POLIS 2137 - International Study Tour: Politics

North Terrace Campus - Quadmester 4 - 2016

This course is enables a short study tour for University of Adelaide students led by Adelaide teaching staff. Students will be expected to complete a number of intensively taught preliminary classes at Adelaide before travel overseas. While on location, students will undertake a series of intensive seminars, lectures and site visits. This course is designed to enhance students? understanding and appreciation of the contemporary political systems and cultures of selected foreign countries. Topics may include detailed study of political institutional arrangements, selected case studies of bi-lateral and/or multi-lateral relationships and detailed study of party structures.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code POLIS 2137
    Course International Study Tour: Politics
    Coordinating Unit Politics and International Relations
    Term Quadmester 4
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact 36 hours (intensive) over three week period
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Prerequisites 24 units of level I study
    Quota Places are limited. Students will be selected based on GPA and an interview with the course coordinator. Students will need to enrol as part of the normal enrolment process; those selected will be notified before the semester teaching starts
    Course Description This course is enables a short study tour for University of Adelaide students led by Adelaide teaching staff. Students will be expected to complete a number of intensively taught preliminary classes at Adelaide before travel overseas. While on location, students will undertake a series of intensive seminars, lectures and site visits. This course is designed to enhance students? understanding and appreciation of the contemporary political systems and cultures of selected foreign countries. Topics may include detailed study of political institutional arrangements, selected case studies of bi-lateral and/or multi-lateral relationships and detailed study of party structures.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Benito Cao

    office: Napier 409
    phone: 8313 5745

    email: benito.cao@adelaide.edu.au

    http://www.adelaide.edu.au/directory/benito.cao
    Course Timetable

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

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    On completion of this course students will be able to:
    1 Demonstrate a close understanding of the political culture and institutions of a foreign country
    2 Conduct primary research on selected policy/institutional issues relating to a foreign country
    3 Demonstrate skills and competencies in intercultural awareness
    4 Show enhanced critical thinking and skills of analysis
    5 Better understand their Adelaide based disciplinary study by seeing it in an international context
    6 Demonstrate confidence in a foreign environment and a well-developed sense of social responsibility through engagement with local communities
    7 Demonstrate high level written and oral communication skills
    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)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1, 2, 4, 5
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    2, 3, 4
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    3, 6, 7
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    1, 3, 5, 6
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    5, 6
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Textbook as part of pre-departure study. Other materials to be determined by focus of study.
    Recommended Resources
    Access to standard student IT facilities (especially web access while away from campus).
    Online Learning
    MyUni will be utilised to upload additional resources, including scholarly articles, news items and video clips. Students will be
    encouraged to contribute to the Course Blog.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    This course is comprised primarily of lectures, seminars and in-country activities. The lectures will introduce the key concepts, theories and themes, using a combination of multi-media sources (e.g. slides, videos, web-links, etc.).The seminars will consist of small-group activities and semi-structured debates on the relevant topics.The in-country activities will vary depending on the specific tour.
    Workload

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

    WORKLOAD TOTAL HOURS
    4 x 3-hour pre-departure seminars 12 hours per semester
    8 x 3-hour in-country based seminars 24 hours per semester
    Site visits 18 hours per semester
    Reading and preparation for class 54 hours per semester
    Preparation and writing of assignments 48 hours per semester
    156 hours per semester
    Learning Activities Summary
    This course is designed to run intensively over a three week period (1 week in Adelaide and 2 weeks overseas). The nature of the lecture topics will vary according to the country visited, and to the specific political context relevant at the time of the visit.
    Specific Course Requirements
    Students will spend two weeks overseas. Global Learning will ensure compliance with all requirements.



    Small Group Discovery Experience
    This course will offer students a short term, but intensive engagement and close interaction with experts in the discipline field
    and the relevant country of study. In addition, seminars will include small-group activities and semi-structured discussions designed to provide students with a fulfilling 'small group discovery experience'. Students will also be encouraged to work in small groups outside the classroom, including in the research and production of some of their assignments.


  • 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
    Assessment Task Task Type Weighting Learning Outcome
    Research Essay Formative and Summative 40% 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7
    Reflective Blog Formative and Summative 40% 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
    Tutorial Work Formative and Summative 20% 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
    Assessment Related Requirements
    N/A
    Assessment Detail
    Tutorial Work: Tutorials are forums for free exchange and discussion of informed opinions, that is, ideas and thoughts based
    on reading and reflection, as well as places for raising questions and  for the exchange of relevant information. All students are expected to have read the required readings in preparation for the tutorials.  Tutorial work will be assessed on the basis of the depth of knowledge on the weekly topic, the quality of engagement with the weekly readings and  other materials, and the attitude displayed towards the arguments and contributions of others. Tutorial work will include small-group activities, as well as the student engagement during site visits. Additional guidelines will be provided during the first session, in Day 1.

    Research Essay: The research essay is designed to assess the student’s ability to conduct  independent research, evaluate relevant materials, and formulate a coherent, sophisticated and well-substantiated argument on one of the topics covered in the course. Students will have to come up with their own question, in consultation with the course coordinator.

    Reflective Blog: Students will be required to write a series of short blog entries (approx. 200-300 words), one for each of the topics covered in the course. The specific details regarding the submission of blog entries will be established on Day 1.



    Submission
    Essays must be submitted electronically, through Turnitin. The relevant link will be available on MyUni.

    The official procedure to apply for extensions is: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/student/exams/mod_arrange.html
    Students must apply for extensions through the official procedure unless:

             1. The student is only requesting a short extension of two days or less.
             2. The assessment is worth 20% or less.
             3. The student is registered with the Disability Office and has a Disability Access Plan.

    Late essays without an extension will be penalised at the rate of 2% per day.
    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
  • 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.