In 2000, when the Security Council adopted resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (WPS), it was a diverse and geographically-representative coalition of Member States such as Bangladesh, Namibia, Canada and Jamaica, with a strong global constituency of women's civil society organisations who first tabled the resolution in the Security Council. The resolution was the first Security Council resolution to link women to the peace and security agenda, looking at the impact of war on women and their contribution to conflict resolution and sustainable peace.

 

This innovative course follows the four pillars introduced in the WPS agenda through UNSC1325 and explores- the role of women in conflict prevention, their participation in peacebuilding, protection of women’s rights during and after conflict, and specific needs during repatriation, resettlement, rehabilitation, reintegration and post-conflict reconstruction. It explores the key arguments regarding gender, security and human rights that have preoccupied scholars, policymakers and practitioners; and how debates about inclusion, equality, and identity matter today.

Learning Outcomes

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

1. Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of how security and peace are inherently gendered.
2. Critically Analyse the concepts, theories and approaches relating to WPS
3. Apply the knowledge developed through the course to critically analyse global humanitarian-development discourses
4. Develop strong written and oral gender-sensitive and gender-responsive communication skills in order to analyse and discuss WPS agenda

Recommended Resources

Whether you are on campus or studying remotely, 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	Introduction: What is the WPS agenda and why does it matter?
2	Feminist theoretical approaches to security
3	Feminist theoretical approaches to peace
4	Feminist critiques of WPS	Assessment 1 Review Essay due
5	Pillar 1: Participation
6	Pillar 2: Conflict prevention
7	Pillar 3: Protection
8	Pillar 4: Relief and Recovery	Assessment 2 Herstory due
9	Case Study 1
10	Case Study 2
11	Case Study 3
12	Future opportunities and challenges for WPS

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Learning Outcomes
Review Essay	20 %	1,2,4
Herstory	40 %	1,2,3,4
Case Study Report	30 %	1,2,3,4
Class participation	10 %	1,2,3,4

* 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
• Special Assessment Consideration Guideline and General Information 
• 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.

Assessment Task 1

Review Essay

Word limit: 1500 words (excluding bibliography)

Percentage: 20%

Requirements: Students will develop a review essay analysing any 2 readings assigned from Weeks 1 to 3. Students must demonstrate capacity to identify main arguments, summarise themes, compare/contrast ideas between the articles, and assess strengths and weaknesses of both.

Due: 13 March 2024, 5 pm

Assessment Task 2

Herstory

Word limit: 3000 words (excluding bibliography)

Percentage: 40%

Requirements: Students will develop a ‘herstory’ by selecting a woman whose intellectual contributions to theorising peace and security need to be recognised and valued. The subject of the herstory can be any living or deceased political figure, activist, practitioner or academic from any part of the world. The assessment will provide discussion of the personal background of the thinker, her core ideas and their significance or impact on how peace and security is understood and practiced. Students will be required to secure pre-approval from the lecturer regarding their selected herstory subject. Further details on this assessment will be discussed in Week 1.

Due: 24 April 2024, 5 pm

Assessment Task 3

Case Study Report

Word limit: 1500 words (excluding bibliography)

Percentage: 30%

Requirements: Students will be tasked to select a case study based on themes / topics collectively determined by the class and approved by the lecturer. These topics will include (but not limited to) the who, what, where and when of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda. For this assessment, students must demonstrate their research skills and be able to critically assess the implementation of the WPS agenda as well as integrate key debates, concepts and perspectives learnt throughout the course. Students will be expected to present their preliminary research findings where they will receive feedback from both the lecturer and their peers as part of a ‘WPS Symposium’ held from weeks 9 to 11. Presentation of preliminary research will form 10% of the overall mark. The final written report must be submitted by the due date.

Due: 29 May 2024, 5 pm

Assessment Task 4

Class participation

Percentage: 10%

Students are expected to actively participate in the seminars and to contribute their own critical response and analysis of the weekly readings. In addition, the students will be required to hand in every week beginning with Week 3, a 100-word reflection piece summarising what they think are the three (3) most interesting lessons they learnt from the weekly readings and one (1) question they have on either the reading or the weekly topic in general. The reflection pieces will be marked with a score of 1 or zero (for non-submission) and count towards final evaluation of their class participation. In total, students will have 10 reflection pieces for attending all lectures from weeks 3 to 12.

Due: From week 3 to 12 (submit before lecture starts).

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 not permitted. If submission of assessment tasks without an extension after the due date is not permitted, a mark of 0 will be awarded.
• 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.

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 Access 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