Students

INTS1002 – Unlearning Culture: Myths, People, and Change

2026 – Session 1, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convenor
Alexandra Kurmann
alex.kurmann@mq.edu.au
Contact via Email
C334 25WW
Weds 11am-1pm
Convenor
Sung-Ae Lee
sung-ae.lee@mq.edu.au
Contact via Email
25WW C339
By appointment
Lecturer
Wes Robertson
wes.robertson@mq.edu.au
Contact via Email
N/A
Lecturer
Chavalin Svetanant
chavalin.svetanant@mq.edu.au
Contact via Email
Lecturer
Jumana Bayeh
jumana.bayeh@mq.edu.au
Contact via Email
Lecturer
Consuelo Martinez Reyes
consuelo.martinezreyes@mq.edu.au
Contact via Email
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit invites students to question and “unlearn” taken-for-granted assumptions about culture. Too often, culture is used as a simple explanation for complex human behaviour, social tensions, or political outcomes, and obscures deeper realities. In this unit, culture is approached as a dynamic, evolving process shaped by power, identity, language, and history. Students explore how cultural meanings are created and contested across diverse contexts, with a focus on Australia and the Asia-Pacific as sites of global cultural exchange. Case studies highlight how migration, transnational connections, and historical narratives shape cultural identities today. Students also examine how identity is communicated, meaning negotiated, and dominant myths challenged. Through applied activities, students will practice cultural intelligence and strategic storytelling, using diverse formats to communicate cultural complexity across diverse audiences. By the end of the unit, students will be equipped to foster dialogue and engage constructively with unfamiliar cultural challenges in a rapidly changing world.

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: Analyse how power, identity, language, and history shape cultural meanings in diverse global contexts.
  • ULO2: Identify relevant frameworks to investigate processes of cultural change.
  • ULO3: Explore approaches to cultural intelligence in relation to people, identities, and narratives.
  • ULO4: Create multimodal artefacts to communicate cultural complexity using digital storytelling.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due Groupwork/Individual Short Extension AI assisted?
Multimodal artefact 40% No 23:55 May 10 2026 Individual No Observed
Reflection journal 25% No 23:55 May 31 2026 Individual No Open AI
Case study analysis 35% No 23:55 June 7 2026 Individual No Open AI

Multimodal artefact

Assessment Type 1: Presentation task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 35 hours
Due: 23:55 May 10 2026
Weighting: 40%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI assisted?: Observed

Design and present a digital project exploring cultural complexity and change.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyse how power, identity, language, and history shape cultural meanings in diverse global contexts.
  • Explore approaches to cultural intelligence in relation to people, identities, and narratives.
  • Create multimodal artefacts to communicate cultural complexity using digital storytelling.

Reflection journal

Assessment Type 1: Reflection task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: 23:55 May 31 2026
Weighting: 25%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI assisted?: Open

Submit reflective entries on core concepts and real-world examples, including prior engagements with social narratives surrounding culture(s).
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyse how power, identity, language, and history shape cultural meanings in diverse global contexts.
  • Explore approaches to cultural intelligence in relation to people, identities, and narratives.

Case study analysis

Assessment Type 1: Written Submission
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: 23:55 June 7 2026
Weighting: 35%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI assisted?: Open

Analyse a case study of cultural change using relevant frameworks.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify relevant frameworks to investigate processes of cultural change.
  • Explore approaches to cultural intelligence in relation to people, identities, and narratives.

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
  • the Writing Centre 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

The unit is deliered in the format of one 2 hour lecture weekly and one 1 hour tutorial weekly. Lectures are provided by staff with expertise in a given area in the School of International Studies. Readings are found on Leganto and links to open access docuemnts are also found on Ilearn.

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 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.

Unit information based on version 2026.02 of the Handbook