ANU1 - From Australia to the World: Landscapes of Politics and Power

18 June 2018 – 7 July 2018
Hosted by Australian National University

Australia is a dynamic, multicultural society that plays an active role in our globalised and increasingly multipolar world order. In this course, future leaders from across the globe will be exposed to pressing issues of politics, culture and society, with a view to mediating between different viewpoints.

We will explore landscapes of politics and power from an Australian vantage, drawing on the unique opportunities presented by Canberra, our national capital. As the seat of the federal government and the home to national institutions, including the Australian National University, Canberra offers inspiring opportunities to consider global affairs in a splendid Australian environment.

In this course, students will be encouraged to actively engage with the Australian policy-making community in hands-on sessions that will grapple with the long-term challenges facing every human society.

Week 1 – The Politics of Place will provide a comprehensive understanding of the influences – historical, political, geographic, and cultural – that have shaped how Australia relates to its region and the world. In this introductory module, students will be encouraged to develop specialist knowledge about aspects of Australian institutional development to provide a foundation for face-to-face interaction in the second week.

Week 2 – Looking Out, Looking In. In the second module, students will benefit from a series of briefings and site visits, including to the Australian Parliament, Australian government agencies, and the Embassies and High Commissions of other governments, to gain official perspectives on the management of Australia’s place in the world. These interactions will require students to consider the special requirements of foreign policy making under Australian conditions.

Week 3 – Policy and practice. To conclude the course, students will work through a policy issue facing the Australian government and develop a comprehensive policy proposal to be presented to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Students will be expected to offer oral and written briefing on their preferred recommendations.

Costs

Figures are estimates only. Click on each item for details.

Field Trip

Students will have opportunities to undertake a number of site visits to important locations in Canberra – such as Parliament House, Australian government agencies, and Embassies and High Commissions. The course will expose students to the wealth of national treasures that Canberra has to offer, while also opening doors that are not available to most visitors. The final program will include speakers from across a range of political, managerial and analytical specialties, and it will seek to offer a rich introduction to the world from an Australian perspective.

Target Audience

Bachelor students

Prerequisites

Students should have completed at least one semester of full-time studies at the undergraduate level. Previous exposure to ideas in the social sciences and humanities will be useful. However, there are no formal prerequisites for the course. The primary requirement is that students are eager to learn and are curious about Australia’s place in the world.

In addition to the prerequisites, all participants in ANU1 - From Australia to the World: Landscapes of Politics and Power must meet the Australian National University’s English language requirements as per the English language policy: https://policies.anu.edu.au/ppl/document/ANUP_000408

Delivery Method & Learning Outcomes

The course will be delivered through a mixture of short lectures, seminar discussions, practical exercises, expert interviews, and the policy assignment.  

If you successfully complete the course you should be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of Australian politics and foreign policy, and Australia’s place in a rapidly changing world, from a variety of academic and practical perspectives;
• Identify, explain and critically interpret the primary analytical and empirical frameworks that are required for undertaking more in-depth analysis of political and cultural issues relevant to Australian society;
• Employ written and oral communication skills, including team-based competencies, to clearly and confidently articulate your ideas about foreign policy, politics, social change, historical dynamics and cross-cultural interaction; and,
• Reflect critically on the issues arising from the Australian experience and consider how responses to these issues can be formulated in policy relevant recommendations.

Assessment

The indicative assessment, which will be formally agreed in consultation with students on the first day of the course, includes: 

• Lecture, seminar and field visit participation (10 per cent);
• Seminar presentation and leadership (10 per cent);
• Practical assignment (1000 words) (15 per cent);
• Research essay (2000 words) (35 per cent);
• Final presentation and policy recommendations (1500 words, plus the oral presentation) (40 per cent).

The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. Students in this course will be expected to submit their assessable work through the designated Turnitin interface.

Credit equivalent at host university & contact hours

6 credits

36 classroom hours + 18 field trip hours (excluding self-study hours)

The course will be delivered in an intensive format. It is equivalent to a full semester-length course but conducted over just three weeks.

The course is worth 6 units at ANU (full-time ANU students take 24 units per semester). As an intensive course, classes will be scheduled for both the morning and afternoon, Monday to Friday, along with site visits and meetings with external organisations in Canberra.

Students will be expected to prepare for the course ahead of time by completing allocated reading and by reviewing the course resources. Students will also be expected to prepare for the sessions, such as preparing questions for meetings with external experts.

Students will also be encouraged to engage with the ANU academic community and events outside of class time, such as attending public lectures in the evenings.

Lecturer(s) / Tutor(s)

The teaching staff for the course will be set in early 2018. Lecturers will include some of the best academic and policy-making talent available in Canberra. ANU anticipates there will be opportunities for the students to interact with top decision-makers at both the Australian Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Accommodation

Accommodation will be provided on campus for the course – confirmed details will be advised.

For now, we expect:

Students must arrive by 5 p.m. Sunday, 17 June 2018, in time for the welcome dinner.
Students will be able to check in from 2 p.m., Sunday, 17 June 2018.
Check-out due is Sunday, 8 July 2018

(We hope that students will have the option of staying on in their accommodation, but such arrangements will need to be made, by the individual student, well in advance of their arrival in Australia.)

Visa

Estimate of visa fee: An Australian Visitor or Tourist visa may allow you to study in Australia for up to three months in a non-award program, and you are encouraged to investigate if this will apply in your individual circumstance. On request the ANU GSP coordinator can provide supporting letters for your visa application.

The visa fee will vary depending on how long students choose to stay in Australia following the program.  It is the student’s responsibility to ensure they apply for the right type of visa, meet the application requirements and understand their obligations while in Australia.

Information about visas is available from your nearest Australian visa office and may also be accessed at https://www.border.gov.au/.  You must check with the relevant Australian diplomatic mission for further information in obtaining a visa to visit Australia.

Required and / or Recommended Insurance(s)

Students should make themselves aware of insurance requirements in order to obtain certain types of visas to Australia.  It is strongly recommended all students understand any reciprocal arrangements their home country has with Australia; and the requirements of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection.

Further Information

Until the appointment of the course convenor, questions about course content and other academic matters can be directed to Dr Nicholas Farrelly, Associate Dean, ANU College of Asia and the Pacific, by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

• Next