GSSA 2019 - Encountering Human Rights: Global Citizenship

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2014

Since the ratification of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, a global human rights industry has emerged, making human rights abuses ever more visible, yet global injustices and abuses are arguably as common and entrenched as ever. This course will take a critical approach both to human rights violations, and to the human rights discourses and campaigns that seek to remedy them. We will look at case studies involving rights issues in globalised contexts, for instance refugees, human trafficking, international women's rights campaigns and global Indigenous movements. We will explore the ways in which universal rights have been embraced, problematised and reconfigured as they travel the globe. We will also look at different ways of presenting rights issues - through reports, campaigns, and visual documentary - seeking the most effective ways of presenting rights issues to global publics. Considering these questions we will explore our own reactions to human rights imagery and victims' testimonies, and discuss the most productive ways to respond to the ways in which we are positioned as global citizens with a responsibility for responding to rights issues. The course will offer the opportunity to pursue individual interest in a particular rights issue, and is suitable for those who want to take their interest in social justice into advocacy, campaign or development work, for those who want to cover human rights issues in creative or media work, and for those who simply want to think about how to be ethical and engaged global citizens.

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Course Details

Course Code	GSSA 2019
Course	Encountering Human Rights: Global Citizenship
Coordinating Unit	Sociology, Criminology and Gender Studies
Term	Semester 1
Level	Undergraduate
Location/s	North Terrace Campus
Units	3
Contact	3 hours per week
Prerequisites	12 units of level 1 study
Assessment	short critical paper 1000 words (20%), group presentation (20%) research report 2500 words (50%), participation (10%)

Course Staff

Course Coordinator: Dr Anna Szorenyi

Course Timetable

The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

Course Learning Outcomes

1	Participate in informed discussions on human rights issues in a variety of local and global contexts
2	Show leadership in arguing for the importance of protecting human rights in their various dimensions
3	Articulate both benefits and limitations of conceiving of social justice issues in terms of human rights
4	Identify and discuss the major rights issues currently evolving under 21st Century globalisation
5	Conduct informed, independent research on particular human rights issues, paying attention to local context, and report findings to a professional standard
6	Evaluate specific human rights campaigns in terms of social justice, ethics, and empowerment
7	Identify and/or develop innovative and effective ways of presenting rights issues to various publics and stakeholders
8	Engage respectfully and enthusiastically in cross-cultural contexts and debates
9	Construct a clear, coherent and independent argument which responds to a particular question and is supported by appropriate scholarly evidence, within identified timeframes.
10	Demonstrate interpersonal, leadership and teamwork skills in group activities

Identify and discuss the major rights issues currently evolving under 21st Century globalisation

University Graduate Attributes

This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

University Graduate Attribute	Course Learning Outcome(s)
Knowledge and understanding of the content and techniques of a chosen discipline at advanced levels that are internationally recognised.	1, 2, 3, 4, 6
The ability to locate, analyse, evaluate and synthesise information from a wide variety of sources in a planned and timely manner.	5, 6, 7, 9
An ability to apply effective, creative and innovative solutions, both independently and cooperatively, to current and future problems.	2, 7, 8, 10
Skills of a high order in interpersonal understanding, teamwork and communication.	2, 7, 8, 9, 10
A commitment to continuous learning and the capacity to maintain intellectual curiosity throughout life.	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8
A commitment to the highest standards of professional endeavour and the ability to take a leadership role in the community.	1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10
An awareness of ethical, social and cultural issues within a global context and their importance in the exercise of professional skills and responsibilities.	1, 2, 4, 6, 8

Learning Resources

Required Resources

GSSA 2108 Course Reader - Hard copy available for purchase from Image and Copy Centre, Level 1 Hughes building. The reader will also be made available free of charge in electronic form via MyUni, and in hard copy on reserve in the library.

The course MyUni site, available at http://myuni.adelaide.edu.au

The course library page (URL will be provided during semester).

Recommended Resources

An extensive list of further resources will be provided during semester. These include:

A list of further readings on each topic

Resource guides on Harvard referencing and essay writing

Assistance with finding library research materials

Online Learning

MyUni course site including announcements, discussion board, recorded lectures, assignment submission and further resources.

