977210 In-country Study 1: Japan

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular semester, 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 level:

Undergraduate

Handbook description

This subject is the key component of the Japan major in the BA in International Studies, which involves two semesters of study overseas attached to a partner institution of UTS. In-country study is designed to enable students to experience living and studying in the culture of their specialisation and is guided by the principles of cultural immersion and reflection, as well as self-reliance.

The subject recognises that intercultural competence is integral to professional practice. It aims to foster in students a capacity for critical reflection – in particular, the ability to identify and question one's cultural assumptions, values and beliefs, and thus to acknowledge and empathise with the perspectives of people from other cultures.

Subject objectives/outcomes

The overall goal of in-country study is for students to extend their knowledge and understanding of the language, culture, values, history and contemporary society of their country or region of choice. Students will participate in a learning program at a host university, immerse themselves in local communities and undertake independent study. Specifically, students will:

• identify, analyse and evaluate processes of social and cultural change and related issues in another country.
• demonstrate engagement with the host environment.
• demonstrate capacity to undertake independent learning and research.
• compare, contract and critically reflect upon aspects of culture in home and host societies.
• demonstrate capacity to build logical arguments drawing on relevant examples from own experience and using humanities/social science methods and approaches.
• demonstrate ethical behaviour and practice and follow academic good practice.

Contribution to course aims and graduate attributes

ICS contributes to the following BA International Studies graduate attributes:

Intellectual

A Capacity for analysing and evaluating processes of social and cultural change in another country.

B Capacity to contribute to Australia's international knowledge base.

C Problem solving skills.

Professional

D Knowledge of contemporary issues and trends relating to processes of internationalisation and capacity to draw on this knowldge while living, studying and working in international settings.

E Ethical behaviour and practic.

Personal

F Sensitivity to intercultural difference, and a respect for other cultures.

G Openness to studying and living in another country, and engagement with people from other social and cultural backgrounds.

H Preparedness for lifelong learning about other societies and cultures.

Teaching and learning strategies

To abide by UTS: International Studies conditions of participation and the guidelines in this subject outline during the period of in-country study (ICS):

• During the ICS year, students must include contact details online through My Student Admin. It is essential that UTS staff can contact you easily throughout the semester by email, phone or fax.
• You must also be available for supervision meetings with the ICS Coordinator during semester time. The Coordinator will notify students at least two weeks before the visit.
• You must meet all the regulations of the host university. For example, a student who wants to add, change or drop classes is responsible for following the correct procedures at the host university, including informing the lecturer, academic secretary, host university adviser, and the relevant ICS Coordinator at UTS.
• Students need to be proactive in negotiating the host university bureaucracy and should only request that the Major Coordinator intervene after first making a sustained attempt to resolve issues themselves (for example enrolment, campus orientation, etc).

Classes at host universities are an important part of the learning experience in this subject. Students are expected to attend and participate in learning activities in all host university classes, and to attempt and pass all assessment tasks set in those classes. Students must comply with host university rules on attendance, special consideration and extensions.

Students are expected to attend in-class tests and complete in-class assessments such as presentations at host university classes. Students who miss more than five classes at the host university in one semester without providing documented evidence of illness or misadventure will not be given special consideration in this subject. Please note that ICS Coordinators will check with the host university for evidence of ICS attendance at the host university classes. Failure to attend sufficient classes will incur a corresponding penalty determined by the subject coordinator. You are responsible for ensuring that your lecturers and advisers at the host country university are kept aware of the need for assessment, and that the results of the class assessments will reach the host university adviser at the end of each semester. UTS students are not exempt from host university-assigned work or final exams. Any exemptions due to special consideration have to be agreed individually with the host university lecturers and advisers.

Assessment

Assessment Item 1: Host Uni Classes

Assessment Item 2: Cultural Report

Assessment Item 3: Methodology 1

Assessment Item 4: Methodology 2

Minimum requirements

• Live in-country for two semesters; and
• Achieve a pass at host university classes or an equivalent determination of competence as agreed by the ICS Co-ordinator; and
• Attain an average of 50 per cent or more across the ICS assessment tasks each semester (1 reflective piece and 2 research based pieces).

Consequences of Failure

• If you fail In-Country Studies 1, you may be able to repeat it during the second semester of In-Country Study.
• If you fail a second time then you will fail the BA in International Studies.
• If you pass on the second attempt you may still be able to complete In-Country Study 2 by undertaking 24 credit points of approved BA in International Studies substitute subjects at UTS.
• If you pass In-Country Study 1 but fail In-Country Study 2 then you may be able to ‘repeat’ by undertaking 24 credit points of approved BA in International Studies substitute subjects at UTS.
• In deciding whether a student may repeat ICS 1 or ICS 2 the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences will consider a variety of factors, such as the views of the host-university adviser.

Note: Students CANNOT credit university subjects conducted at host universities during ICS to their UTS professional degree.

Required texts

See individual assessment tasks for recommended references.

Recommended texts

See individual assessment tasks for recommended references.

References

See individual assessment tasks for references.