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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "BUS/PL 325"
COURSE NAME: "NGO Consulting Lab"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Spring 2025
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Ieva Jakobsone Bellomi
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
MW 10:00 AM 11:15 AM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:
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COURSE DESCRIPTION:
In this transdisciplinary course, students develop a project for a non governmental organization (NGO) and they learn how to mainstream the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - including social, economic and environmental sustainability - into it. This learning-by-doing approach is accompanied by a sound theoretical framework in which the role NGOs play in the fragmented system of global governance is analyzed and the ways in which these non-State actors contribute to achieving the SDGs is examined. Moreover, students learn how to mainstream human rights, gender equity, diversity and environmental sustainability in NGOs’ work and to understand the challenges posed by managing projects and evaluating their impact.
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
The Course exposes students to the work of NGOs, directly involving them in the solution of social and humanitarian problems. It provides students with a sound theoretical framework on the role that international NGOs play in the system of global governance and how the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - contained in the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – ought to be integrated in their work.
Moreover, students get an understanding of the challenges posed by NGO accountability, legitimacy and transparency and they learn how to mainstream human rights, gender equity, diversity and environmental sustainability in NGOs’ work. Finally, they understand the challenges posed by managing projects and evaluating their impact.
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
1) design effective and sustainable projects for NGOs that promote the implementation of the SDGs;
2) put in practice plans aimed at guaranteeing organizational accountability, legitimacy, and transparency;
3) mainstream human rights, gender equity, diversity and environmental sustainability in NGOs’ projects and activities;
4) assess the challenges of managing projects and evaluating the impact of interventions.
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TEXTBOOK:
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| Individual research paper on contemporary global governance challenges | | 35 |
| Solving an SDGs Challenge - Founding NGO | The students shall be tasked to found their own NGO to solve the global challenge under SDGs: the students shall have to identify an important challenge in the scope of SDGs, propose a clear and implementable solution, and build an appropriate organizational vehicle, in this case an NGO, to solve the challenge identified; the students shall also identify financing sources; a very practical exercise to understand how to build and run an NGO! | 35 |
| Reflections on guest speakers' lectures | | 20 |
| Class participation | | 10 |
-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. The final exam period runs until ____________
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ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic
dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred.
In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment,
may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of
academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student
who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from
the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation
to the President, who will make the final decision.
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STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap.
Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning
of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
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SCHEDULE
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The topics and activities to be covered in the course:
- Global Governance and NGOs.
- Challenges of Global Governance currently.
- NGOs, purpose, vision and mission, and values; sustainable development across globe.
- Sustainable Development Goals.
- Specific SDGs topics: human rights, focus - women rights; environmental sustainability.
- Building an NGO: purpose, vision and mission; structure, human capital and activities; financing and budgeting.
- Monitoring and evaluating NGO's impact.
- Solving an SDGs Challenge - Founding NGO.
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