Students

IRPG832 – Europe, the European Union, and the International System

2017 – S1 Day

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Steve Wood
Contact via steve.wood@mq.edu.au
W6A 430
Credit points Credit points
4
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MIntRel or PGDipIntRel or MIntCommMIntRel or MIntBusMIntRel or MIntRelMIntTrdeComLaw or MTransInterMIntRel or GradCertIntRel or GradDipIntRel
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit is for students interested in contemporary Europe and the European Union. The unit incorporates historical background and analysis of how these entities are related and differentiated. Developments in and theoretical perspectives on European integration, EU enlargement, member states and institutions, the 'Euro Crisis', key policy areas, important external actors, strategic challenges and questions of identity are among the other themes. Reading, thinking and engagement are required. At Masters level a high standard of analysis, research, referencing, organization and presentation is expected. The unit aims to enhance these skills and enable a broad and critical understanding of Europe and the EU in the world. There are opportunities for intensive inquiry across a range of topics. NB: This unit includes an invigilated exam held on campus in the designated exam period. External students also have to be available for this exam. Those outside Sydney may attend another approved examination centre in Australia.

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:

  • Advanced knowledge of Europe, the European Union (EU), and its member states
  • Critical understanding of EU politics, economics and institutions
  • Developed capacities for research and analysis
  • Enhanced verbal presentation and debating skills
  • A specialised awareness of students’ own selected essay and presentation topics

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Seminar presentation 15% No on the day (variable)
Seminar participation 10% No weekly
Group exercise: debates 5% No Weeks 3, 4, 6
research essay 35% No 8 June, 12:00 noon
exam 35% No tba

Seminar presentation

Due: on the day (variable)
Weighting: 15%

 

15%: A 15 minute* presentation on a weekly topic. You can focus on one or more listed questions in the detailed unit guide or formulate your own response, remaining within that week’s theme. Submit a one page written summary to the convenor by email.

Important: Do not copy or paraphrase an internet commentary or material composed by someone else for the verbal or written versions of the presentation. This assessment item (as do all) requires some genuine scholarly inquiry.

The presentation itself, not the written summary, is evaluated. You can use power point or other technology, or speak to your notes.

*More time is available if desired.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Advanced knowledge of Europe, the European Union (EU), and its member states
  • Critical understanding of EU politics, economics and institutions
  • Developed capacities for research and analysis
  • Enhanced verbal presentation and debating skills

Seminar participation

Due: weekly
Weighting: 10%

 

10%: Weekly seminar participation. This means some verbal indication of reading, involvement with the topics, and engagement with the presentations of other students – i.e. contribute to a scholarly culture. There are no marks for mere attendance.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Advanced knowledge of Europe, the European Union (EU), and its member states
  • Critical understanding of EU politics, economics and institutions
  • Developed capacities for research and analysis
  • Enhanced verbal presentation and debating skills

Group exercise: debates

Due: Weeks 3, 4, 6
Weighting: 5%

5%: Participation in the designated 'debates' - a group exercise


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Advanced knowledge of Europe, the European Union (EU), and its member states
  • Critical understanding of EU politics, economics and institutions
  • Developed capacities for research and analysis
  • Enhanced verbal presentation and debating skills

research essay

Due: 8 June, 12:00 noon
Weighting: 35%

 

35%: one 3000 word research essay (word count is text only - references and bibliography are additional)

Essay topics are listed in the Detailed Unit Guide at the unit iLearn site. There are 20 to choose from. Please do not alter the wording or invent new questions.

The due date (8 June, 12:00 noon) is as late as possible. Submit by this date as the exam may follow relatively soon after.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Advanced knowledge of Europe, the European Union (EU), and its member states
  • Critical understanding of EU politics, economics and institutions
  • Developed capacities for research and analysis
  • Enhanced verbal presentation and debating skills
  • A specialised awareness of students’ own selected essay and presentation topics

exam

Due: tba
Weighting: 35%

 

35%: 3 hour exam

On campus or, for qualified students, at an approved examination centre in Australia.

Exam content could be drawn from the entire unit.

The exam will occur in the exam period. The date will be announced when known.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Advanced knowledge of Europe, the European Union (EU), and its member states
  • Critical understanding of EU politics, economics and institutions
  • Developed capacities for research and analysis
  • Enhanced verbal presentation and debating skills

Delivery and Resources

Lectures will be delivered in person employing power point. Presuming that all technical means are functioning properly, audio will be available via Echo. An iLearn site has been set up. Access will be made available early, possibly in January - check when you can.

At the iLearn site a more Detailed Unit Guide will be available. Please access and read this document.

Power point slides will be placed on the unit iLearn site, usually after the lectures, sometimes before. There will be links to turnitin on the unit iLearn site. Appropriate technology will (hopefully) be available for student presentations and other pedagogic or research purposes

Readings will be posted on iLearn. Some will be there from January.

There is no set textbook for this unit. Students might find

Steve Wood and Wolfgang Quaisser The New European Union: Confronting the Challenges of Integration (Boulder: Lynne Rienner 2008)

useful but it is not essential.

