This course will be occasionally scheduled to offer one-off opportunities to study under visiting experts, or to showcase a new teaching area. Information on the particular topic offered under this course will be outlined in the ‘Other Information’ section, including topic title, the topic convenor, and an indication of workload and indicative assessment. The topics offered each year will vary in response to current issues and emerging research. Details of the topic(s) of the coming year are available from the convenor.

Learning Outcomes

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

1. Demonstrate understanding of the major issues in, and concepts associated with the special topic area;
2. Confidently apply relevant theory and concepts to the study of the special topic area;
3. Critically evaluate approaches to the study of the special topic area;
4. Adapt theory, concepts and approaches to the special topic area as a result of independent enquiry;
5. Demonstrate effective communication skills in written and/or other formats.
6. Understand the role of diplomats and ambassadors in the implementation of foreign policy.

Recommended Resources

Whether you are on campus or studying online, there are a variety of online platforms you will use to participate in your study program. These could include videos for lectures and other instruction, two-way video conferencing for interactive learning, email and other messaging tools for communication, interactive web apps for formative and collaborative activities, print and/or photo/scan for handwritten work and drawings, and home-based assessment.

ANU outlines recommended student system requirements to ensure you are able to participate fully in your learning. Other information is also available about the various Learning Platforms you may use.

Staff Feedback

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

• written comments
• verbal comments
• feedback to whole class, groups, individuals, focus group etc

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). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	This first module covers two vital preliminary tasks. First we will introduce the course, its structure, content, and design. Second, we will consider the different ways we can understand, frame, and interrogate the concept of global governance. By the end of Module One you will understand what the course is asking of you, what assessment items you have ahead of you, how to move through the course, and be aware of some ways to think about governance as we move into the detailed content.
2	The Second Module develops your understanding of the formal and private organisations that represent, permit, and shape, governance. We will look at formal and informal governance organisations, considering their evolution, working, and the issues that surround them. We will also think about some often overlooked quirks and consequences of global governance. By the end of this module you will understand the ‘architecture’ of governance in global affairs, and have an understanding of the evolution and efficiency of our current system.
3	The Third Module focuses our attention on the individuals who ‘do’ governance. Governance is not a disembodied or abstract process - even if as students it can appear as such. Governance occurs because individuals sit down and interact with each other - it occurs because of diplomacy. By the end of this module you understand the history of diplomacy, some of the different ways in which diplomacy can occur, some of the issues that occur around diplomatic practice, and how diplomats work within, alongside, and outside, of formal processes.
4	The Fourth Module provides recaps of some key sites of governance in the contemporary world. We will examine both traditional areas of governance - such as the economy, or human rights, and more recent governance challenges like the environment, the internet, and artificial intelligence. These investigations will be necessarily short, so feel free to go into more depth with your own research. By the end of this module you should have a sense of the breadth and depth of governance, and how different sites of activity have different actors and processes.
5	The Fifth Module both reviews the course and contextualises global governance in the world of 2025. We will consider some key challenges to governance - such as the impact of populism and authoritarianism. We will also think about whether the situation we face in 2025 is more complex than ever before, and what that might mean for governance. At the end of this module, you will be able to place governance in the ‘longer history’ of global politics and consider what ‘comes next’.

Tutorial Registration

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.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Learning Outcomes
Short Video Assessment	5 %	27/02/2025	1, 2, 3, 4
Conversation	10 %	11/03/2025	1, 2, 3, 4
Photo analysis	15 %	17/03/2025	1, 2, 3, 6
Written Research Response	25 %	24/03/2025	1, 4, 5
Short Video Assessment	10 %	31/03/2025	1, 4, 5
Summative Assessment	35 %	11/04/2025	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

* 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 Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Extenuating Circumstances Application
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
• Code of practice for teaching and learning

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 Academic Skills website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

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

This is an online asychronous course. There is no participation grade.

Assessment Task 1

Short Video Assessment

You finish Module One with a short video assessment. 

Pick one word that best describes the state of global governance in 2025. Explain why you chose that word, and why you think it is preferable to alternatives. 

This assessment helps set your ‘baseline’ at the start of the course. This is useful not only for your own understanding of where you are starting from - reflecting on your own thoughts and experiences. 

The video should be about three minutes, and definitely no longer than five. The presentation is worth 5% of your overall grade.

There is no need for any presentation material - simply recorded to camera. This is a personal response. 

Please submit in the relevant Teams channel by just dropping and uploading your video file. This will be viewable by other students - with the intention that you can review each other’s if you want and learn more about how your colleagues view the issue.

Assessment Task 2

Conversation

Assessment Two is making at least two conversation posts on the relevant course Teams Channel. You can start your own conversation or you can reply to one of the set prompts I have put there. Your conversation piece should ask a question or give a response and give at 250-350 word of explanation of your opinion. You can focus on any aspect of Module Two, and are free to bring in topics and issues from elsewhere in the course and your understanding if they are relevant 

This activity is worth 10% of your overall grade. Each of your contributions will be weighted equally. If you make more than two contributions I will look at all the you post. 

Please submit in the relevant Teams channel

Assessment Task 3

Photo analysis

For assessment three you need to upload a photo analysis.

This assessment asks you to find a photo of diplomatic practice and then analyse it for what themes, concepts, or issues that photo suggests to you. The photo could be from a news article, or an image search, there really are not any limits to what you choose. If you would rather use an illustration or a cartoon, that is also fine. 

You will need to write a 500 word statement on how you interpret that photo - what theme does it represent or convey to you. What does the academic literature you have read said about this theme? What is your own position or understanding?

This assessment is worth 15% of your overall grade and you will upload your file through the relevant Turnitin option on Wattle. 

Assessment Task 4

Written Research Response

Here I am asking you to complete a research response to the following prompt

Focusing on one area of governance (whether that is what we have discussed or something else), write a short essay on what the key governance challenge in that area is, and whether it possible to overcome that challenge in politically feasible ways. 

This is best thought of a ‘regular’ research essay. The word limit is 1000 words. This assessment is worth 25% of your overall grade. 

We will use Turnitin for this submission.

Assessment Task 5

Short Video Assessment

You finish Module Five with a second short video assessment. 

Here I am asking you to reflect on how your understanding and thoughts about Global Governance have changed as a result of completing the course. 

You should reflect on the word you chose for the first assessment task, and consider how and why you have changed your mind/evolved/stayed the same. What has your learning journey been? I am not looking for what you enjoyed or disliked (at least not here). Instead where have your changed your mind, or had an opinion reinforced? What do you take away from this course?

The video should be about five minutes long, and definitely no longer than seven. It will be worth 10% of your overall grade. 

There is no need for any presentation material - simply recorded to camera.

Please submit in the relevant Teams channel. Again, this will be viewable by other students, so you can reflect on each other’s learning journey in the course. 

Assessment Task 6

Summative Assessment

To conclude the entire course you must critically assess the following statement - The future is ungovernable

To answer this question you will need to record a presentation of some 10 minutes. You will need to upload two things, first a recording of you giving your presentation and second the presentation file itself. Your answer should include references, quotes, evidence, and other ways you wish to present your argumentative response to the question.

If you wish to work in a pair can you please let me know and I can arrange that, and alter the assessment time to fit.

Your summative assessment is worth 35% of the overall grade

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.

The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.

The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

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) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

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

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material. Any use of artificial intelligence must be properly referenced. Failure to properly cite use of Generative AI will be considered a breach of academic integrity.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted 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.

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 Accessibility 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 supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents all ANU students