Students

LAWS452 – International Participation and Community Engagement

2017 – S2 Day

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Debra Ronan
Contact via debra.ronan@mq.edu.au
W3A 518
Wednesday 12-3
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
48cp in LAW or LAWS units and permission by special approval
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit involves participation in an international internship, normally as part of Macquarie University PACE International program operated in conjunction with Australian Volunteers International (AVI). Participation in an international placement will provide students with an opportunity for field-based practical legal experience in a global context. On either a four (S1, S2) or eight (S3) week program, interns will travel overseas to participate in internships. Interns will work within a range of organisations that provide legal advice, education, services and contribute to public debate about legal standards, policies and reform. During their internship students will engage in needs-based projects, assist with legal research, legal policy drafting, legal reform reviews, prepare case briefings, undertake international and local comparative law analysis, communication and education about legal issues, or community advice, as well as provide general paralegal assistance. Each intern will focus on a project under the direction of the partner organisation, decided in consultation between the intern, partner, and academic convenor, whilst also being involved in daily operations of the partner organisation. Interns will be matched to partner organisations during the recruitment process based on their skills and interests, and the partner project requirements.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • Identify and address the issues raised by the projects or tasks posed by the PACE partner organisation
  • Apply the abstract legal knowledge and skills, gained from their program of study, into practice (i.e. real world situations);
  • Demonstrate ability in critical analysis and / or problem solving at a professional standard in real-world contexts.
  • Apply effective communication skills, orally and in writing using clear language and appropriate communication style
  • Demonstrate a professional attitude to the placement including sufficient effort in allocated tasks and a desire to learn and improve
  • Engage in personal reflection

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Participation 45% Yes Completion of placement
Oral Debrief 5% No Weeks 2 - 4 by appointment
Reflective Report 20% No Week 4 Friday 25 August
Presentation 30% No Week 9 or 11

Participation

Due: Completion of placement
Weighting: 45%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)

Applies to:

1) a professional overseas work placement that is arranged by the student themself; or

2) in an international internship as part of Macquarie University PACE International program 

Task:

Students are required to attend their professional work placement programme for the time allocated.

Students who have sourced their own professional placement must attend for a minimum of 120 hours

PACE International placements require attendance and participation for the time-frame specified in the LAWS452 recruitment process.

The direct supervisor, manager or delegate will assess placement participation. The participation assessment will consider quality of work, effort, professionalism, and commitment to further learning.

A placement supervisor report template and rubric is provided to the supervisor, and is available on iLearn


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify and address the issues raised by the projects or tasks posed by the PACE partner organisation
  • Apply the abstract legal knowledge and skills, gained from their program of study, into practice (i.e. real world situations);
  • Demonstrate ability in critical analysis and / or problem solving at a professional standard in real-world contexts.
  • Demonstrate a professional attitude to the placement including sufficient effort in allocated tasks and a desire to learn and improve

Oral Debrief

Due: Weeks 2 - 4 by appointment
Weighting: 5%

Applies to:

1) a professional overseas work placement that is arranged by the student themself; or

2) in an international internship as part of Macquarie University PACE International program.

Task:

Students will have a 15 minute debrief interview with convenor during which they will reflect on issues that have arisen during their placement. Students must contact the convenor in week 1 to make an appointment for the debrief. If students are still overseas at this time, the debrief can be done by skype or phone. 

Debrief questions and marking rubric are on iLearn


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply effective communication skills, orally and in writing using clear language and appropriate communication style
  • Engage in personal reflection

Reflective Report

Due: Week 4 Friday 25 August
Weighting: 20%

Applies to:

1) a professional overseas work placement that is arranged by the student themself; or

2) in an international internship as part of Macquarie University PACE International program.

Task:

Students are required to prepare a reflective report of the entire placement. The report of will be approximately 1500 words that critically reflects on the placement experience. Students reflect on the meaning of their placement experience to their intellectual, personal and career development. 

Reflection guidelines will be discussed at the pre-departure meeting. Reflection guidelines and marking rubric are on iLearn 

The reflective report must be submitted by 10pm Friday 25 August (Week 4) via the Reflective Report Assessment link on iLearn


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply effective communication skills, orally and in writing using clear language and appropriate communication style
  • Engage in personal reflection

Presentation

Due: Week 9 or 11
Weighting: 30%

Applies to:

1) a professional overseas work placement that is arranged by the student themself; or

2) in an international internship as part of Macquarie University PACE International program.

Task:

Students make a 10 minute presentation to members of the placement group, and other placement groups about a particular aspect of their placement and the institutions attended. Guidelines and marking rubric are on iLearn. Dates for presentations will be allocated at the debrief

Presentations will be held during weeks 9 and 11 (Monday-Thursday) 3.30 to 5.30 pm, and 5.30 -7.30pm. Students are only required to attend on the date of their presentation. Full details will be provided on iLearn


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify and address the issues raised by the projects or tasks posed by the PACE partner organisation
  • Apply the abstract legal knowledge and skills, gained from their program of study, into practice (i.e. real world situations);
  • Demonstrate ability in critical analysis and / or problem solving at a professional standard in real-world contexts.

Delivery and Resources

This unit uses iLearn and SKYPE for delivery. Student / convenor communication is by email

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html

Assessment Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy_2016.html

Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html

Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/complaint_management/procedure.html​

Disruption to Studies Policy (in effect until Dec 4th, 2017): http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html

Special Consideration Policy (in effect from Dec 4th, 2017): https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/special-consideration

In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/

Results

Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.

Macquarie Law School Policy on Assessments

In the absence of a successful application for special consideration due to a disruption to studies, any assessment task submitted after its published deadline will not be graded and will receive a mark of zero.  Applications for a Disruption to Studies are made electronically via ask.mq.edu.au and should be accompanied by supporting documentation.  Students should refer to the Disruption to Studies policy for complete details of the policy and a description of the supporting documentation required.

Word limits will be strictly applied and work above the word limit will not be marked. 

All written assessments in the unit are to be submitted electronically. Plagiarism detection software is used in this unit.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Graduate Capabilities

Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative

We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify and address the issues raised by the projects or tasks posed by the PACE partner organisation
  • Demonstrate a professional attitude to the placement including sufficient effort in allocated tasks and a desire to learn and improve

Assessment tasks

  • Participation
  • Presentation

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Demonstrate a professional attitude to the placement including sufficient effort in allocated tasks and a desire to learn and improve
  • Engage in personal reflection

Assessment tasks

  • Participation
  • Oral Debrief
  • Reflective Report

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Apply the abstract legal knowledge and skills, gained from their program of study, into practice (i.e. real world situations);

Assessment tasks

  • Participation
  • Presentation

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Demonstrate ability in critical analysis and / or problem solving at a professional standard in real-world contexts.

Assessment tasks

  • Participation
  • Presentation

Problem Solving and Research Capability

Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Identify and address the issues raised by the projects or tasks posed by the PACE partner organisation

Assessment tasks

  • Participation
  • Presentation

Effective Communication

We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Apply effective communication skills, orally and in writing using clear language and appropriate communication style

Assessment tasks

  • Oral Debrief
  • Reflective Report

Engaged and Ethical Local and Global citizens

As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Engage in personal reflection

Assessment tasks

  • Oral Debrief
  • Reflective Report