The devised piece is an opportunity to display a student’s critical engagement with the themes and theories addressed in the module and for them to take a considered and creative approach as to how they might practically apply what they have learned, in a medium of their choosing. The form of the devised piece is down to the student, who should consider which issues and theories they want to address, and then should develop a piece of work in whatever form/medium they feel they can use to describe them best. This could be a story, workshop, presentation, blog, video, piece of academic writing, website, learning resource, diary, etc. Food security is a very complex, interdisciplinary topic and it will be helpful to the students to address it using a different medium to the ‘normal’ academic ones; although they still have the option to do that. This activity is based on a model successfully delivered by IATL. Students will be supported in their chosen activity either by SLS staff, or wider University colleagues, including ITS through available guidance/training resources.

In assessing the work we will look for an explanation of the rationale for their choice of form/medium. First and foremost, the student needs to make sure that they clearly demonstrate their understanding of, and critical engagement with, with theory. To ensure consistency of assessment and to help students contextualise their work, each student is required to write an accompanying explanation (maximum 1,500 words excluding bibliography), which will be assessed together with the piece of work they have prepared. If they did choose to do a ‘conventional’ essay then they will still be required to explain why they chose that medium.

Students will be provided with a full explanation of this assessment method at the start of their module and will be supported throughout the activity. This type of assessment will encourage them to engage with wider University resources (e.g. central ITS, the Library, etc.), thus contributing to a more holistic University student experience.

This assignment consists of preparing and giving a group seminar presentation together with the submission, by each individual, of a 1,000 word written description of their personal contribution. Students are allocated to groups randomly. Each group chooses a ‘region/continent’ (e.g. Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia, South America, North America, Middle East). Each group must consider a different region. Each group researches the food system and issues around food security at present and in the future in that region. Each student must research a different aspect of the food system so that the group presentations are balanced. So they should choose from e.g. production, logistics (including storage), waste, access to food, food affordability, climate change, food systems, justice, poverty, conflict etc. The group prepares and gives a presentation on the continent/region covering the food system and current and future food security issues. They can also make suggestions about how food security might be improved in future. In addition each student submits a 1,000 word description of their individual contribution.