HRTD6916: Semester 1, 2021

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Units HRTD6916 Semester 1 2021 [Normal day]

Unit outline_

HRTD6916: Human Rights Simulation

Semester 1, 2021 [Normal day] - Remote

Overview

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:
Presentation	Practicum Simulated activities based on scenario given in class.	40%	Multiple weeks	2000 word equiv, over 2 classes
Outcomes assessed:
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:
= 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.

Learning support

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.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Introduction	Lecture (1.5 hr)
Week 01	Human Rights in the Asia Pacific	Tutorial (1.5 hr)
Week 02	Refugee and asylum seeker rights	Lecture (1.5 hr)
Week 02	Global themes and grand theories	Tutorial (1.5 hr)
Week 03	Australia's Refugee Context	Lecture (1.5 hr)
Week 03	Analysing Data	Tutorial (1.5 hr)
Week 04	Deportation, Removal and Refoulement	Lecture (1.5 hr)
Week 04	Conducting Human Rights Interviews	Tutorial (1.5 hr)
Week 05	Human Rights Interviews	Lecture (1.5 hr)
Week 05	Human Rights Interviews	Tutorial (1.5 hr)
Week 06	The politics of contention and attention	Lecture (1.5 hr)
Week 06	Awareness-raising tactics	Tutorial (1.5 hr)
Week 07	Performativity and Performance in Human Rights	Lecture (1.5 hr)
Week 07	Activism vs Advocacy	Tutorial (1.5 hr)
Week 08	The Asia Pacific context	Lecture (1.5 hr)
Week 08	The country that has it all: Myanmar	Tutorial (1.5 hr)
Week 09	Transnational Advocacy	Lecture (1.5 hr)
Week 09	Diaspora and Exile	Tutorial (1.5 hr)
Week 10	Mapping a Human Rights System	Lecture (1.5 hr)
Week 10	Tactical Mapping	Tutorial (1.5 hr)
Week 11	Understanding Allies and Adversaries	Practical (1.5 hr)
Week 11	Budget and Priorities in the Human Rights System	Practical (1.5 hr)
Week 12	Simulation day	Practical (1.5 hr)
Week 12	Simulation day	Practical (1.5 hr)
Week 13	Self care and risk mitigation	Lecture (1.5 hr)
Week 13	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

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.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

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
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

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.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

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