Students

PICX818 – Global Counter Terrorism in the Australian Context

2018 – S2 OUA

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Lise Waldek
lise.waldek@mq.edu.au
Tutor
Shane Peattie
shane.peattie@mq.edu.au
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
PICT818
Unit description Unit description
This unit will examine the structure and components of global counter-terrorism policies and initiatives. It will explore the relationships between foreign policy, international relations, and community dynamics exposing students to the complexity involved in delivering and evaluating effective solutions to the dynamic security threats posed by violent extremism. It will consider the complex and inter-connected roles played by organisations at a global, national and local level including the United Nations, Attorney General’s Department, Office of Premier and Cabinet, Multicultural NSW and a range of NGOs. Contemporary literature drawn from terrorism studies and real-world case-studies will expose students to important theoretical arguments relating to radicalisation, de-radicalisation, and desistance and how these impact on the delivery of effective counter-terrorism strategies. All enrolment queries should be directed to Open Universities Australia (OUA): see www.open.edu.au

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.open.edu.au/student-admin-and-support/key-dates/

Learning Outcomes

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

  • Demonstrate a high level of critical comprehension regarding the concepts of counter terrorism and countering violent extremism.
  • Display engagement with the theoretical and practical paradigms that shape counter terrorism through the examination and exploration of contemporary global and Australian specific policies, programs, and initiatives
  • Investigate a substantial body of contemporary counter terrorism and countering violent extremism literature.
  • Demonstrate higher order communication skills including the ability to present sustained and persuasive arguments cogently and coherently.
  • Model research skills, particularly the ability to select appropriate knowledge and evidence from diverse sources in order to effectively evaluate its significance and relevance; formulate sustained and persuasive written and oral arguments.
  • Demonstrate higher level skills in critical analysis.

General Assessment Information

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply - two (2) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date - and (b) no assignment will  be accepted more than seven (7) days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments - e.g. quizzes, online tests. 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Active Participation 15% No Weekly/Ongoing
Policy Memo 35% No Sunday 2nd September 2018
Research Essay 50% No Sunday 4th November 2018

Active Participation

Due: Weekly/Ongoing
Weighting: 15%

Active Participation (15%) refers to the demonstration of sustained, informed, and critical contributions to seminars and online forums, the demonstration of reflective intellectual practice, the completion of online or in-class tasks, and the demonstration that you have engaged with the set materials for the course.

Engagement refers to the demonstration of critical thinking and sustained, informed and critical contributions to seminars and online forums. It involves the ability to take an active role in learning, communicating effectively with peers, and to address substantively the given topic area making use of all available course materials. Effective engagement enhances the learning environment, fosters critical insights, and promotes cooperative, constructive and informed dialogue.

All students, in-class or external, are required to participate in a minimum of ten weeks between weeks 2 to 13.

Please see the unit iLearn site for detailed guidance for internal and external students and the Marking Rubrics. 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate a high level of critical comprehension regarding the concepts of counter terrorism and countering violent extremism.
  • Display engagement with the theoretical and practical paradigms that shape counter terrorism through the examination and exploration of contemporary global and Australian specific policies, programs, and initiatives
  • Demonstrate higher order communication skills including the ability to present sustained and persuasive arguments cogently and coherently.
  • Demonstrate higher level skills in critical analysis.

Policy Memo

Due: Sunday 2nd September 2018
Weighting: 35%

The policy memo is a 1500 word written brief addressed to a high-level policy-maker who is considering the different options available to Australian government in response to the return of foreign fighters from Iraq and Syria who are children under the age of 18 years old. The memo should identify and analyse the key policy options and make appropriate recommendations on the adoption of a given position. The memo should detail who else within and outside of government should be consulted and why.

Footnotes are included in your final word count; bibliography and title page are not counted in the final word count.

