TRADE 7015 - Research Project in International Trade

North Terrace Campus - Trimester 3 - 2018

Each candidate for the Masters of International Trade and Development (MITD) is required to undertake a research project. The research project must exhibit original investigation, analysis and interpretation. The research project is to be written up as a publishable paper. Candidates can choose from a list of research topics or may develop an alternative research topic. The research topic may focus on emerging issues in international trade, WTO-Plus features of regional trade agreements, the global financial crisis and domestic regulatory reforms.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code TRADE 7015
    Course Research Project in International Trade
    Coordinating Unit Institute for International Trade
    Term Trimester 3
    Level Postgraduate Coursework
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 6
    Contact Up to 20 hours
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Prerequisites TRADE 5000, TRADE 7003, TRADE 7004, TRADE 7005, LAW 7070
    Incompatible TRADE 7013A, TRADE 7013B, TRADE 7014A, TRADE 7014B
    Assumed Knowledge TRADE 5000, TRADE 7003, TRADE 7004, TRADE 7005, LAW 7070
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Mr Keith Wilson

    Name: Keith Wilson
    Role: Course coordinator
    Email: keith.wilson@adelaide.edu.au
    Location: Nexus 10 - Level 6
    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 specialist knowledge in the area of their research

    2. Demonstrate the ability to initiate research and to formulate viable research questions

    3. Demonstrate the capacity to design, conduct and report sustained and original research

    4. Demonstrate the ability to evaluate and synthesize research-based and scholarly literature

    5. Present research findings and argument in a suitably structured and sequenced paper of publishable quality that conforms to protocols of academic presentation and research practice

    6. Demonstrate the ability to critique literature and conduct analyses at Masters level.
    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)
    1,3,4,6
    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
    2-6
    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
    5,6
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    1-6
    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
    1-6
    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
    1-6
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    There are no required resources for this research project course.
    Recommended Resources
    The University’s Writing Centre is a valuable academic support service. They provide academic learning and language support and resources for all University coursework students – postgraduate and undergraduate.

    There are a number of useful learning guides on their website that students might find useful for this course:

    Writing a Research Report
    Writing a Literature Review
    Referencing Guides
    Plagiarism – our University’s policy on Academic Honesty, as well as how to avoid plagiarism

  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    Unlike standard coursework, research is a relatively unstructured activity. Students are expected to set their own pace and self-monitor their progress. 

    There is a mandatory introduction meeting/class as a group at the start of the course. 

    For the period of this project, students are expected to consult with their supervisors on at least on 3 occasions – at the start of the project, mid-point and a final consultation before submission. However, students are encouraged to, contact/consult with their supervisors as often as required.
    Workload

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

    The University expects full-time students (i.e. those taking 12 units per term) to devote a total of 48 hours per week to their studies.
    Learning Activities Summary
    Candidates of this course are required to develop and undertake an original and independent research project focussed on emerging issues in international trade. Candidates are expected to develop a research proposal and present this (proposal and presentation account for 30% of the final grade) and a final report (worth 70% of the final grade).
    Specific Course Requirements
    The research project must exhibit original investigation, analysis and interpretation. It includes the following elements:
    1. A presentation of a proposed research proposal of no more than 15 minutes.
    2. A submission of a research proposal of about 1,500 words.
    3. A submission of a research project in the quality of a publishable paper of 8000-9000 words.


  • 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 TaskTask TypeWeightDue Date/WeekLearning Outcomes
    Presentation of the research proposal Formative 30% ca 3 weeks after start of trimester 1,2,3,4,5,6
    Research Proposal submission Formative ca 1 Week after the presentation 1,2,3,4,5,6
    Final Research Paper Summative 70% End of the Trimester 1,2,3,4,5,6
    Total 100%
    Assessment Detail



    Candidates are to select a research topic and discuss this with their supervisor. Candidates are to develop a research proposal and present this to their peers in no more than 15 minutes.

    Taking into account the feedback of their peers, supervisor and course coordinator, the candidate is to formally submit the research proposal via turnitin on the MyUni page of this course.

    Based on the research proposal, the candidate is to develop, in close collaboration and coordination with their supervisor, a research paper of between 8,000 to 9,000 words. The research paper should be of publishable quality.


    Due Date: End of trimester (details TBA)

    The final report will be graded by the supervisor and a secondary marker from within the Institute.

    The standard of English expression is expected to be high. Students may wish to consult references listed in the subject catalogue of the Barr Smith Library under the heading "Style, Literary". While supervisors will offer reasonable assistance, the writing of a research project is the student’s task and students must not expect the supervisor to convert careless or poor prose into good English.
    Submission
    Assignments must be submitted through:

    Turnitin on MyUni

    All assignments must be presented professionally with clear headings, appropriate referencing and using one and a half spacing.


    Extensions will only be granted if requests are received in writing to the course coordinator and program director at least 24 hours before the final due date unless they are requested on medical or compassionate grounds and are supported by appropriate documents.

    Please contact the course coordinator, preferably by email, at any time to make an appointment for assistance or guidance in relation to this course.
    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.

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