Students wishing to study the course entirely online should enrol in the external course GSSA 2108 EX.

Learning & Teaching Modes

Face to face:

Lectures - Critical overview of course material and introduction to key concepts. Opportunities for interaction included.

Workshops - extended group and self-guided learning, via discussion, case studies, peer research, collaborative problem-solving, independent and group projects and activities

Online:

Discussion board, sharing resources

Independent:

Reading of scholarly texts and research reports

Independent library and internet research on a chosen topic

Designing and writing an independent research project

Workload

The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

You are expected to spend 12 hours per week on this course during each week of semester.

1 hour lecture

2 hour workshop

9 hours independents study, including:

2-4 hours on weekly set readings

5-7 hours on further research, reading and assignment preparation

Learning Activities Summary

Schedule
Week	Lecture	Workshop
	Part 1: Concepts and critiques
Week 1	Introduction and history of the concept of human rights	Introduction to the course
Week 2	What's wrong with rights? Critiques of human rights	What are human rights?
Week 3	Alternatives and possibilities: What could rights become?	Critiques of human rights
	Part 2: Global Human Rights issues
Week 4	Gender and human rights	Alternatives and possibilities
Week 5	Library research skills	Gender and human rights
Week 6	Moving rights: forced migration, migrant labour and trafficking	Group project work
Week 7	Human rights and Indigenous sovereignties	Moving rights: forced migration, migrant labour and trafficking
Week 8	New rights issues: Environment and genetics	Human rights and Indigenous sovereignties
	Part 3: Rights and representation
Week 9	Who speaks for whom? Human rights testimonies	New rights issues: Environment and genetics
Week 10	Visualising wrongs: Photography and video	Who speaks for whom? Human rights testimonies
Week 11	Conclusion: Human rights and global citizenship	Visualising wrongs: Photography and video
Week 12	Assignment consultations	Conclusion: Human rights and global citizenship

The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
Assessment must maintain academic standards.

Assessment Summary

Assignment	Type	Due	Weight	Learning outcomes
Short critical paper	Formative & summative	Week 5	20%. 1000 words	1, 2, 3
Group presentation/wiki	Formative & summative	According to schedule negotiated during semester	20%	1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Research report	Summative	Week 13	50%, 2500 words	1-10, especially 5, 9
Workshop participation	Formative & summative	Weekly	10%	1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10

Assessment Related Requirements

Attendance at workshops is compulsory. Students may miss two workshops during semester without penalty (other than the missed opportunity for learning). Absences beyond this will be required to be made up with extra work.

Assessment Detail

Short Critical Paper
You will write an essay outlining your understanding of a key theoretical issue in human rights. Specific topics will be provided during semester.

Group presentation/wiki
You will work with a group to select a human rights issue, research it, discuss and develop the best way to present it, and show your findings to the group during a weekly workshop. (Note this assignment will contain components of peer and self-assessment)

Research report
You will apply your learning in the course to developing a critical report on a human rights issue of your choice. Specific guidance will be provided during semester.

Workshop Participation
You will be assessed on your contribution to the learning atmosphere of the class, including evidence of preparation, verbal and non-verbal participation, level of comprehension, engagement in group and class exercises, and respect for and consideration of other students. Note marks are not granted simply for attending.

Further details of all assessment including set topics, research requirements and assessment criteria will be provided during semester.

Submission

All assignments must be:
· 1.5 line spaced
· Referenced in Harvard style

Assignments will be submitted online via MyUni, and checked for plagiarism using Turnitin.

Extensions must be sought prior to the due date and documentary evidence will be required. Marks will be deducted from assignments submitted late without an extension.

Assignments will be marked within 2 weeks where possible, and returned either online or in hard copy.

Further details of assignment submission and return processes will be provided during semester.

Course Grading

Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
Grade	Mark	Description
FNS		Fail No Submission
F	1-49	Fail
P	50-64	Pass
C	65-74	Credit
D	75-84	Distinction
HD	85-100	High Distinction
CN		Continuing
NFE		No Formal Examination
RP		Result Pending

Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

Student Feedback

The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
Student Support
Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
Fraud Awareness

Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.

Authorised by:	Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)
Maintained by:	Course Outlines Administrator