The PDF Policy Brief instructions and PDF Policy Brief Marking Rubric accessed on the unit iLearn site provide detailed instructions on the structure and assessment of this task.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate a high level of critical comprehension regarding the concepts of counter terrorism and countering violent extremism.
  • Demonstrate higher order communication skills including the ability to present sustained and persuasive arguments cogently and coherently.
  • Model research skills, particularly the ability to select appropriate knowledge and evidence from diverse sources in order to effectively evaluate its significance and relevance; formulate sustained and persuasive written and oral arguments.
  • Demonstrate higher level skills in critical analysis.

Research Essay

Due: Sunday 4th November 2018
Weighting: 50%

The completion of a 3,000 word Research Essay allows students to develop core disciplinary knowledge, enhance research and critical thinking skills, demonstrate effective written communication skills, and demonstrate originality.

Students should select ONE of the five essay questions listed in the PDF document found on the unit iLearn site.

The PDF Research Essay instructions and PDF Research Essay Marking Rubric provide detailed instructions on the structure and assessment of this task and can be accessed through the unit iLearn site. 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate a high level of critical comprehension regarding the concepts of counter terrorism and countering violent extremism.
  • Display engagement with the theoretical and practical paradigms that shape counter terrorism through the examination and exploration of contemporary global and Australian specific policies, programs, and initiatives
  • Investigate a substantial body of contemporary counter terrorism and countering violent extremism literature.
  • Demonstrate higher order communication skills including the ability to present sustained and persuasive arguments cogently and coherently.
  • Model research skills, particularly the ability to select appropriate knowledge and evidence from diverse sources in order to effectively evaluate its significance and relevance; formulate sustained and persuasive written and oral arguments.
  • Demonstrate higher level skills in critical analysis.

Delivery and Resources

DELIVERY AND RESOURCES

UNIT REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS

  • You should spend an average of 12 hours per week on this unit. This includes listening to lectures prior to seminar or tutorial, reading weekly required materials as detailed in iLearn, participating in iLearn discussion forums and preparing assessments. 
  • Internal students are expected to attend all seminar and tutorial sessions, and external students are expected to make significant contributions to on-line activities.
  • In most cases students are required to attempt and submit all major assessment tasks in order to pass the unit. 

REQUIRED READINGS

  • The citations for all of the required readings for this unit are available to enrolled students through the unit iLearn site, and at Macquarie University's library site. Electronic copies of required readings may be accessed through the library or will be made available by other means.

TECHNOLOGY USED AND REQUIRED

  • Computer and internet access are essential for this unit. Basic computer skills and skills in word processing are also a requirement. 
  • This unit has an online presence. Login is via: https://ilearn.mq.edu.au
  • Students are required to have regular access to a computer and the internet. Mobile devices alone are not sufficient.
  • Information about IT used for this unit is available at https://students.mq.edu.au/it_services/

SUBMITTING ASSESSMENT TASKS

  • All text based assessment tasks are to be submitted, marked, and returned electronically. This will only happen through the unit iLearn site.
  • Assessment tasks must be submitted as a MS Word document by the due date.
  • Most assessment tasks will be subjected to a 'Turnitin' review as an automatic part of the submission process.
  • The granting of extensions is subject to the university's Disruption Policy. Extensions will not in normal circumstances be granted by unit conveners or tutors, but must be lodged through Disruption to Study: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-study-program/special-consideration/disruption-to-studies

LATE SUBMISSION OF ASSESSMENT TASKS

  • Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approve, a penalty for lateness will apply:
    • Two (2) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date 
    • No assignment will be accepted seven (7) days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline.
    • No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests. 

WORD LIMITS FOR ASSESSMENT TASKS

  • Stated word limits include footnotes and footnoted references, but not bibliography, or title page.
  • Word limits can generally deviate by 10% either over or under the stated figure.
  • If the number of words exceeds the limit by more than 10%, penalties will apply. These penalties are 5% of the awarded mark for every 100 words over the word limit. If a paper is 300 words over, for instance it will lose 3 x 5% = 15% of the total mark awarded for the assignment. This percentage is taken off the total mark, i.e. if a paper was graded at a credit (65%) and was 300 words over, it would be reduced by 15 marks to a pass (50%).

