aims to build on multiple knowledge sources policy making function of the
government as well as the civil society.
• To build the ability to identify and discuss the particular stages of public policy and its
broader thematic areas and concepts.
• To enable and empower our students to deconstruct policy issues of Pakistan in a more
objective and creative way.

Learning Outcomes

• Understand and articulate the concepts of governance and public policy, including their
importance and implementation in various contexts.
• Critically evaluate different governance models and public policies, with a focus on their
impact on human development and societal well-being.

Grading Policy & Student Assessment Criteria

Assessment Instruments* Percentage LO Covered

Prelim (Discussion, Quiz, Viva, Assignments, Presentation,

20% LO 1,2….
Literature Review, Research Report)

Mid Term Exam 30 % LO 1,2,3….

Final Exam 50% LO 1,2,3….

Weekly Content Breakdown

Week 1: Introduction to Governance

Topic: Governance: varying definitions, Governance According to UNDP

Course Objectives: 1

Learning Outcome: 1
Class Activity & Assessment Instrument/Percentage %: Discussion

Suggested Reading/s: Governance: A Very Short Introduction by Mark Bevir

Week 2: Good Governance Concepts

Topic: What is Good Governance (by UNESCAP), The Concept of Good Governance (Surendra
Munshi, Biju Paul Abraham, and Soma Chaudhuri): Organizational Views, Critical Perspectives,
Analytical Issues

Course Objectives: 2

Learning Outcome: 1, 2

Class Activity & Assessment Instrument/Percentage %: Discussion, Quiz (5%)

Suggested Reading/s: Good Governance in the Era of Global Neoliberalism by Demmers, Jolle;
Fernández Jilberto, Alex E.; Hogenboom, Barbara

Week 3: Understanding Governance

Topic: The meaning of Governance (Anne Mette Kjaer): What is governance?, Governance and
Institutionalism, Governance and Core Concepts

Course Objectives: 3

Learning Outcome: 2

Class Activity & Assessment Instrument/Percentage %: Interactive Session

Suggested Reading/s: Public Policy: Concepts, Theories, and Issues by S. B. Verma

Week 4: Key Actors in Governance

Topic: The state, roles of the states and key milestones in governance, The private or business
sector, the civil society, relationships between governance and human development

Course Objectives: 2, 3

Learning Outcome: 1, 2

Class Activity & Assessment Instrument/Percentage %: Group Discussion

Suggested Reading/s: Theories of Public Policy: An Introduction by Paul Cairney

Week 5: Characteristics of Good Governance

Topic: Characteristics by UNDP, dimensions by World Bank, elements by ADB, principles by
IOG, Worldwide Governance Index (WGI)

Course Objectives: 1, 4

Learning Outcome: 1, 2

Class Activity & Assessment Instrument/Percentage %: Assignment (5%)

Suggested Reading/s: Governance: A Very Short Introduction by Mark Bevir

Week 6: Governance Issues and Challenges

Topic: Factors/Processes Pushing for Governance, Key Issues and Challenges: The Philippine
Experience, A case of Pakistan

Course Objectives: 4, 5

Learning Outcome: 2

Class Activity & Assessment Instrument/Percentage %: Discussion, Presentation Preparation

Suggested Reading/s: Climate Change and Public Policy: A Case Study Approach by Raul P.
Lejano, Shondel J. Nero

Week 7: Mid-Term Exam

Percentage: 30%

Learning Outcome Covered: 1, 2

Week 8: Public Policy Overview and Types

Topic: Overview of Public Policy: Definition, scope, importance, Types of Public Policy: Types
of Policies, Critical Reflections

Course Objectives: 3, 4

Learning Outcome: 2, 3

Class Activity & Assessment Instrument/Percentage %: Discussion

Suggested Reading/s: Theories of Public Policy: An Introduction by Paul Cairney

Week 9: Theories and Models of Public Policy

Topic: Theories of Public Policy: Public Bureaucracy, Power, Legitimacy and Rationality,
Models of Public Policy: Policy Models, Policy Cycles

