This module is a resource for lecturers  

 

Student assessment

 

This section provides a suggestion for a post-class assignment for the purpose of assessing student understanding of the Module. Suggestions for pre-class or in-class assignments are provided in the Exercises section.

The following two assignments are proposed. The first assignment is specific to public service ethics. However, it can be relevant for students who are not public administration specialists, as it can assess their knowledge and understanding of the Module. The second assignment asks students to think about what they could do to strengthen ethics in their own environment, creating strategies for action based on the discussion in Modules. This is not related specifically to public service ethics but encourages critical reflection, analysis and creative design, skills that are relevant to issues explored in the Module.

Assignment 1: Essay on a public service value

Students should select one public service value and write an essay on it.

  • They should explain the value, review a national public service ethics code and identify the action principles connected to the value, or research different codes on the Internet and compare the different formulation of the value and action principles.
  • They should also discuss what implications this value has on public services and public life if it is properly implemented.
  • They should explain why this value is important for their life.
 

Assignment 2: What can I do for a more ethical environment?

Students should select one integrity breaching practice from their own environment (school, sport club, group of peers, family). Integrity breaching practice is a behaviour repeated by someone that breaches the formal or informal ethical rules or norms pertinent for the group/environment. Students should write an essay covering the following questions:

  • Why has the practice evolved and why is it repeated?
  • In what conditions, if at all, would you do something to change the practice?
  • How would you attempt to change the practice?

In their reflection, students should apply some of the concepts they learned in the Module.

 
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