DEVT 3004EX - Vietnam Study Tour

External - Winter - 2022

This course offers students an opportunity to develop methodological and practical skills in the context of study tour to Vietnam for a period of up to three weeks. Vietnam is one of the most interesting case study countries for scholars of international development in Southeast Asia. During the course, students will gain an enhanced understanding of Vietnam's aid architecture and the specific contextual challenges of national and localised development. The study tour is built around a series of case studies, in which students meet development professionals from a range of government and non-government organisations, and visit organisations managing real development projects. Students will apply their theoretical knowledge to evaluate these case study projects in relation to core development priorities and best practice methods.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code DEVT 3004EX
    Course Vietnam Study Tour
    Coordinating Unit Anthropology and Development Studies
    Term Winter
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s External
    Units 3
    Contact 4 hours pre-departure, intensive delivery during 3 week study tour, 2 hours on return
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Prerequisites At least 6 units of level II undergraduate study
    Course Description This course offers students an opportunity to develop methodological and practical skills in the context of study tour to Vietnam for a period of up to three weeks. Vietnam is one of the most interesting case study countries for scholars of international development in Southeast Asia. During the course, students will gain an enhanced understanding of Vietnam's aid architecture and the specific contextual challenges of national and localised development. The study tour is built around a series of case studies, in which students meet development professionals from a range of government and non-government organisations, and visit organisations managing real development projects. Students will apply their theoretical knowledge to evaluate these case study projects in relation to core development priorities and best practice methods.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Thomas Wanner

    Course Timetable

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

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes

    On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

    Demonstrate developed knowledge of the aid architecture in Vietnam

    Demonstrate an understanding of the impact of social, cultural and historical factors on development praxis and outcomes.

    Ability to apply theoretical knowledge to critically evaluate real world development projects

    Ability to objectively analyse information within a contextual framework and identify opportunities for improvement

    Demonstrate confidence in a foreign environment and a well-developed sense of social responsibility through engagement with local communities.

    Demonstrate high level written and oral communication skills.

    Demonstrate skills and competencies in intercultural awareness.

    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)

    Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth

    Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.

    1-3

    Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving

    Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.

    2-4

    Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills

    Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.

    5-7

    Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness

    Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.

    2-7

    Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency

    Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.

    1-7

    Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence

    Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.

    5-7
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    There is no textbook for this course.
    The required resources for this course (eg. readings) will be provided on MyUni.
    Online Learning
    MyUni is an important learning tool and means of communication and knowledge exchange in this course. MyUni provides students
    with course materials, announcements, and many other features to help manage their study. MyUni is also used for all assessment information and submission of assignments.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    Students undertaking this course will be required to complete some pre-departure preparatory work on campus. This will take the form of two seminars – one introducing the development context of Vietnam and explaining the structure of the course, the other briefing students on culturally appropriate behaviour, risk management and code of conduct. Students are expected to complete the majority of the preparatory reading (relatively limited as most content is based on case studies and observational/action research) prior to departure. While away, the structure of learning is as follows: A one hour seminar discussion introduces the site visit/case study along with the related key themes and topics for the module. Seminars will also involve discussion and guidance on what kind of questions students should be asking their hosts on site visits. Seminar discussions are followed up by visits to the case study sites, which allow students to develop a first-hand understanding and real world application of the theoretical concepts of international development. The site visit is followed up with a second hour-long seminar in which students work in small discovery groups to share their observations and discuss implications for their analytical report – all students will give a formal oral presentation of work in progress during the latter sessions. Students are expected to attend all sessions and site visits. Any students who miss sessions due to illness will be supported to catch up by teaching staff and their discovery small group. Pastoral support will be provided by teaching staff and tour hosts to ensure students are well equipped to manage any challenges associated with travelling to a new country (culture shock, homesickness etc). Language support will be provided by local host.
    Workload

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

    WORKLOAD TOTAL HOURS
    3 x 2 hour seminars (2 pre-departure and 1 post tour) 6 hours per semester
    9 x 2 hour seminars (held during the three week study tour) 18 hours per semester
    9 x 5 hour (approx.) site visits (during three week study tour) 45 hours per semester
    Reading and seminar preparation 40 hours per semester A
    ssignment preparation 47 hours per semester
    TOTAL = 156 hours per semester
    Learning Activities Summary
    Some learning activities will take place prior to the tour (eg. 2 pre-tour seminars; and required readings). The course is conducted in Hanoi, Hue and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. Learning activities are provided through seminars and field visits.

    Topics: poverty and development; climate change; sustainable agriculture and forestry; gender and development; community-based tourism and ecotourism.

    Field visits:
          From Hanoi: Da Bac village with a focus on community-based tourism
          From Hue: Phong Dien Natural Reserve with a focus on community forestry
          From Ho Chi Minh City: Mekong River delta with a focus on sustainable agriculture/fisheries; and dams and development

    There will be a debrief and reflection seminar after the return from the study tour.


    Specific Course Requirements
    Students are required to organise their own travel to and from Vietnam; and their Visa for Vietnam for the time of the Study Tour.
  • Assessment

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

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

    Assessment Summary
    1,2, 4, 51,2, 4, 5
    Assessment Task Task Type Due Weighting Learning Outcome
    Seminar Work/Participation Formative and summative

    Ongoing

    10% 1,2,5
    Annotated Bibliography Summative

    week before the tour starts

    30% 1,2,4,5
    Reflective Journal Formative and summative End of the tour 20% 1-7
    Essay or Report Summative 2 weeks after the tour 40% 1-4; 6,7
    Assessment Related Requirements
    1. To be able to pass the course you must complete and submit for assessment all THREE (3) assessment components with all of its parts
    as described in this course profile.
    2.  Attendance at pre-study tour and post-study tour seminars is a compulsory.
    3. The Harvard (author-date) referencing system must be used for the written assignments. (References are not counted towards the word count). 

    Assessment Detail
    1. Seminar Work (20%): Students are required to attend 2 pre-tour seminars and one seminar after the tour; and all seminars during the tour. They need to prepare for the seminars through readings and other preparatory work.
    they will be asked to prepare for each seminar and provide a shortand
    2. Reflective Journal (40%) (2,000 words): students will write a reflective journal of the activities, experiencs and their learning during the study tour.
    3. Essay or Report (40%) (2,000 words): student will write either a report or essay about one of the development issues covered during the study tour.
    Submission
    All assignments are to be submitted electronically on MyUni.

    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

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    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.

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