Course Objectives: 2, 3

Learning Outcome: 1, 3

Class Activity & Assessment Instrument/Percentage %: Interactive Session

Suggested Reading/s: Public Policy: Concepts, Theories, and Issues by S. B. Verma

Week 10: Exploring Policy Domains

Topic: Different domains of public policy, Interactions and intersections between policy domains

Course Objectives: 5

Learning Outcome: 2, 3

Class Activity & Assessment Instrument/Percentage %: Group Project Discussion

Suggested Reading/s: Good Governance in the Era of Global Neoliberalism by Demmers, Jolle;
Fernández Jilberto, Alex E.; Hogenboom, Barbara

Week 11: Public Policy Making

Topic: Policy Analysis and Formulation, methods and tools, Crafting policy objectives and
proposals

Course Objectives: 4, 5

Learning Outcome: 2, 3

Class Activity & Assessment Instrument/Percentage %: Quiz (5%)

Suggested Reading/s: Climate Change and Public Policy: A Case Study Approach by Raul P.
Lejano, Shondel J. Nero

Week 12: Economic and Climate Policy

Topic: The Case of Developed Countries, Loss and Damage Fund Case, Developing Countries
and Climate Change

Course Objectives: 1, 5

Learning Outcome: 2, 3
Class Activity & Assessment Instrument/Percentage %: Presentation (10%)

Suggested Reading/s: Theories of Public Policy: An Introduction by Paul Cairney

Week 13: Policy Analysis, Design, and Capacity

Topic: Doing Policy Analysis and Design: Contemporary Cases from Pakistan, Policy Capacity:
Issues, Challenges, and Tensions

Course Objectives: 3, 4

Learning Outcome: 1, 3

Class Activity & Assessment Instrument/Percentage %: Group Discussion, Assignment

Preparation

Suggested Reading/s: Governance: A Very Short Introduction by Mark Bevir

Week 14: Substantive Areas of Public Policy

Topic: Health Policy, Education Policy

Course Objectives: 2, 5

Learning Outcome: 2, 3

Class Activity & Assessment Instrument/Percentage %: Project (10%)

Suggested Reading/s: Public Policy: Concepts, Theories, and Issues by S. B. Verma

Week 15: End-Term Exam

Percentage: 50%

Learning Outcome Covered: 1, 2, 3

*Prelim activity can be placed anywhere in the weekly breakdown, but it has to be
identified clearly. It is better to conduct it in phases/ split manner.

Teaching Methodology
• Lectures
• Multimedia: Slides/ Documentaries/ Video Clips
• Interactive Sessions/ Q&A Sessions
• Guest Speakers’ Lectures/ Talks
Text Book/s

• Bevir, Mark. Governance: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press,
2012.
• Cairney, Paul. Theories of Public Policy: An Introduction. Palgrave, UK: Palgrave Macmillan,
2012.

Recommended Readings

• Demmers, Jolle; Fernández Jilberto, Alex E.; Hogenboom, Barbara, eds. Good Governance in the
Era of Global Neoliberalism: Conflict and Depolitisation in Latin America, Eastern Europe, Asia
and Africa. London, UK: Routledge, 2004.
• Verma, S. B. Public Policy: Concepts, Theories, and Issues. New Delhi, India: Sage Publications,
2012.
• Lejano, Raul P.; Nero, Shondel J., eds. Climate Change and Public Policy: A Case Study
Approach. New York, NY: Routledge, 2019

Important Instructions
• Regularity and punctuality are highly acknowledged.
• Students are advised to stay punctual. Habitual lateness results in marked absences;
however, the decision to allow latecomers to attend the class is at the teacher's discretion.
• The University's attendance policy will be strictly followed.
• Students are expected to maintain class decorum, demonstrating their best manners during
lectures, exams, and interactive sessions.
• The use of mobile phones/smart gadgets in the classroom is prohibited.
• Students with special needs will be accommodated according to university policy.
• Students must adhere to deadlines for assigned tasks.
• Plagiarism and cheating or using other unfair means during assessments will be strictly
penalized.