Students

INTS1001 – Grand Challenges and Systems Thinking

2026 – Session 2, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Jasna Novak Milic
jasna.novakmilic@mq.edu.au
25WW C340
By appointment
Patricia Koromvokis
patricia.koromvokis@mq.edu.au
25WW C345
By appointment
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This foundational unit in the Bachelor of International Studies immerses students in the real-world challenges that societies and industries will face in the coming decade. Through an interdisciplinary lens, it introduces ‘grand challenges’ - complex global problems marked by ambiguity and interconnectedness that can't be addressed through siloed thinking. Students begin developing core skills in systems thinking, exploring how cultural, political, historical, and ethical factors intersect to shape global issues. Students examine recurring patterns and drivers of change and learn to understand complex systems, while engaging with live challenges facing industry, government, and community partners. Interactive and scenario-based activities provide hands-on experience in scoping problems, breaking them into components, and understanding their wider context. This experiential, exploratory environment fosters creativity, critical thinking, and multidisciplinary collaboration. By the end of the unit, students will have started developing foundational capabilities in analysing complex systems, and a human-centred, adaptive mindset for tackling global challenges.

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: Apply foundational systems thinking concepts to complex global challenges.
  • ULO2: Map the interconnected social, cultural, historical, and ethical factors shaping contemporary global problems using system mapping techniques.
  • ULO3: Identify patterns and dynamics to understand drivers of societal change.
  • ULO4: Collaborate on scenario-based activities that address ambiguous and multifaceted global issues.

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
Viva Voce 25% No Week 7 Individual No Observed
Systems Thinking Learning Portfolio 40% No 16/10/2026 Individual Yes Open
Reflective essay: Adaptive problem-solving 35% No 06/11/2026 Individual Yes Open

Viva Voce

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: Week 7
Weighting: 25%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Observed

Explain and reflect on your group’s analysis of a global challenge, demonstrating your understanding of systems thinking concepts and your individual contribution.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply foundational systems thinking concepts to complex global challenges.
  • Identify patterns and dynamics to understand drivers of societal change.
  • Collaborate on scenario-based activities that address ambiguous and multifaceted global issues.

Systems Thinking Learning Portfolio

Assessment Type 1: Portfolio
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: 16/10/2026
Weighting: 40%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: Yes
AI Approach: Open

Create a series of systems maps and reflective commentaries addressing real-world Grand Challenges.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply foundational systems thinking concepts to complex global challenges.
  • Map the interconnected social, cultural, historical, and ethical factors shaping contemporary global problems using system mapping techniques.
  • Identify patterns and dynamics to understand drivers of societal change.

Reflective essay: Adaptive problem-solving

Assessment Type 1: Reflection task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: 06/11/2026
Weighting: 35%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: Yes
AI Approach: Open

Reflect on personal development in systems thinking and problem-solving, drawing on concrete examples from unit activities, readings, and discussions.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply foundational systems thinking concepts to complex global challenges.
  • Map the interconnected social, cultural, historical, and ethical factors shaping contemporary global problems using system mapping techniques.
  • Identify patterns and dynamics to understand drivers of societal change.
  • Collaborate on scenario-based activities that address ambiguous and multifaceted global issues.

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)

Understanding grand challenges through systems thinking

 

Week 2 (03/08 – 09/08)

Stocks and flows in action: Understanding Australian bushfires and climate dynamics

 

Week 3 (10/08– 16/08)

Feedback loops, causal structures, and the challenge of disruptive technologies

 

Week 4 (17/08 – 23/08)

Delays and lags in action: Understanding the Australian nuclear debate and energy transition challenges

 

Week 5 (24/08 – 30/08)

Boundaries and Stakeholders: Understanding Global Refugee Crises

 

Week 6 (31/08 – 06/09)

System Archetypes: Global Inequality, Discrimination and Human Rights

 

Week 7 (07/09 – 13/09)

Resilience, Tipping Points, and Adaptation: Understanding Global Health

Viva Voce

Week 8 (14/09 – 20/09)

Emergence and Leverage Points: Understanding Global Education and Systemic Change

 

(21/09 – 05/10)

RECESS

 

Week 9 (05/10 – 11/10)

Mental Models and Paradigms: Linguistic Justice and Cultural Survival in a Globalised World

 

Week 10 (12/10 – 18/10)

 Systems Mapping in Practice: Globalisation, Security, and Interconnected Threats

16/10/2026

Systems Thinking Learning Portfolio

Week 11 (19/10 – 25/10)

 Scenario Planning and Modelling: Peacebuilding and Post-Conflict Reconstruction

 

Week 12 (26/10 – 01/11)

Polycrisis and Systemic Transformation: Designing a Better World

 

Week 13 (02/11 – 06/11)

No lecture or tutorial

06/11/2026

Reflective Essay: Adaptive problem-solving

 

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 2026.04 of the Handbook