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Unit outline_

PACS6901: United Nations, Peace and Security

Semester 1, 2022 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

In this unit students critically examine the role of the United Nations in promoting international peace and security. Contemporary and historical case studies are used to analyse the UN's performance in relation to such activities as peacemaking, peacekeeping, peacebuilding and peace enforcement. We assess the challenges facing the UN in achieving its mandate and implementing reform with a view to attaining peace with justice.

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

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Eyal Mayroz, eyal.mayroz@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment hurdle task Final essay
Final essay
60% Formal exam period
Due date: 08 Jun 2022 at 23:59
2800 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Participation hurdle task Class participation
Participation in discussions and evidence of reading
10% Ongoing n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO3 LO2
Small continuous assessment hurdle task Model UN exercise
Participation and contribution to Model UN Day, and Reflection on the Day
10% Week 06
Due date: 02 Apr 2022 at 10:00

Closing date: 02 Apr 2022
Equivalent 500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment hurdle task Short assignment
Model UN Country Statement + Explanation
10% Week 06
Due date: 31 Mar 2022 at 23:59

Closing date: 03 Apr 2022
600 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment hurdle task Essay plan
Select a topic for final essay and write an essay plan
10% Week 11
Due date: 12 May 2022 at 23:59
600 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO3 LO2
hurdle task = hurdle task ?

Assessment summary

See Canvas for detailed assessment summaries

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 to the United Nations, Peace and security Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO3
Week 02 Peaceful settlement of disputes and collective security Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 03 The invention of peacekeeping and its evolution Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 04 Peacemaking and preventing genocide: lessons from Rwanda Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 05 R2P, UNEPS Proposal and Model UN Preparation Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 06 Iraq, Syria and Weapons of Mass Destruction Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Saturday, 2 April: Model UN Exercise: Creating a UNEPS (10 AM – 5 PM) Seminar (6 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 07 Banning landmines: a civil society perspective Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 08 Women, Peace, and Security at the UN Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 10 UN peacebuilding architecture Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 11 The UN and Environmental Global Governance Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 12 Syria and the United Nations Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 13 Fulfilling the UN Vision: Challenges and Prospects Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4

Attendance and class requirements

  • Attendance: According to Faculty Board Resolutions, students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are expected to attend 90% of their classes. If you attend less than 50% of classes, regardless of the reasons, you may be referred to the Examiner’s Board. The Examiner’s Board will decide whether you should pass or fail the unit of study if your attendance falls below this threshold.

  • Lecture recording: Most lectures (in recording-equipped venues) will be recorded and may be made available to students on the LMS. However, you should not rely on lecture recording to substitute your classroom learning experience.

  • Preparation: Students should commit to spend approximately three hours’ preparation time (reading, studying, homework, essays, etc.) for every hour of scheduled instruction.

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

The required readings for each week can be accessed through the weekly folders (see Modules section, under “Session Info and readings”). Some recommended readings can be accessed through the Library Reading List (see left hand menu) orLibrary website.

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. assess the contribution of the UN to the maintenance of international peace and security by considering historical and contemporary examples of conflicts and situations in which the UN has played, or was expected to play, a role
  • LO2. use case studies to illustrate and explore the challenges and key issues of contention that influence the credibility and performance of the UN
  • LO3. analyse and evaluate the role and functions of the UN, as well as to think of ways of improving its performance both in ending the ‘scourge of war’ and promoting peace with justice
  • LO4. understand and appreciate UN professional practices at both the diplomatic level and in the management of field-based operations, which would be helpful for them in pursuing a career with the United Nations.

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.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered

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.