 

Material for Week One will be placed on the unit iLearn site BEFORE Week One. Please access and read before the Week One lecture and seminar.

 

1 Day lectures are on Thursdays at 11:00 to 12:30. Seminars will follow from 12:30 to 14:00

(See schedule below)

Unit Schedule

S2 Day lectures are on Thursdays at 11:00 to 12:30 starting on 2 March. A seminar will follow from 12:30 to 14:00.

The schedule listed below indicates Thursday dates for Semester 1, 2017

There is a quite a lot of reading for Week 1. This is because it is relevant for most of the unit. Some can be read later but please read at least some BEFORE THE WEEK ONE SEMINAR

 

Week One – 2 March: What is Europe? What is the European Union?

Week Two – 9 March: European Union Enlargement

Week Three – 16 March: Foreign Policy, Security, Defence

Debate #1: Is the EU a military power/will it become one/does it need to be?

Week Four – 23 March: Economy and Crisis

Debate #2: Will the Euro survive; can the EU survive without the Euro?

Week Five – 30 March: Europe’s Refugee/Migrant Crisis

Week Six – 6 April: Normative Power Europe?

Debate #3: Is the EU a ‘normative power’? How far does its normative agenda extend?

External Students Essay #1 due 13 April

Week Seven - 13 April: Energy and Environmental Challenges

MID-SEMESTER BREAK: 15th to 30th April

Week Eight – 4 May: Transatlantic relations: The EU and the USA

Week Nine – 11 May: The EU and the Post-Soviet space

Week Ten – 18 May: The EU and Turkey

Week Eleven – 25 May: The EU and other actors: Africa, the Middle East, China

Week Twelve - 1 June: no lecture or seminar – more time to finish and submit essays

 

RESEARCH ESSAY DUE: 8 June, 12:00 noon

Date is as late as possible - no extensions

Exam – in the exam period (precise date and time to be announced)

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.

 

Plagiarism – read this very, very carefully

 

Plagiarism is more trouble than it is worth. It is unscholarly, unethical, unfair and illegal. It will waste your tutor’s and/or convenor’s time and ultimately your own. You will achieve far better outcomes by avoiding it. Do not do it. At Master’s level there are no excuses whatsoever. If you plagiarise do not claim after the fact that you did not understand what it was. More info at: http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html

 

In addition to your hard copy submission, to further encourage good scholarship and accuracy in referencing, submit essays electronically to the Turnitin website which can be linked to via ilearn.

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

PG - Capable of Professional and Personal Judgment and Initiative

Our postgraduates will demonstrate a high standard of discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgment. They will have the ability to make informed choices and decisions that reflect both the nature of their professional work and their personal perspectives.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • A specialised awareness of students’ own selected essay and presentation topics

Assessment task

  • research essay

PG - Discipline Knowledge and Skills

Our postgraduates will be able to demonstrate a significantly enhanced depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content knowledge in their chosen fields.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Advanced knowledge of Europe, the European Union (EU), and its member states
  • Critical understanding of EU politics, economics and institutions
  • Developed capacities for research and analysis
  • Enhanced verbal presentation and debating skills
  • A specialised awareness of students’ own selected essay and presentation topics

Assessment tasks

  • Seminar presentation
  • Seminar participation
  • Group exercise: debates
  • research essay
  • exam

PG - Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

Our postgraduates will be capable of utilising and reflecting on prior knowledge and experience, of applying higher level critical thinking skills, and of integrating and synthesising learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments. A characteristic of this form of thinking is the generation of new, professionally oriented knowledge through personal or group-based critique of practice and theory.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Advanced knowledge of Europe, the European Union (EU), and its member states
  • Critical understanding of EU politics, economics and institutions
  • Developed capacities for research and analysis
  • Enhanced verbal presentation and debating skills
  • A specialised awareness of students’ own selected essay and presentation topics

Assessment tasks

  • Seminar presentation
  • Seminar participation
  • Group exercise: debates
  • research essay
  • exam

PG - Research and Problem Solving Capability

Our postgraduates will be capable of systematic enquiry; able to use research skills to create new knowledge that can be applied to real world issues, or contribute to a field of study or practice to enhance society. They will be capable of creative questioning, problem finding and problem solving.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Advanced knowledge of Europe, the European Union (EU), and its member states
  • Critical understanding of EU politics, economics and institutions
  • Developed capacities for research and analysis
  • Enhanced verbal presentation and debating skills
  • A specialised awareness of students’ own selected essay and presentation topics

Assessment tasks

  • Seminar presentation
  • Seminar participation
  • Group exercise: debates
  • research essay
  • exam

PG - Effective Communication

Our postgraduates will be able to communicate effectively and convey their views to different social, cultural, and professional audiences. They will be able to use a variety of technologically supported media to communicate with empathy using a range of written, spoken or visual formats.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Enhanced verbal presentation and debating skills
  • A specialised awareness of students’ own selected essay and presentation topics

Assessment tasks

  • Seminar presentation
  • Seminar participation
  • Group exercise: debates
  • research essay
  • exam

Changes since First Published

Date Description
30/01/2017 essay due date clarified
23/01/2017 unit schedule was altered from S2 2016 to S1 2017