99206 Global Problem Solving

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.

UTS: International Studies: International Studies and Global Societies
Credit points: 8 cp

Subject level:

Undergraduate

Result type: Grade and marks

Requisite(s): 99204 Global Governance
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.

Description

In this subject students tackle real-world global problems. Through off-campus field trips, in-class seminars and workshops, and engagement with community and industry, students examine global issues and how they manifest and are addressed in local contexts. The subject looks at different theories of social change and applied-sector approaches to addressing the processes and consequences of globalisation, and utilise knowledge from the diverse majors to propose innovative solutions. Skills developed include: combining knowledge from global studies with knowledge from the majors; undertaking primary research through fieldwork; engaging professionally with external organisations and sensitively with local communities; independent and collaborative research on global phenomena; and oral, visual and written presentation (print and digital).

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

a.	Identify the different economic, social, cultural and political dimensions of a global problem
b.	Analyse different approaches to addressing global issues
c.	Examine how global problems play out in local situations
d.	Develop skills in written, visual and oral presentation of arguments based on evidence
e.	Engage professionally with external organisations and sensitively with local communities

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)

This subject engages with the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs), which are tailored to the Graduate Attributes set for all graduates of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (INT = International Studies CILOs):

Operate appropriately in socially diverse professional contexts, and understand complex global phenomena in those contexts (1.1)
Contribute effectively within a team (1.3)
Understand how global phenomena play out in local situations, and the reasons behind different perspectives on globalisation (3.1)
Demonstrate awareness of the processes through which local, cultural and national identities are formed and the roles of these identities in global processes (3.2)
Reflect upon and contextualise Indigenous peoples' situations relative to globalisation, taking into consideration histories of colonialism, institutional constraints and prejudice (4.1)
Adopt a questioning approach to global aspects of one's professional and personal lives (5.2)
Communicate and collaborate effectively in a variety of communication scenarios and contexts (6.1)

Teaching and learning strategies

This subject is largely taught as seminars where students will meet as a large group to undertake collaborative learning and discussion of weekly material with the subject instructor. Students are required to undertake pre-seminar preparation, especially the completion of required readings. Industry guest speakers are also integrated into selected seminars. There are two compulsory off-campus field trips with the subject instructor.

Content (topics)

In this third year capstone subject for the Bachelor of Global Studies, students will draw on and apply different theories of globalisation learnt throughout their course, to a studio problem set for the class. Through off-campus field trips, in-class seminars and workshops, and engagement with community and industry, students will examine global issues and how they manifest and are addressed in local contexts. Assessments are a combination of individual and collaborative work.

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Digital Poster

Objective(s):

a, c, d and e

Weight:

20%

Length:

500 words (photo captions do not count in the word limit -- see Assignment Brief)

Criteria:

• Identification of economic, social, cultural and political dimensions of globalisation pertaining to the selected field site.
• Critical reflection on link between global/local and how you are situated in these processes
• Evidence from scholarly readings to substantiate critical reflection
• Quality of poster (use of clear images, clear organisation of photography and text, clarity of expression in written text, overall visual impact of poster)

Criteria linkages:

Criteria	Weight (%)	SLOs	CILOs
Identification of economic, social, cultural and political dimensions of globalisation pertaining to the selected field site.	10	a, c	4.1
Critical reflection on link between global/local and how you are situated in these processes	40	a	5.2
Depth of use of scholarly readings to substantiate critical reflection	30	d	3.1
Quality of poster (use of clear images, clear organisation of photography and text, clarity of expression in written text, overall visual impact of poster)	20	d, e	6.1

SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Assessment task 2: Group Project

Objective(s):

a, b, c, d and e

Weight:

30%

Length:

750 words

Criteria:

• Identification of a relevant case study to contribute to report/discussion paper and critical reflection of economic, social, cultural and political dimensions of globalisation and how it impacts locally in Australia
• Engagement with external organisation
• Contribution to team (as per self and peer assessment form)
• Accessible and professional presentation of output for external organisation

Criteria linkages:

Criteria	Weight (%)	SLOs	CILOs
Identification of a relevant case study and analysis of economic, social, cultural and/or political (discuss at least one) dimensions of globalisation adn how it impacts the local level.	10	a, b, c	3.1
Critical reflection on contribution to group work	40	d, e	1.3
Critical reflection on professional self-development	20	d, e	5.2
Critical reflection on engagement with external organisation	20	c, d, e	1.1
Coherence of reflection and clarity of expression	10	d	6.1

SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Assessment task 3: Written Report

Objective(s):

a, b, c and d

Weight:

50%

Length:

2500 words

Criteria:

Identification of a global problem relevant to subject themes
Critical examination and elaboration of economic, social, cultural and political dimensions of globalisation pertaining to geopolitical settings around the world and impacts on different groups and actors, including how it plays out locally in Australia.
Justification of proposed initiative that links coherently with critical examination of past approaches to addressing the selected global issue
Coherence of analysis and clarity of expression

Criteria linkages:

Criteria	Weight (%)	SLOs	CILOs
Identification of a global problem relevant to subject themes	5	a	5.2
Critical examination and elaboration of economic, social, cultural and political dimensions of globalisation pertaining to geopolitical settings around the world and impacts on different groups and actors, including how it plays out locally in Australia.	40	a, b, c	3.1
Justification of proposed initiative that links coherently with critical examination of past approaches to addressing the selected global issue	30	b, d	3.2
Coherence of analysis and clarity of expression	25	d	6.1

SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Required texts

Students must consult UTSOnline to access required readings for each week. They are located under the section Weekly Activities. There is no required text book for this subject. The main body of text and references for this subject will be developed on a semester by semester basis, around the specific studio problem set for each offering.

Recommended texts

Aside from Required Readings every week, there is a Recommended Reading list for every weekly topic available on CANVAS under 'Weekly Activities'. There is also a general Supplementary Reading List on CANVAS located in the 'Other helpful resources' folder.