POLIS 3105EX - International Study Tour: Politics III

External - Quadmester 4 - 2020

This course 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 3105EX
    Course International Study Tour: Politics III
    Coordinating Unit Politics and International Relations
    Term Quadmester 4
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s External
    Units 3
    Contact 36 hours intensive over 3 weeks
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Prerequisites At least 6 units of Level II undergraduate study
    Incompatible POLIS 2137
    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.
    Assessment Research essay 40%, Analytical Blog 40%, Tutorial Work 20%.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Associate Professor 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 successful 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 and institutional issues relating to a foreign
    country
    3 demonstrate skills and competencies in intercultural awareness
    4 show enhanced critical thinking and analytical skills
    5 better understand their 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 or Course Reader, and access to MyUni. Other resources to be determined by focus of study.



    Recommended Resources
    Access to standard student IT facilities (especially web access while away from campus).
    Online Learning
    N/A
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    This course is comprised primarily of seminars and in-country activities. The seminars will introduce the key concepts, theories and themes, using a combination of multi-media sources (e.g. slides, videos, web-links). In addition, the seminars will include 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
    2 x 3-hour pre-departure seminars 6 hours
    10 x 3-hour in-country based seminars 30 hours
    Site visits 24 hours
    Reading and preparation for seminars 48 hours
    Preparation and writing of assignments 48 hours
    156 hours
    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 course content and 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. Study Overseas 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'.
  • 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
    Analytical Blog Formative and Summative 40% 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
    Seminar Work Formative and Summative 20% 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
    Assessment Related Requirements
    Attendance at seminars and in-country activities is compulsory. Failure to attend three or more seminars and/or in-country activities without permission from the course coordinator can result in the student being excluded from the study tour and/or precluded from passing the course. Essays must be submitted electronically, through Turnitin. The relevant link will be available on MyUni.
    Assessment Detail
    Seminar Work: Seminars 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 seminars. Seminar work will be assessed on the basis of the depth of knowledge of each topic, the quality of engagement with required readings and other materials, and the attitude displayed towards the arguments and contributions of others. Seminar work will include small-group semi-structured 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.

    Analytical Blog: Students will be required to write a series of short blog entries (approx. 250-300 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

    Late assignments without an approved extension will be penalised at the rate of 2% (2 marks) per day.

    There is a cut-off period of 7 days
    (including weekends and public holidays), after which late submissions without a formal extension will not be accepted/marked. In the case of late submissions with a formal extension approved, the cut-off date is 7 days (including weekends and public holidays) from the revised due date, at 11:59pm.
    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
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