Modules

Module title: Planning & Public Policy for Festival and Events
SCQF level: 09:
SCQF credit value: 20.00
ECTS credit value: 10
Module code: TSM09102
Module leader: Gary Kerr
School The Business School
Subject area group: Tourism and Languages
Prerequisites

TSM07108 - Introduction to International Hospitality, Tourism and Events, or equivalent
2019/0, Trimester 1, Face-to-Face, Edinburgh Napier University
Occurrence: 001
Primary mode of delivery: Face-to-Face
Location of delivery: CRAIGLOCKHAR
Partner: Edinburgh Napier University
Member of staff responsible for delivering module: David Jarman
Module Organiser:


Learning, Teaching and Assessment (LTA) Approach:
The module’s primary mode of teaching is face to face delivery of lectures, with associated seminars. These classes systematically build knowledge of linkages between festivals and events on the one hand, and government and public policy on the other.

Lectures are designed to introduce the different themes, following the structure and progress of the module’s key themes through learning outcomes 1, 2 and 3. Lectures are informed by the growing body of academic literature that places festivals and events in their political contexts. Text books provide well-structured and accessible interpretations of such topics, while journal articles focus on case studies from domestic and international perspectives. Over time the literature is developing a more critical perspective on event policy, and this is brought into the lectures.

Seminars are student focused, encouraging discussion and application of the module’s themes and topics. In-class research, debates, presentations and other task based activities facilitate the examination of key topics from a variety of perspectives. The interconnected nature of these topics is highlighted and reinforced where appropriate, particularly towards the end of the module’s delivery.

Online resources are used in association with the taught elements of the module. These include advance posting of learning and teaching materials, industry and academic sources, and further resources (such as podcasts) where appropriate.
Formative Assessment:
Throughout the module students are expected to critically reflect on the subject area. Formative assessment therefore has an ongoing nature, as exemplified through the weekly seminar activities. These provide students with a structured, task based framework with which they are encouraged to engage and consider their own progress. Feedback from the tutor is an integral part of most seminar activities, provided as part of the class activities. Some offer the potential for students to offer comment and feedback on the work of their peers, primarily through discussion.

The module features two credit-bearing assessments, the first of which is designed to offer written feedback that has a formative dimension. (Further details of the assessment itself are outlined below in 15.c.) Formative feedback on the first credit-bearing assessment will inform the more substantial summative assessment, by highlighting each student’s success in addressing fundamental concepts underpinning the module. Having been presented with a case study scenario in this first assessment, the later summative work requires them to apply the same skills and abilities in a devised scenario of their own construction.

There is scope within the module’s seminars to carry out tasks related to the first credit-bearing assessment, providing both preparation and verbal formative feedback for the students. Looking beyond this module, the assessment has an explicit literature based dimension that is intended to inform similar work in other modules, such as the honours dissertation.


Summative Assessment:
The module contains two credit-bearing, summative assessments.

Assessment 1 (25%; L.O. 1 and 2): a 750- to 1,000-word essay, focusing on relevant academic literature as applied to an appropriate case study (such as a publicly funded event, or a public sector organisation). Students are required to critically examine relevant academic literature, with a sample of potential sources provided by way of suitable initial materials. Different perspectives on the relationships between policy, festivals and events are therefore examined, some advocating a relatively instrumental focus while others take a more critical perspective. Applying these themes to a chosen case study (from a selection prepared by the module team) has the potential to make the assessment more accessible to students who may require such a focus, while also providing a challenge for all students to link their conceptual literature review to a clearly defined industry scenario.

Assessment 2 (75%; L.O. 1, 2, 3 and 4): a 3,000- to 3,500-word report, proposing a policy-based development to a festival or event of the student’s choosing. Students are required to bring together material from across the module and deliver a development proposal for an existing or potential festival or event. The proposal is to be presented as a response to public sector policy objectives, demonstrating the potential for festivals and events to be supported in pursuit of relatively instrumental goals. This assessment builds on the previous summative work by requiring reference to similar themes and sources, which are then applied in a scenario of the student’s own construction. As such there are opportunities for students to bring creativity and innovation to their development proposals, making use of work carried out in previous modules.
Student Activity (Notional Equivalent Study Hours (NESH))
Mode of activityLearning & Teaching ActivityNESH (Study Hours)
Face To Face Lecture 12
Face To Face Seminar 24
Independent Learning Guided independent study 152
Online Guided independent study 12
Total Study Hours200
Expected Total Study Hours for Module200


Assessment
Type of Assessment Weighting % LOs covered Week due Length in Hours/Words
Essay 25 1-2 7 HOURS= 0, WORDS= 750
Report 75 1-4 14 HOURS= 0, WORDS= 3000
Component 1 subtotal: 25
Component 2 subtotal: 75
Module subtotal: 100

Description of module content:

This module encourages students to view, assess and develop festivals and events in their political environments. The ‘instrumental’ purposes to which festivals and events may be applied are critically examined, in the light of a range of policy domains including economic, social and cultural. The module draws on a wide variety of festivals, events, policy related documents and public sector organisations. These include local, regional and national examples from a variety of countries as appropriate. The module also examines the role of international organisations and programmes, such as the IOC, FIFA and the European City of Culture scheme, in the development and pursuit of policy objectives in host countries. Consideration is also given to festival and event stakeholder relationships, from theoretical and applied perspectives.
Learning Outcomes for module:

Upon completion of this module you will be able to:
LO1: Evaluate the relationships between festival and event development and public sector policy, in both domestic and international contexts.
LO2: Identify and examine relevant public sector agencies, events rights holders and associated organisations, operating within local, national and international environments.
LO3: Interpret and evaluate relationships between festivals and events and associated stakeholders and host communities.
LO4: Devise and construct policy related responses to festival and event development scenarios, based on theoretical and industry evidence.
Indicative References and Reading List - URL:
Planning & Public Policy for Festival and Events
 

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