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Unit outline_

GOVT3661: Politics of the Pacific region

Semester 2, 2023 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Using the comparative method, this unit examines the politics of New Zealand and a number of significant Pacific nations. The unit examines these nations' political cultures, structures and history, and explores regional governance and regionally significant policy issues.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Government and International Relations
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Peter Chen, peter.chen@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Presentation Class faciliation
teams will take control of the learning activities of the class
20% Multiple weeks 750wd equivalent
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Report
Prepare a report on one of the topics raised during weeks 1-6.
35% Week 07
Due date: 14 Sep 2023 at 23:00

Closing date: 21 Sep 2023
1750 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5
Assignment Final essay
Produce an analytical essay on one of the topics provided in class.
45% Week 12
Due date: 26 Oct 2023 at 23:00

Closing date: 09 Nov 2023
2000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5

Assessment summary

The unit assessment permits students to work across three modes of response: group work and facilitation, reporting, and essay writing. The assessment asks students to provide responses to topics across the bredth of the Unit of Study.

Assessment criteria

esult name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

A high distinction is awarded to students who have displayed exellence in their response to the question.  Comprehensive knowledge, sophisticated use of concepts and theory, insight and innovation are hallmarks of a HD.

Distinction

75 - 84

A distinction is given where the students' work is of a very high standard and contains several, but not all, of the elements of: comprehensive knowledge, sophisticated use of concepts and theory, insight and/or innovation.

Credit

65 - 74

A credit is given where the students' work is to a high standard, and meets one of the following to an impressive degree: comprehensive knowledge, sophisticated use of concepts and theory, insight and/or innovation.

Pass

50 - 64

A pass is awarded where the student has conpleted the task to a satifactory standard, but would require work to be seen to be superior in any of the areas of comprehensive knowledge, sophisticated use of concepts and theory, insight and innovation.

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

as per facilty policy, 5% per day, maxium of 10 days.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Ways of seeing the Pacific region Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO3
Week 02 New Zealand – Aotearoa 1 Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1
Week 03 New Zealand – Aotearoa 2 Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 04 Aotearoa – New Zealand Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO3 LO4
Week 05 Environmental politics and policy Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5
Week 06 Papua New Guinea Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO3
Week 07 Confict and post-conflict in the Pacific 1 Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 08 Confict and post-conflict in the Pacific 2 Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Week 09 Fiji Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO3
Week 10 Intraregional relations Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO5
Week 11 America and the Pacific Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO4
Week 12 France and the Pacific Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO4
Week 13 China and the Pacific Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO4

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. Demonstrate an understanding of the politics of the pacific region
  • LO2. Use of comparative method for analysis
  • LO3. Linking culture, history and institutions to political behaviour
  • LO4. Understanding relationships between history, geography, and contemporary domestic and international politics
  • LO5. Understanding regional policy and policy processes

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

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Disclaimer

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