977420 In-country Study 1: Germany

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 2019 is available in the Archives.

UTS: International Studies: International Studies and Languages
Credit points: 24 cp

Subject level:

Undergraduate

Result type: Grade and marks

Requisite(s): 976421 Contemporary Germany AND 976001 Foundations in International Studies AND CBK90485 32 cp German Language and Culture

Description

This subject is first part of the capstone in the Germany major in the BA in International Studies, which involves two sessions of study overseas at a UTS partner institution. In-country study is designed to enable students to experience living and studying in another country and is guided by the principles of cultural immersion and reflection, inquiry-based learning and self-reliance. It fosters 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 perspective of people from other cultures.

Through experiential learning in a partner university and reflective and research assessments, the subject develops students’ intercultural capabilities via critical reflection on host and home culture(s). It also scaffolds the learning and work toward a major project (to be completed in ICS 2) investigating an aspect of contemporary relevance for the host society. Students work with an academic supervisor to devise an appropriate topic for a project, engage with relevant secondary sources to deepen their understanding and conduct small-scale investigations using a social science or humanities research methodology.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

a.	Demonstrate a broad and coherent understanding of the historical, political, cultural, social and/or economic situations of the host society.
b.	Develop oral and written communication skills in both English and the language(s) of the host society.
c.	Develop intercultural understanding by critically reflecting upon the behaviours and values in host and home cultures.
d.	Design and conduct independent, small-scale research in an international setting.

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):

• Graduates will have the capacity to operate appropriately in intercultural professional contexts (INT.1.1)
• Graduates will demonstrate the application of international knowledge as adaptable, flexible and resourceful practitioners (INT.1.2)
• Graduates will be able to creatively design and conduct independent, engaged and ethical research in and about other cultural contexts and societies (INT.2.1)
• Graduates will possess critical problem-solving and research-led analytical skills in international and intercultural change (INT.2.2)
• Graduates will be able to personally reflect upon the relationship between diverse cultures in Australia while confidently engaging successfully with cultures overseas, particularly in this region (INT.3.1)
• As informed and engaged international citizens, graduates will demonstrate cosmopolitan openness, with an awareness of, and commitment to, ethical practices (INT.5.1)
• Graduates will possess a high level of oral and written communication skills in English and, where relevant, a developed level of oral and written communication skills in at least one language other than English (INT.6.1)

Teaching and learning strategies

This subject builds on skills and knowledge gained in Language & Culture classes, Foundations to International Studies and Contemporary Society subjects. Students complete one reflective and two research assignments for an ICS academic supervisor in addition to an agreed-upon course of study at a UTS partner university. All aspects of the subject promote the development of international knowledges, understandings of cultural difference, interpersonal skills and ethical practices.

The reflective assessment, completed early in the session at the host university, draws upon real exposure to and experience with students’ host and home cultures. Students will reflect on preconceived ideas about the host society, as well as the unchallenged assumptions they might have about their home culture(s). Feedback on this assessment should inform the second reflective assessment in ICS 2, as well as guide students in the development of their intercultural understanding. The research assessments in ICS 1 are scaffolded and build toward a major project in ICS 2 on a topic of the student’s choosing.

Students are provided with general guidance on these assignments, including research design and ethics, through resources on UTS Online and through ongoing conversations with their academic supervisor. The Academic Skills Modules provide instructional screencasts, annotated exemplars, advice from past students and exercises for improving one’s academic writing. Detailed assessment briefs and rubrics are also available on UTS Online. Specific guidance and feedback from academic supervisors, the main pedagogical component of the subject, is provided via distance supervision and a face-to-face block teaching session. Students should seek advice from their academic supervisor, especially in relation to the selection of the topic for their research assessments. Timely and detailed feedback, including on written communication, will support student learning as they progress through the assessments.

Given the distance-learning nature of the subject, students are reminded that they have additional responsibilities, not limited to remaining in contact with UTS professional and academic staff and representing UTS in an appropriate fashion. Full details about student responsibilities while on ICS are available on UTS Online in the administration folder. Please note that assessment due dates and feedback are configured around the university calendars in the host society, not the UTS academic calendar.

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Host University Classes

Objective(s):	a and b
Weight:	Mandatory task that does not contribute to subject mark
Criteria linkages:	Criteria Weight (%) SLOs CILOs Satisfactory completion of approved host university classes 100 a, b INT.1.1 SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Assessment task 2: First Impressions Report

Objective(s):	a, b and c
Weight:	30%
Length:	2000 words
Criteria linkages:	Criteria Weight (%) SLOs CILOs Engagement with host society 20 a, c INT.1.2 Depth of critical reflection on host society 50 a, c INT.3.1 Coherence of organisation, clarity of expression and presentation 30 b INT.6.1 SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Assessment task 3: Literature Review

Objective(s):	a, b, c and d
Weight:	35%
Criteria:	Please consult the following required readings: Fink, A. 2005, 'What is a Research Literature Review? Why Do One?' in Conducting Research Literature Reviews: From the Internet to Paper, Sage, Thousand Oaks, pp. 3-42. Stevenson, N. 2001, Culture and Citizenship, Sage, London, and Thousand Oaks, CA. Stevenson, N. 2007, Cultural Citizenship: Cosmopolitan Questions, Open University Press, Maidenhead.
Criteria linkages:	Criteria Weight (%) SLOs CILOs Relevance of topic choice and pertinence of scholarly literature 30 a, d INT.2.1 Depth of analysis of literature 40 a, c, d INT.2.2 Coherence of organisation, clarity of expression and presentation 30 b INT.6.1 SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Assessment task 4: Methodology

Objective(s):	a, b, c and d
Weight:	35%
Length:	2500 words. For students electing the Virtual Landscape Tour: 1500 words plus the multimedia component.
Criteria linkages:	Criteria Weight (%) SLOs CILOs Relevance and manageability of research question/hypothesis 10 a, d INT.2.1 Appropriateness of research design and application of method 40 a, d INT.5.1 Depth of critical reflection on findings 20 a, c, d INT.2.2 Coherence of organisation, clarity of expression and presentation 30 b INT.6.1 SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Minimum requirements

Students must pass Assessment Task 1: Host University Classes, the experiential learning component of the subject, and earn a total of 50 marks or more on the remaining assessment tasks. Students who fail Assessment Task 1 will be awarded an X- Fail grade (unsatisfactory performance in a compulsory component of the subject) even if other assessment components have been completed successfully.

Required texts

The Assessment Resources folder on UTS Online contains essential information and resources for completing your assessments. Among the resources you will find:

• Comprehensive assessment briefs and rubrics that outline requirements and detailed marking criteria
• The ICS Academic Skill Modules, which contain instructional screencasts, advice from previous students and annotated exemplar assignments
• PDF versions of all readings
• Writing guides
• Examplar assignments from past students

Students should be aware of the Policies and Procedures for Assessment of Coursework Subjects.

References

See individual assessment tasks for references.