ATS2320 · Australia-Pacific Youth Engagement: understanding the Australia-Pacific partnership

Overview

This unit will introduce you to the Pacific region, the Australia-Pacific partnership, and the important policies and strategies underpinning Australia’s broader regional engagement. Based around the strategic policies underpinning relations across the region, you will become familiar with the principles and priorities set by Pacific Island nations and see the complexity of some of the most pressing challenges first-hand. You will travel to one of three Pacific Island nations to undertake a deep-dive research project into one of the principles and underpinning priorities of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and the Framework for Pacific Regionalism, including sustainable development, economic growth, strengthened governance systems and security for all. On arrival to your host country, you will undertake a combination of seminars, workshops and field trips to see first-hand the nature of responses to climate change and disaster resilience, establishing food and water security, strengthening criminal justice institutions and systems, and increasing access to renewable energy. The unit consists of three core assessment pieces, including a reflective journal, participation and presentation in the model Track I leadership dialogue and submission of a policy paper developed in collaboration with the student cohort. By undertaking this unit, you will be eligible to apply for the Australia-Pacific Youth Leadership program to be held biennially in different Pacific host countries.

Offerings

The Handbook publishes no offerings for this unit.

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

Within semester assessment: 100%

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

The Handbook lists no prerequisite, corequisite or prohibition for this unit.

Learning outcomes

1. recognise and analyse the strategic and geopolitical importance of the Pacific region;
2. critically evaluate contrasting perspectives and practitioner approaches to human security in different jurisdictions;
3. synthesise, analyse and apply critical understandings of Australia’s role in the Pacific region;
4. apply a range of skills within a team context, including team leadership, collaboration, problem-solving and decision-making and communication;
5. identify and utilise intercultural competency skills.

Workload

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. A unit requires on average three/four hours of scheduled activities per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.