REASSESSMENT OF ASSIGNMENTS DURING THE SEMESTER

  • Macquarie University operates a Grade Appeal Policy in cases where students feel their work was graded inappropriately: http://student.mq.edu.au/support/complaints_appeals/appeals/grade_appeals/
  • Conforming to the Grade Appeal Policy, individual works are not subject to regrading

STAFF AVAILABILITY

  • Department staff will endeavor to answer student enquiries in a timely manner. However, emails or iLearn messages will not usually be answered over the weekend or public holiday period.
  • Students are encouraged to read the Unit Guide and look at instructions posted on the iLearn site before sending email requests to staff.

Unit Schedule

DATE

TOPIC

Guest Speakers

Week 1

1st August

Introduction: What is Terrorism? What can be done about Terrorism?

 

 

Week 2

8th August

Instruments of Policy: Military Action

 

 

Week 3

15th August

Instruments of Policy: War by Proxy and Targeted Killing

 

Week 4

22nd August

Instruments of Policy: Diplomacy and Negotiations

 

Week 5

29th August

Instruments of Policy: Countering Violent Extremism  

 

Week 6

5th September

CT in the International Environment

 

Mike Smith

Week 7

12th September

Domestic Counter Terrorism: Policing  

Mat Senevirante

19th September

RECESS

 

26th September

RECESS

 

Week 8

3rd October

Domestic Counter Terrorism: De-radicalisation and Desistence  

 

Week 9

10th October

Australian Counter Terrorism

 

 

Week 10

17th October

Australian Counter Terrorism: Resilience in NSW

Malcolm Haddon

Week 11

24th October

Rehabilitation and/or Punishment: The role of the prison in CT

Joanne Jousif

Week 12

31st October

Ethical and Legal Issues

 

 

Week 13

7th November

Conclusions

 

 

Please note that opportunity to include guest speakers sometimes requires that the schedule be altered. If this is the case students will be notified in advance.

Policies and Procedures

Late Submission - applies unless otherwise stated elsewhere in the unit guide

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – two (2) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted more than seven (7) days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests.

Extension Request

Special Consideration Policy and Procedure (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/special-consideration)

The University recognises that students may experience events or conditions that adversely affect their academic performance. If you experience serious and unavoidable difficulties at exam time or when assessment tasks are due, you can consider applying for Special Consideration.

You need to show that the circumstances:

  1. were serious, unexpected and unavoidable
  2. were beyond your control
  3. caused substantial disruption to your academic work
  4. substantially interfered with your otherwise satisfactory fulfilment of the unit requirements
  5. lasted at least three consecutive days or a total of 5 days within the teaching period and prevented completion of an assessment task scheduled for a specific date.

If you feel that your studies have been impacted submit an application as follows:

  1. Visit Ask MQ and use your OneID to log in
  2. Fill in your relevant details
  3. Attach supporting documents by clicking 'Add a reply', click 'Browse' and navigating to the files you want to attach, then click 'Submit Form' to send your notification and supporting documents
  4. Please keep copies of your original documents, as they may be requested in the future as part of the assessment process

Outcome

Once your submission is assessed, an appropriate outcome will be organised.

OUA Specific Policies and Procedures

Withdrawal from a unit after the census date

You can withdraw from your subjects prior to the census date (last day to withdraw). If you successfully withdraw before the census date, you won’t need to apply for Special Circumstances. If you find yourself unable to withdraw from your subjects before the census date - you might be able to apply for Special Circumstances. If you’re eligible, we can refund your fees and overturn your fail grade.

If you’re studying Single Subjects using FEE-HELP or paying up front, you can apply online.

If you’re studying a degree using HECS-HELP, you’ll need to apply directly to Macquarie University.

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Undergraduate students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/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/study/getting-started/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.

