AIR349 - Diplomacy and the United Nations
Unit details
| Year | 2025 unit information |
|---|---|
| Enrolment modes: | Trimester 2: Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Online |
| Credit point(s): | 1 |
| EFTSL value: | 0.125 |
| Unit Chair: | Trimester 2: Andrew Thomas |
| Prerequisite: | Nil |
| Corequisite: | Nil |
| Incompatible with: | Nil |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment: | 1 x 1-hour on-campus lecture per week 1 x 1-hour on-campus seminar per week |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - online unit enrolment: | 1 x 1-hour online lecture per week (recordings provided) 1 x 1-hour online seminar per week |
| Typical study commitment: | Students will on average spend 150-hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. This will include educator guided online learning activities within the unit site. |
Content
This unit challenges you to put yourself in the shoes of a diplomat and negotiate a multilateral agreement at the United Nations. The unit explores the nature of diplomacy in a globalizing world and investigates the forms and effectiveness of a range of political and policymaking efforts to address current issues in world politics.
Throughout the unit, students work in small groups representing an assigned nation to establish a national position on a number of key issues and negotiate with other groups. These diplomatic efforts culminate in the Model United Nations Summit towards the end of the unit.
The unit will be delivered via a series of lectures, workshops and participation in a Model United Nations Summit (on-campus or online).
Learning Outcomes
| ULO | These are the Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: | Alignment to Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) |
|---|---|---|
| ULO1 | Analyse a range of policymaking contexts in contemporary transnational diplomacy in the form of Intergovernmental Organisations, Non-Governmental Organisations, and Governments | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO2: Communication |
| ULO2 | Evaluate and devise systemic responses to key diplomatic concerns in world politics - including global poverty, environmental degradation, economic crises among other contemporary global issues | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO4: Critical thinking |
| ULO3 | Critically assess arguments from a number of sources in order to make an independent evaluation of the questions posed by the unit and to construct convincing arguments that are systematic, logically coherent and evidence based in both individual tasks as well as group settings | GLO4: Critical thinking GLO5: Problem solving GLO6: Self-management GLO7: Teamwork |
| ULO4 | Apply the conventions of academic communication (written, verbal and online), as reflected in clear and accessible writing and presentation as well as professional conduct in group settings (either online or face-to-face) | GLO2: Communication GLO4: Critical thinking GLO6: Self-management |
Assessment
| Assessment Description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1: Class/Online Exercises | 1200 words | 30% | Week 4 |
| Assessment 2: Report (Position Paper) | 1600 words | 40% | Week 7 |
| Assessment 3: (Group) Simulation | 30% | Week 12 |
The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.
Learning resource
The texts and reading list for AIR349 can be found via the University Library.
Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.
Unit Fee Information
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current Students website.