| CODE | SOC5029 | |||||||||
| TITLE | Assessing Social Impacts | |||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | |||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | |||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | |||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Sociology | |||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit engages students with knowledge and skills required to identify, gauge and review impacts of projects or change proposals (e.g., in the urban, community or policy realms). Special emphasis will be made on using the social life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) perspective and on carrying out social impact assessments in a scientific (quantitative, qualitative and mixed-methods), rigorous and ethical manner. The study-unit will engage students with a critical discussion of actual and simulated case studies to provide hands-on experience of identifying social impacts and affected stakeholders; of analysing how and extent to which each impact is likely to affect specific stakeholders as informed by a LCIA perspective; with due consideration of the baseline situation, current affairs, and the broader socio-economic and political contexts. Study-Unit Aims: 1. Familiarise students with a range of social impacts associated with projects / change proposals of diverse nature (e.g., demographic, social, political, economic, liveability, cultural, health and safety impacts); 2. Mediate the development of knowledge and skills required to assess social impacts with due and differentiated consideration of affected stakeholders, the local baseline situation; and the broader socio-economic and political contexts and current affairs; 3. Sensitise students to limitations in assessing social impacts and guide on how to address these through mitigating measures; and 4. Train students on developing a social impact assessment's monitoring and evaluation plan. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: 1. Examine a range of possible social impacts (e.g., demographic; socio-cultural and political; and related to work and employment, housing, family structure and dynamics, conviviality, integration, social cohesion, etc.) of a given project proposal / change (urban / social / legal / policy, etc.); 2. Chart categories of stakeholders of a given urban / social / legal / policy project proposal / change, with special attention to vulnerable cohorts; 3. Infer limitations of a given assessment of social impacts; and 4. Develop pertinent mitigating measures. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: 1. Analyse likelihood, extent and general time frames of prospective social impacts of a given project / change proposal / case study; 2. Employ differentiated stakeholder analysis in a sociologically- and LCIA-informed and ethical manner; 3. Review assessed social impacts in the light of potential limitations and possible mitigating measures; and 4. Integrate the assessment of social impacts in a monitoring and evaluation framework / plan of a given case study. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - Benoît, N. et al. (Eds.). (2020). Guidelines for Social Life Cycle Assessment of Products and Organizations 2020. Nairobi: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Open access: https://www.lifecycleinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Guidelines-for-Social-Life-Cycle-Assessment-of-Products-and-Organizations- 2020-22.1.21sml.pdf - Dreyer, L.C., Hauschild, M. K. & Schierbeck, J. (2006). A Framework for Social Life Cycle Impact Assessment. International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment 11, 88–97. https://doi.org/10.1065/lca2005.08.223 - Kvam, R. (2018). Social Impact Assessment: Integrating Social Issues in Development Projects. Washington DC: InterAmerican Development Bank. Open access: https://publications.iadb.org/publications/english/document/Social_Impact_Assessment_Integrating_Social_Issues_in_Development_Projec ts.pdf - Taylor, N., Mackay, M. (2022). Social Impact Assessment: Guidelines for thriving regions and communities. Wellington, New Zealand: Building Better Homes Towns and Cities. Open access: https://www.buildingbetter.nz/publications/thriving_regions/Taylor_Mackay_2022_social_impact_assessment_guidelines.pdf - Vanclay, F., Esteves, A.M., (Eds.). (forthcoming, 2023). Handbook on Social Impact Assessment. Edward Elgar (the Department will recommend to UM Library to purchase once published). - Vanclay, F., Esteves, A.M., Aucamp, I. & Franks, D. (2015). Social Impact Assessment: Guidance for assessing and managing the social impacts of projects. Fargo ND: International Association for Impact Assessment. Open access: https://www.iaia.org/uploads/pdf/SIA_Guidance_Document_IAIA.pdf - Examples of SIAs carried out in Malta (all open access through Planning Authority website + will be uploaded on VLE) will include: Formosa, M. & Brown, M. (2021). Xuereb Tower: A Social Impact Assessment. Malta: PX Lettings. - Formosa, M. & Brown, M. (2020). Mercury House, Phase 2: A Social Impact Assessment. Malta: Adi Associates Environmental Consultants Ltd. - Formosa, M. & Brown, M. (2019). Ta' Xbiex Palace: A Social Impact Assessment. Malta: ST Projects. - Vella, S. (2018). PA 01191/05/2018, Sliema Townsquare: Social Impact Assessment. Malta: Adi Associates Environmental Consultants Ltd. - Visanich, V. (2021). Social Impact Assessment for a Mixed Development Project in the Former Trade Grounds Parking Area Naxxar as per PA requirements for PA 02427/21. Malta: ais environment. Supplementary Readings: all available through UM Library Hydi OR open access (will also be uploaded on VLE): - Esteves et al. (2017). Adapting social impact assessment to address a project’s human rights impacts and risks. Environmental Impact Assessment Review 67, 73-87. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2017.07.001 - Franks, D. & Vanclay, F. (2013). Social Impact Management Plans: Innovation in corporate and public policy, Environmental Impact Assessment Review 43, 40-48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2013.05.004 - Götzmann, N., Vanclay, F. & Seier, F. (2016). Social and human rights impact assessments: What can they learn from each other? Impact Assessment & Project Appraisal 34(1), 14-23. https://doi.org/10.1080/14615517.2015.1096036 - Kemp, D. & Vanclay, F. (2013). Human rights, and impact assessment: clarifying the connections, Impact Assessment & Project Appraisal 31(2), 86-96. https://doi.org/10.1080/14615517.2013.782978 - Langbroek, M. & Vanclay, F. (2012). Learning from the social impacts associated with initiating a windfarm near the former island of Urk, The Netherlands, Impact Assessment & Project Appraisal 30(3), 167-178. https://doi.org/10.1080/14615517.2012.706943 - Munday, J. 2020 Community Guide to Social Impact Assessment. Darwin: True North Communications. Open access: https://www.truenorthcomm.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Community-Guide-to-SIA-Final.pdf - van der Voort, N. & Vanclay, F. (2015). Social impacts of earthquakes caused by gas extraction in the Province of Groningen, The Netherlands, Environmental Impact Assessment Review 50, 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2014.08.008 - Vanclay, F. (2017). Project-induced displacement and resettlement: From impoverishment risks to an opportunity for development? Impact Assessment & Project Appraisal 35(1), 3-21. https://doi.org/10.1080/14615517.2017.1278671 - Vanclay, F. (2003). International Principles for Social Impact Assessment. Impact Assessment & Project Appraisal 21(1), 5-11. https://doi.org/10.3152/147154603781766491 - Veenker, R. & Vanclay, F. (2021). What did NAM do to get a social licence to operate?: The social impact history of the Schoonebeek oilfield in The Netherlands. Extractive Industries & Society 8(2), 100888. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exis.2021.02.008 Open access: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/349633592_What_did_NAM_do_to_get_a_social_licence_to_operate_The_social_impact_history_of_the_Schoonebeek_oilfield_in_the_Netherlands |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | |||||||||
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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