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 outcomes

  • Display engagement with the theoretical and practical paradigms that shape counter terrorism through the examination and exploration of contemporary global and Australian specific policies, programs, and initiatives
  • Demonstrate higher order communication skills including the ability to present sustained and persuasive arguments cogently and coherently.
  • Model research skills, particularly the ability to select appropriate knowledge and evidence from diverse sources in order to effectively evaluate its significance and relevance; formulate sustained and persuasive written and oral arguments.
  • Demonstrate higher level skills in critical analysis.

Assessment tasks

  • Active Participation
  • Policy Memo
  • 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

  • Demonstrate a high level of critical comprehension regarding the concepts of counter terrorism and countering violent extremism.
  • Display engagement with the theoretical and practical paradigms that shape counter terrorism through the examination and exploration of contemporary global and Australian specific policies, programs, and initiatives
  • Investigate a substantial body of contemporary counter terrorism and countering violent extremism literature.
  • Model research skills, particularly the ability to select appropriate knowledge and evidence from diverse sources in order to effectively evaluate its significance and relevance; formulate sustained and persuasive written and oral arguments.

Assessment tasks

  • Active Participation
  • Policy Memo
  • Research Essay

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

  • Demonstrate a high level of critical comprehension regarding the concepts of counter terrorism and countering violent extremism.
  • Display engagement with the theoretical and practical paradigms that shape counter terrorism through the examination and exploration of contemporary global and Australian specific policies, programs, and initiatives
  • Investigate a substantial body of contemporary counter terrorism and countering violent extremism literature.
  • Demonstrate higher order communication skills including the ability to present sustained and persuasive arguments cogently and coherently.
  • Model research skills, particularly the ability to select appropriate knowledge and evidence from diverse sources in order to effectively evaluate its significance and relevance; formulate sustained and persuasive written and oral arguments.
  • Demonstrate higher level skills in critical analysis.

Assessment tasks

  • Active Participation
  • Policy Memo
  • Research Essay

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

  • Display engagement with the theoretical and practical paradigms that shape counter terrorism through the examination and exploration of contemporary global and Australian specific policies, programs, and initiatives
  • Investigate a substantial body of contemporary counter terrorism and countering violent extremism literature.
  • Model research skills, particularly the ability to select appropriate knowledge and evidence from diverse sources in order to effectively evaluate its significance and relevance; formulate sustained and persuasive written and oral arguments.
  • Demonstrate higher level skills in critical analysis.

Assessment task

  • Research Essay

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

  • Demonstrate a high level of critical comprehension regarding the concepts of counter terrorism and countering violent extremism.
  • Display engagement with the theoretical and practical paradigms that shape counter terrorism through the examination and exploration of contemporary global and Australian specific policies, programs, and initiatives
  • Investigate a substantial body of contemporary counter terrorism and countering violent extremism literature.
  • Demonstrate higher order communication skills including the ability to present sustained and persuasive arguments cogently and coherently.
  • Model research skills, particularly the ability to select appropriate knowledge and evidence from diverse sources in order to effectively evaluate its significance and relevance; formulate sustained and persuasive written and oral arguments.
  • Demonstrate higher level skills in critical analysis.

Assessment tasks

  • Active Participation
  • Policy Memo
  • Research Essay

PG - Engaged and Responsible, Active and Ethical Citizens

Our postgraduates will be ethically aware and capable of confident transformative action in relation to their professional responsibilities and the wider community. They will have a sense of connectedness with others and country and have a sense of mutual obligation. They will be able to appreciate the impact of their professional roles for social justice and inclusion related to national and global issues

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Demonstrate a high level of critical comprehension regarding the concepts of counter terrorism and countering violent extremism.
  • Display engagement with the theoretical and practical paradigms that shape counter terrorism through the examination and exploration of contemporary global and Australian specific policies, programs, and initiatives
  • Demonstrate higher order communication skills including the ability to present sustained and persuasive arguments cogently and coherently.
  • Demonstrate higher level skills in critical analysis.

Assessment tasks

  • Active Participation
  • Policy Memo
  • Research Essay