Students

INTS3040 – Global Issues

2026 – Session 2, Online-flexible

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Jasna Novak Milic
jasna.novakmilic@mq.edu.au
25 Wally's Walk, 340
By appointment
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
INTS3000 or EXLW320 or EXLW420 or EXLW4200 or EXLW534 or EXLW5340 or LAWS5301 or LAWS5304
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit is designed to consolidate the international and cross-cultural engagement insights and experiences developed in the Bachelor of International Studies. In this unit students will engage critically with a range of global issues, and apply knowledge developed in the degree to key global issues as well as develop an individual research project.

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:

  • ULO1: Reflect critically on different concepts of culture, and relate them to a range of real-world issues of a global nature and broader learning undertaken in the International Studies degree.
  • ULO2: Reflect on, discuss, and assess intercultural experiences during students' study-abroad program and the International Studies degree.
  • ULO3: Apply high-level research skills, demonstrated through oral and written work.
  • ULO4: Demonstrate an appreciation of cultural diversity and a range of issues related to cultural and cross-cultural questions, in assessment tasks.
  • ULO5: Identify and communicate the skills gained during the course of studies in the International Studies degree, including language and communicative skills development in the target language, with a view to career planning.

General Assessment Information

LATE SUBMISSION OF ASSESSMENT TASKS

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a mark of ‘0’ (zero) will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue.

This late penalty will apply to non-time-sensitive assessments (including essays, reports, posters, portfolios, journals, recordings, etc.). Late submission of time-sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs, etc.) will only be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application. Special Consideration outcome may result in a new question or topic.

The granting of extensions is subject to the university’s Special Consideration Policy. Extensions will not be granted by unit conveners or tutors, but must be lodged through Special Consideration:  https://students.mq.edu.au/study/assessment-exams/special-consideration

 

GRADE APPEAL POLICY

Macquarie University operates a Grade Appeal Policy:  https://students.mq.edu.au/study/assessment-exams/appeals/grade-appeal

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due Groupwork/Individual Short Extension AI Approach
Essay plan and outline 25% No 04/09/2026 Individual Yes Open
Oral presentation 30% No Weeks 10, 11, 12 Individual and Group No Observed
Research essay 45% No 06/11/2026 Individual Yes Open

Essay plan and outline

Assessment Type 1: Written Submission
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: 04/09/2026
Weighting: 25%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: Yes
AI Approach: Open

Students will develop an essay plan setting out their approach to their final assessment task for the unit (the research essay).
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Reflect critically on different concepts of culture, and relate them to a range of real-world issues of a global nature and broader learning undertaken in the International Studies degree.
  • Reflect on, discuss, and assess intercultural experiences during students' study-abroad program and the International Studies degree.
  • Apply high-level research skills, demonstrated through oral and written work.
  • Demonstrate an appreciation of cultural diversity and a range of issues related to cultural and cross-cultural questions, in assessment tasks.
  • Identify and communicate the skills gained during the course of studies in the International Studies degree, including language and communicative skills development in the target language, with a view to career planning.

Oral presentation

Assessment Type 1: Presentation task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Weeks 10, 11, 12
Weighting: 30%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual and Group
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Observed

Students will deliver a presentation focusing on an aspect of the topic they have selected for the essay assessment task. Further information pertaining to the task can be found on the iLearn site for the unit.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Reflect critically on different concepts of culture, and relate them to a range of real-world issues of a global nature and broader learning undertaken in the International Studies degree.
  • Reflect on, discuss, and assess intercultural experiences during students' study-abroad program and the International Studies degree.
  • Apply high-level research skills, demonstrated through oral and written work.
  • Demonstrate an appreciation of cultural diversity and a range of issues related to cultural and cross-cultural questions, in assessment tasks.

Research essay

Assessment Type 1: Written Submission
Indicative Time on Task 2: 48 hours
Due: 06/11/2026
Weighting: 45%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: Yes
AI Approach: Open

Students will develop a research topic and write an analytical essay based on independent research.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Reflect critically on different concepts of culture, and relate them to a range of real-world issues of a global nature and broader learning undertaken in the International Studies degree.
  • Reflect on, discuss, and assess intercultural experiences during students' study-abroad program and the International Studies degree.
  • Apply high-level research skills, demonstrated through oral and written work.
  • Demonstrate an appreciation of cultural diversity and a range of issues related to cultural and cross-cultural questions, in assessment tasks.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • Academic Success for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation.

3 An automatic short extension is available for some assessments. Apply through the Service Connect Portal.

Delivery and Resources

CLASSES

Weekly lectures will be recorded and made available in Echo360 within 48 hours of the scheduled class time.

For current updates, lecture and tutorial times and classrooms, please consult the MQ Timetables website: http://www.timetables.mq.edu.au.

 

UNIT REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS

You should spend an average of 12 hours per week on this unit. This includes watching or attending lectures prior to seminars or tutorials, reading weekly required materials as detailed in iLearn/Leganto, participating in iLearn discussion forums and preparing assessments.

Internal students are expected to attend all seminars or tutorial sessions, and external students are expected to make significant contributions to the online discussion forums/activities.

In most cases, students are required to attempt and submit all major assessment tasks to pass the unit.

 

REQUIRED READINGS

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

 

TECHNOLOGY USED AND REQUIRED

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. Basic computer skills and word-processing skills are also required.

Information about IT used at Macquarie University is available at   http://students.mq.edu.au/it_services/

Unit Schedule

Week 1 (27/07 – 02/08)

No tutorial. Introduction via iLearn.

 

Week 2 (03/08 – 09/08)

Culture and identity

 

Week 3 (10/08– 16/08)

Culture, identity and difference

 

Week 4 (17/08 – 23/08)

Careers and international studies

 

Week 5 (24/08 – 30/08)

Globalism and the nation

 

Week 6 (31/08 – 06/09)

States at work on the global stage

04/09/2026

Essay plan and outline due

Week 7 (07/09 – 13/09)

Bringing global finance into the mix

 

Week 8 (14/09 – 20/09)

Domestic laws, global influences

 

(21/09 – 05/10)

RECESS

 

Week 9 (05/10 – 11/10)

Public holiday (no tutorial)

 

Week 10 (12/10 – 18/10)

Revisiting 'culture' and 'nation' in a global context

Oral Presentations

Week 11 (19/10 – 25/10)

 

Oral Presentations

Week 12 (26/10 – 01/11)

 

Oral Presentations

Week 13 (02/11 – 06/11)

(Oral Presentations)

Oral Presentations

06/11/2026

Research essay due

 

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

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

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) 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 connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

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

Academic Success

Academic Success provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit https://students.mq.edu.au/support/technology/service-desk. 

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.

Unit information based on version 2026.01R of the Handbook