Small island states face considerable challenges as they attempt to achieve sustainable development. Particular challenges for these nations were recognised in the Barbados Programme of Action for Small Island Developing States, including a narrow range of resources, which forces undue specialization; excessive dependence on international trade and hence vulnerability to global developments; relatively small watersheds and threatened supplies of fresh water; costly public administration and infrastructure, including transportation and communication; and limited institutional capacities and domestic markets, which are too small to provide significant scale economies. This course gives students first-hand experience of the real-world circumstances that confront an island nation by exploring five important sectoral themes in the context of sustainable development: fisheries, agriculture, energy, tourism and biodiversity. Within each theme students consider factors relevant to island nations, including climate change, natural disasters, water availability, gender, population and race relations, governance and globalization.  

 

In association with localised in-country studies, students will explore sustainable development policies in a broader context including the Barbados Programme of Action for Small Island Developing States, the Mauritius Strategy for Implementation, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development - 2012 (Rio +20).

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

On completion of the course students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Understand the complex social, environmental and cultural challenges that confront an island nation, like Fiji (LO1)
2. Demonstrate cultural awareness and sensitivity with people from another country (LO2)
3. Apply interdisciplinary approaches to resolving sustainable development issues in an island context (LO3)
4. Effectively present and discuss ideas, and to listen, assess and respond to ideas of others (LO4)
5. Develop and participate in group learning processes and activities in the context of island sustainable development. (LO5)

Additional Course Costs

There are additional field trip fees of approximately $1100 applicable to participation in this course (payment to ANU Science Shop). Students will also need to cover the costs of their own airfares as well as some meals.

Required Resources

Reading on Wattle - pre and in-country on Wattle.

Orientation outlines resources.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• Verbal feedback is provided on a daily basis in-country and forms an integral part of the course.
• Written feedback in hard copy is provided on all assessment items.

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Other Information

Referencing style: The Fenner School uses the Harvard System of referencing. Please make yourself familiar with this system and use it for the Policy Paper or Research Paper. 

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	This course is an intensive course delivered in-country (Fiji) from 30 June - 13 July inclusive.
2	Orientation A compulsory orientation session (27-28 April) will be conducted to ensure that participating students are properly briefed on what to expect during the Field School, and this is also an opportunity to get to know everyone within the group.
3	In-Country We will engage with local communities at various locations on the main island of Viti Levu and the island of Ovalau. We will explore a number of sustainability issues including but not limited to: water catchment management and large scale tourism in the Nadi Basin, an eco-tourism resort run by a local Fijian village, management of a World Heritage Site at Levuka, a tuna cannery and a community-based water management project. We will undertake various surveys and studies which will contribute to a greater understanding of the complex relationships that are inherent in island communities. In association with localised in-country studies, students will explore sustainable development policies in a broader context including the Barbados Programme of Action for Small Island Developing States, the Mauritius Strategy for Implementation, the SAMOA Pathway, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development - 2012, (Rio +20). The course will be undertaken in collaboration with the University of the South Pacific’s Pacific Centre for Sustainable Development PACE-SD. Please refer to the course Wattle site for detailed program.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Pre-trip preparatory exam	10 %	30/06/2019	14/07/2019	1
Learning and Photographic Journal (2200 words)	30 %	23/07/2019	06/08/2019	1,3,4,5,6
Group project short communication paper (1000 words) during field school with oral presentation at conclusion of trip	30 %	13/07/2019	27/07/2019	1,2,3,4,6
Policy paper (2000 words)	30 %	13/08/2019	27/08/2019	1,2,3

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information 
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using 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. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website. Students may choose not to submit assessment items through Turnitin. In this instance you will be required to submit, alongside the assessment item itself, hard copies of all references included in the assessment item.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

All required work must be submitted in order to pass the course. In addition, a pass must be reached for each element of assessment to pass the course. 

Examination(s)

There is no formal examination for this course.

Assessment Task 1

Pre-trip preparatory exam

This will be a multiple choice exam posted on the Wattle site. It will be based on a list of preliminary readings provided. Students can elect when to undertake the test, so long as it is done before the commencement of the field school. Further details will be provided.

Requirement: Multiple choice exam.

The test must be taken before the commencement of the Field School.

Assessment Task 2

Learning and Photographic Journal (2200 words)

The learning journal will be a daily record of your experiences and learning during the field school. Time is allocated each day after the “Talanoa” session (talking and exchange of views), to write up your journal. The journal will need to be submitted a week after the conclusion of the Field School. The journal should be supported by 2-4 photographs per day. The photographs should provide visual support to the text of your daily journal. They should not be ‘travel snaps’.

Requirement: 2200 words (11 thematic days with 200 words per day)

Assessment Task 3

Group project short communication paper (1000 words) during field school with oral presentation at conclusion of trip

As we travel, you will find that certain aspects of island sustainability will pique your interests. This may be eco-tourism; resources exploitation; agricultural production; climate change and reef health; extreme climate and resilience; renewable energy; flood risk and management….and the list continues. As a small group or in pairs, identify a topic that interests you and make as many observations and talk to relevant people as much as possible. You will use this information as the basis for further desk top research back at ANU. NOTE: your in-country research activities and oral presentation will all group based, and the paper will also represent group collaboration. This is a team effort.  

Requirement: Group project (1000 words) with oral presentation at conclusion of trip

Assessment Task 4

Policy paper (2000 words)

This is a paper that explores a specific policy issue in Fiji. The paper needs to identify the issue, identify current policy status, the potential problems or challenges to those policies, and options for Fiji in its efforts to work towards a sustainable future.  

Requirement: 2000 words with appropriate references.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of our culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically. This means that all members of the community commit to honest and responsible scholarly practice and to upholding these values with respect and fairness. The Australian National University commits to embedding the values of academic integrity in our teaching and learning. We ensure that all members of our community understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with. The University has policies and procedures in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Visit the following Academic honesty & plagiarism website for more information about academic integrity and what the ANU considers academic misconduct. The ANU offers a number of services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. The Academic Skills and Learning Centre offers a number of workshops and seminars that you may find useful for your studies.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) as submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

The Learning Journal and Photographic Journal should be submitted to Sara Beavis in HARDCOPY via the assignment box on the ground floor of the Forestry Building, and also in soft copy by email/Turnitin (you have to be careful with the size of these journals because there is an upper limit for Turnitin. 

Sara.Beavis@anu.edu.au 

Late Submission

Individual assessment tasks may or may not allow for late submission. Policy regarding late submission is detailed below:

• Late submission permitted. Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Returning Assignments

All written work will be returned in hard copy. Students will be advised in writing how they can access their work.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. The Course Convener may grant extensions for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Resubmission of Assignments

In exceptional circumstances the convenor will allow an assignment to be resubmitted, but this must be negotiated in person with the convenor.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students