Unit Outline

In this unit you will undertake a fully funded three-week immersive trip to an Indo-Pacific nation, engaging with local leaders to explore the impact of global environmental issues at the local level. Working individually, and in small groups, you will learn about these issues through the lens of the host country, as well as the development and execution of sustainable solutions happening both now, and in the future.

Your studies will commence locally in Tasmania and incorporate Palawa Aboriginal knowledges. Embracing the multidisciplinary nature of international sustainability efforts, you will be able to tailor your preparatory learning to your own discipline or area of study. You will then be fully prepared for your international experience, ready to learn from the local leaders of your destination country as they share their sustainability issues, experiences, and solutions.

The overseas trip will help expand your perspectives, viewing sustainability efforts through the lives, actions, and histories of those who experience them. It will help you to interpret environmental challenges and solutions holistically, appreciating the social, cultural, economic and political contexts of different countries. Supported by academics with research and network connections to the host organisations and local leaders, you will evaluate human impacts on natural and built environments, and how physical, economic, social and technological factors affect global sustainability efforts. During your time in country, you will develop cross-cultural awareness, basic conversational skills in the main language of your host country (e.g., Bahasa or Vietnamese), and self-reflexive skills to critically reflect on your own perspectives.

Through growing awareness of the importance of Southeast Asia to Australia, you will cultivate a deeper appreciation of Tasmania’s and your own place in the world.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1.	Evaluate human impacts on natural environments and how physical, economic, social and technological factors affect global sustainability solutions
2.	Explain observed environmental challenges and responses in their social, cultural, economic and political contexts
3.	Analyse environmental issues in the visited country and draw comparisons to Tasmania and Australia
4.	Demonstrate cross-cultural competencies in social interaction and communication

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Pre-requisite	50 credit points

Alterations as a result of student feedback

Teaching arrangements


ATTENDANCE MODE	TEACHING TYPE	LEARNING ACTIVITY	CONTACT HOURS	FREQUENCY
On Campus	Workshop	Orientation and introduction session: Face-to-face. 27 November 2023, 1-3pm	2	Once only
	Workshop	Pre-trip briefing - 11, 12, 14 December 2023 (different venues)	1	Once only (3 times)
	Workshop	Content workshops (environmental policies, culture, politics, technology, economics) - 29 November, 1, 4, 6, 8, and 13 December 2023, 1-3pm	2	Once only (6 times)
	Workshop	Post-trip debrief and Assessment 3 Q&A: Face-to-face - 9 February 2024, 1-4pm	3	Once only
	Fieldwork	3 weeks In-Country	100	Once only
	Workshop	Optional Online Assessment 1 Q&A: 15 December 2023, 1-3pm	2	Once only
Online	Workshop (Online)	Orientation and introduction session: Online. 27 November 2023, 1-3pm	2	Once only
	Workshop (Online)	Pre-trip briefing - 11, 12, 14 December 2023 (different venues)	1	Once only (3 times)
	Lecture (Online)	Content workshops (environmental policies, culture, politics, technology, economics) - 29 November, 1, 4, 6, 8, and 13 December 2023, 1-3pm	2	Once only (6 times)
	Workshop (Online)	Post-trip debrief and Assessment 3 Q&A: Online -9 February 2024, 1-4pm	3	Once only
	Individual Study	Optional Cross-cultural training and language classes : Online, optional, strongly encouraged - 4 lessons, at your own pace	2	Once only (4 times)
	Workshop (Online)	Optional Assessment 1 Q&A: Online - 15 December 2023, 1-3pm	2	Once only

Attendance / engagement expectations

If your unit is offered On campus, it is expected that you will attend all on-campus and onsite learning activities. This is to support your own learning and the development of a learning community within the unit. If you are unable to attend regularly, please discuss the situation with your course coordinator and/or our UConnect support team.

If your unit is offered Online, it is expected you will engage in all those activities as indicated in the Unit Outline, including any self-directed learning.

If you miss a learning activity for a legitimate reason (e.g., illness, carer responsibilities) teaching staff will attempt to provide alternative activities (e.g., make up readings) where it is possible.

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Group Country environmental profile (Indonesia/Malaysia/Vietnam)	Refer to Assessment Description	30 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 2:	Personal reflections on cultural encounters during the trip	Refer to Assessment Description	30 %	LO4
Assessment Task 3:	Group reflection on the journey	Refer to Assessment Description	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Group Country environmental profile (Indonesia/Malaysia/Vietnam)

Task Description:

Pick one environmental issue of concern to your group and identify the challenges and the possible solutions available in the country to-be-visited, demonstrating an interdisciplinary understanding of the issues. Your group (4-6 members) will also refer to members’ varied areas of study, explaining how the relationships between the environment and human activity are understood and/or reflected.

Due 19 December 2023, 4pm

Task Length:

15-minute narrated Powerpoint presentation (in video format)

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Evaluate an environmental issue that has arisen due to human activities in the country you all are visiting ILO1	LO1
2	From desktop research, explain how local social, economic, and political contexts influence environmental issues and solutions.	LO2
3	Compare lessons to Tasmania and Australia	LO3

Assessment Task 2: Personal reflections on cultural encounters during the trip

Task Description:

Based on the cross-cultural training before the trip, you will reflect on two or three cultural encounters during the trip that have shaped your own personal cross-cultural learnings.

You will work individually and while you are in-country to produce (choose one option):

Written reflections from your personal journal (1000 words); or

8-minute video-recorded reflections.

Due 6 February 2024, 4pm

Task Length:

Written reflections from your personal journal (1000 words); or 8-minute video-recorded reflections.

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Identify and recall two cultural encounters during your trip, and explain why they are memorable from a cross-cultural perspective.	LO4
2	Reflect upon successes and failures relating to cross-cultural communication.	LO4
3	Describe your cross-cultural learnings	LO4

Assessment Task 3: Group reflection on the journey

Task Description:

You will work in a group. Specifically, your group will pick one environmental issue observed during the trip as a key focus. This may include the issue discussed in Task 1. Indicate how your group has developed a deeper interdisciplinary understanding of the impact of human activities on the environment while in the visited country.

Students will work in groups, during the trip and after the trip, to produce (choose one option):

A conference poster and a 1000-word accompanying statement; or

A 15-minute podcast; or

A 15-minute video documentary.

Due 20 February 2024

Task Length:

A conference poster and a 1000-word accompanying statement; or A 15-minute podcast; or; A 15-minute video documentary.

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	During your trip, pick and evaluate one environmental issue that has come about because of human activities	LO1
2	Based on your pre-trip assignment and what you have learned during the trip, develop a deeper understanding of how local social, cultural, economic and political contexts aggravate and/or mitigate the environmental issue	LO2
3	Articulate relevant learnings related to Tasmania, Australia and the country you visited	LO3

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.

Review of results and appeals

You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.