Intensive course including an in-country field based experience in early July. Enrolment is limited. See "Other Information" for details.
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:
Demonstrate advanced understanding of the complex social, environmental and cultural challenges that confront an island nation, like Fiji.
- Critique
and apply interdisciplinary approaches to resolving sustainable development
issues in an island context.
- Effectively
present and discuss complex ideas about island sustainable development, and to
actively listen, critically assess and constructively respond to ideas of
others.
- Design,
participate in, and lead group learning processes and activities in the context
of island sustainable development.
- Explain and critically evaluate the strengths and limitations of sustainable development objectives in an island context.
Other Information
This is an intensive course offered on an annual basis including an in country field based experience in early July. Enrolment is limited and merit based so you will need to apply to Dr Sara Beavis (Sara.Beavis@anu.edu.au) by 4 March 2019.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.
Indicative Assessment
Students taking the 6 unit version will complete the following assessment:
1. Pre-trip preparatory research paper (500 words) 10% [LO 1,2,4]
2. Group project during Field School (2000 words) 40% [LO 1,2,3,4,5]
3. Seminar presentation at conclusion of Field School 10% [LO 3,4]
4. Policy paper (2000 words) 40% [LO 1,2,3,5]
Students taking the 12 unit version will complete the following assessment:
1. Pre-trip preparatory research paper (500 words), and presentation to class in country at start of Field School 10% [LO 1,2,4]
2. Group project during Field School (3000 words) 40% [LO 1,2,3,4,5]
3. Seminar presentation at conclusion of Field School 10% [LO 3,4]
4. Policy paper (3000 words) and reflective blog (1000 words) 40% [LO 1,2,3,5]
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. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
Two
days of seminars and preparatory work on aspects of island sustainable
development, at the ANU on a weekend in April. Ten day Field School in Fiji
(early-mid July) (excluding travel two and from Fiji) plus additional personal
study.
Requisite and Incompatibility
You will need to contact the Fenner School of Environment and Society to request a permission code to enrol in this course.
Prescribed Texts
Recommended Reading:
Department of Economic and Social Affairs (2010) Trends in Sustainable Development: Small Island Developing States (SIDS), 46 pp. http://www.sidsnet.org/sites/default/files/resources/trends_in_sustainable_development_sids.pdf.
Prasad, BC and Tisdell, CA (2006) Institutions, Economic Performance and Sustainable Development: A Case Study of the Fiji Islands, Nova Science Pub., 278 pp. (extracts to be provided).
Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (2012) Fiji Country Report, in: Pacific Regional MDGs Tracking Report, p 49-60, 212. http://www.forumsec.org/resources/uploads/attachments/documents/MDG%20Track%20Rpt%20web%2020122.pdf.
Read, R (2006) Sustainable natural resource use and economic development in small states: the tuna fisheries in Fiji and Samoa, Sustainable Development, 14:2, 93-103.
Veitayaki, J (2006) Caring for the Environment and the Mitigation of Natural Extreme Events in Gau, Fiji Islands: A Self-help Community Initiative, Island Studies Journal, 1:2, 239-252
Specialisations
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
If you are a domestic graduate coursework or international student you will be required to pay tuition fees. Tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 2
- Unit value:
- 6 to 12 units
If you are an undergraduate student and have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). You can find your student contribution amount for each course at Fees. Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
| 7.00 | 0.14583 |
| 8.00 | 0.16667 |
| 9.00 | 0.18750 |
| 10.00 | 0.20833 |
| 11.00 | 0.22917 |
| 12.00 | 0.25000 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2019 | $640 per unit |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2019 | $910 per unit |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
