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Unit outline_

HRTD6916: Human Rights Simulation

Semester 1, 2021 [Normal day] - Remote

This unit of study will provide students the opportunity to assume institutional roles within the international human rights framework, and understand its opportunities and constraints in responding to social problems rooted in inequality, precarity and violence. This unit reaches beyond traditional classroom instruction by simulating a range of human rights issues to which students must respond, engaging students in exercises designed to practice skills for future human rights advocacy, including data collection, interview techniques, and engaging with the media.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Susan Banki, susan.banki@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Final essay
Analysis of rights violations and responses in a selected country
30% Formal exam period
Due date: 18 Jun 2021 at 23:59
1500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
Presentation group assignment Practicum
Simulated activities based on scenario given in class.
40% Multiple weeks 2000 word equiv, over 2 classes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Small continuous assessment Weekly critical reflection
Reflections on the readings, exercises, and discussions in class.
30% Weekly Weekly posts of about two paragraphs
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO3
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

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.

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 Introduction Lecture (1.5 hr) LO2
Human Rights in the Asia Pacific Tutorial (1.5 hr) LO2 LO4
Week 02 Refugee and asylum seeker rights Lecture (1.5 hr) LO1 LO2
Global themes and grand theories Tutorial (1.5 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 03 Australia's Refugee Context Lecture (1.5 hr) LO3 LO5
Analysing Data Tutorial (1.5 hr) LO3 LO5
Week 04 Deportation, Removal and Refoulement Lecture (1.5 hr) LO1 LO3 LO5
Conducting Human Rights Interviews Tutorial (1.5 hr) LO2 LO4
Week 05 Human Rights Interviews Lecture (1.5 hr) LO1 LO3
Human Rights Interviews Tutorial (1.5 hr) LO1 LO3 LO5
Week 06 The politics of contention and attention Lecture (1.5 hr) LO1 LO3 LO5
Awareness-raising tactics Tutorial (1.5 hr) LO1 LO3 LO5
Week 07 Performativity and Performance in Human Rights Lecture (1.5 hr) LO2 LO5
Activism vs Advocacy Tutorial (1.5 hr) LO2 LO5
Week 08 The Asia Pacific context Lecture (1.5 hr) LO2 LO5
The country that has it all: Myanmar Tutorial (1.5 hr) LO2 LO5
Week 09 Transnational Advocacy Lecture (1.5 hr) LO1 LO2
Diaspora and Exile Tutorial (1.5 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 10 Mapping a Human Rights System Lecture (1.5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5
Tactical Mapping Tutorial (1.5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5
Week 11 Understanding Allies and Adversaries Practical (1.5 hr) LO4 LO5
Budget and Priorities in the Human Rights System Practical (1.5 hr) LO4 LO5
Week 12 Simulation day Practical (1.5 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5
Simulation day Practical (1.5 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 13 Self care and risk mitigation Lecture (1.5 hr)  
Wrap up Tutorial (1.5 hr)  

Attendance and class requirements

* Human Rights Simulation is a fun and deeply engaging unit that relies on meaningful participation from all students. Therefore, attendance and participation each week are absolutely critical to achieving learning outcomes in this class. Relying on recorded material will not be sufficient. While class will be held on Zoom in 2021, you can be assured that real-time exercises and conversations will occur during both the lecture and tutorial each week.  If you need to be physically absent from Zoom for any reason for any weeks of class, please discuss the matter with Dr. Banki immediately.

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.

Required readings

Please look on Canvas to find weekly readings, as well as instructions about other preparation and comments about what to look for in specific readings. Please read these notes as you will find them very helpful for weekly preparation.

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. understand the relationships between human rights victims, violators, and protectors
  • LO2. analyse the human rights system (both violations and appropriate responses) on multiple spatial levels (local, national, regional and international)
  • LO3. demonstrate written and spoken communication skills
  • LO4. establish the challenges and benefits of group work
  • LO5. demonstrate knowledge in range of advocacy strategies and tactics and knowledge in critical reflection of their implementation.

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.

Based on student feedback, the assessments have been varied and more choice has been given to students for their final paper.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.