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Challenges & Hopes in Contemporary Asia (UNIB10021)
Undergraduate level 1Points: 12.5Dual-Delivery (Parkville)
From 2023 most subjects will be taught on campus only with flexible options limited to a select number of postgraduate programs and individual subjects.
To learn more, visit COVID-19 course and subject delivery.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Overview
| Availability | Semester 2 - Dual-Delivery |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
This subject examines the challenges and opportunities associated with change across Asia, with particular reference to South Asia – including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Bhutan.
The subject begins with an introduction to key dimensions of Asia’s history and current cultural, economic, social, and political characteristics, drawing comparisons between South Asia and other regions. The subject then examines what we can learn about culture, politics and development through a focus on South Asia, South-East Asia and East Asia, and in relation to five questions (two weeks per question). (1) To what extent has the market-focused reform of Asian economies transformed the standing of these countries, reduced poverty, and generated hope, and how is South Asia faring relative to other parts of Asia? (2) How should we understand the relationship between democracy and authoritarianism in Asia and how new social movements and mobilizations reshaping Asia and creating new ideas about ‘hope’? (3) How are Asian countries engaging with environmental threats, incorporating perspectives from environmental science? (4) How does South Asia influence global culture, for example through yoga, the growth of Bollywood, and in areas such as art and design – and what opportunities does such cultural practice open up for global engagement? (5) How has Covid-19 affected culture, politics, and development in Asia, incorporating perspectives from the Nossal Institute of Global Health?
Throughout the subject, we will encourage students to reflect on the different forms of evidence (quantitative, qualitative, textual, visual, historical etc.) that are used to develop an understanding of challenges and hope in Asia.
Throughout we also reflect on the nature of young people’s lives in Asia and the connecting theme of ‘hope’.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject, students should be able to:
- Collate, summarise, and evaluate scholarly work relating to South Asia and Asia more broadly.
- Identify different disciplinary approaches to the study of Asia, including work that uses large data sets and in-depth case studies.
- Apply a comparative perspective to the study of Asia,
- Illustrate why it is important to be studying South Asia and Asia more broadly, and
- Work with students from diverse backgrounds and appreciate different personal approaches to understanding and engaging with Asia.
Generic skills
Upon successful completion of this subject, students will have skills in:
- Reading, presenting, and synthesising scholarly research
- Conducting library searches for relevant literatures
- Analysing conceptual ideas
- Thinking across different contexts to identify comparative opportunities
- Reflecting on different disciplinary approaches
- Appreciation of the value of different students' perspectives
Last updated: 8 August 2023
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 8 August 2023
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Reflective journal - A minimum of 5 weekly entries max 360 words per entry. (5 x 8% each)
| Week 6 (covering first five weeks – 2 entries) and Week 12 (covering second seven weeks – 3 entries) | 40% |
10-minute tutorial oral presentation based on tutorial readings, plus 5 minutes for questions
| From Week 3 to Week 11 | 25% |
Tutorial participation, assessed through students submitting questions for discussion prior to tutorial
| From Week 3 to Week 11 | 5% |
Essay on a different topic to the oral presentation – i.e. on a different country or different sector (education/health/governance)
| During the examination period | 30% |
Tutorial Attendance Hurdle requirement: Tutorial attendance is required for this subject; if a student does not attend a minimum of 75% of tutorials without an approved exemption then they will not be eligible for a pass in this subject. | N/A |
Additional details
Note: Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per day. All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject.
Last updated: 8 August 2023
Dates & times
- Semester 2
Coordinator Craig Jeffrey Mode of delivery Dual-Delivery (Parkville) Contact hours Total of 36 contact hours consisting of: 1 x 2 hr lecture and 1 x 1 hr tutorial weekly. Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 25 July 2022 to 23 October 2022 Last self-enrol date 5 August 2022 Census date 31 August 2022 Last date to withdraw without fail 23 September 2022 Assessment period ends 18 November 2022
Additional delivery details
The subject will include a two-hour lecture each week designed to encourage active participation. The lectures will involve interactive activities, occasional small-group work (such as discussion in pairs), video, short multimedia presentations, and the use of vivid research case studies to exemplify key points.
The subject will also involve a one-hour tutorial per week throughout semester. Tutors will promote group-based learning through the discussion of carefully selected articles and other activities. Tutors will maximise student engagement and opportunities for interdisciplinary exchange through encouraging students to reflect on how their own backgrounds and experience shapes their interpretation of the subject material.
Last updated: 8 August 2023
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
There are no specifically prescribed or recommended texts for this subject.
- Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Biomedicine
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Bachelor of Design
- Bachelor of Environments
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art)
- Bachelor of Music
- Bachelor of Science
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 8 August 2023