Small island states face considerable challenges as they attempt to achieve sustainable development. Particular challenges for these nations were recognised in the 1984 Barbados Programme of Action for Small Island Developing States and in the 2014 SAMOA Pathway. These meetings recognised that Small Island Developing States (SIDS) have a narrow range of resources, which forces undue specialization; excessive dependence on international trade and hence vulnerability to global developments; relatively small watersheds and threatened supplies of fresh water; costly public administration and infrastructure, including transportation and communication; and limited institutional capacities and domestic markets, which are too small to provide significant scale economies.  

 

The particular challenges faced by a Fiji as a SIDS will be explored in this course. The field trip aims to give students a first-hand experience of the real-world circumstances that confront an island nation by exploring important sectoral themes in the context of sustainable development.  

 

The course will investigate the interactions between economic development and the sustainable management of key sectors including fisheries, agriculture, water catchment management, tourism, waste management, cultural heritage management and marine and coastal biodiversity. Within each theme students will consider factors relevant to island nations, including climate change, natural disasters, water availability, gender, cultural identity, population and race relations, governance and globalization.  

 

The course will be undertaken in collaboration with the University of the South Pacific’s Pacific Centre for Sustainable Development PACE-SD. 

This course is co-taught with undergraduate students but assessed separately.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Demonstrate advanced understanding of the complex social, environmental and cultural challenges that confront an island nation, like Fiji 
2. Demonstrate enhanced skills to interact with people from another country in a culturally sensitive manner 
3. Gain practical experience in using interdisciplinary approaches to resolving sustainable development issues in an island context
4. Effectively present and discuss complex ideas, and to: listen, assess and respond to ideas of others
5. Demonstrate an advanced ability to undertake analysis of issues related to island sustainable development and to present these in a coherent manner

Field Trips

Please see the College of Science - Field Trip page for more information.

Additional Course Costs

There are additional field trip fees of approximately $1100 applicable to participation in this course (payment to ANU Science Shop). Students will also need to cover the costs of their own airfares as well as some meals.

Required Resources

Reading on Wattle - pre and in-country on Wattle.

Orientation outlines resources.

Recommended Resources

Whether you are on campus or studying remotely, there are a variety of online platforms you will use to participate in your study program. These could include videos for lectures and other instruction, two-way video conferencing for interactive learning, email and other messaging tools for communication, interactive web apps for formative and collaborative activities, print and/or photo/scan for handwritten work and drawings, and home-based assessment.

ANU outlines recommended student system requirements to ensure you are able to participate fully in your learning. Other information is also available about the various Learning Platforms you may use.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• Verbal feedback is provided on a daily basis in-country and forms an integral part of the course.
• Written feedback in hard copy is provided on all assessment items.

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

Other Information

CORE SKILLS WE HOPE YOU WILL DEVELOP OR ENHANCE IN THE COURSE

• Ability to think in depth about an issue, including understanding and analysing different perspectives on it
• Ability to analyse and contextualise observations of an unfamiliar culture without being judgemental
• Ability to work harmoniously with other students in an unfamiliar cultural setting
•  Ability to write concisely and accurately, with well organised ideas, material, and arguments
•  Ability to effectively present and discuss ideas, and to listen, assess and respond to ideas of others
•  Ability to locate relevant material and judge its authority and credibility 

Referencing style: The Fenner School uses the Harvard System of referencing. Please make yourself familiar with this system and use it for the Policy Paper or Research Paper. 

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	This course is an intensive course delivered in-country (Fiji) from 30 June -14 July inclusive.
2	OrientationA compulsory orientation session (20-21 April) will be conducted to ensure that participating students are properly briefed on what to expect during the Field School, and this is also an opportunity to get to know everyone within the group.
3	In-CountryWe will engage with local communities at various locations on the main island of Viti Levu and the island of Ovalau. We will explore a number of sustainability issues including but not limited to: catchment management and large scale tourism in the Nadi Basin, agricultural production, agri-and eco-tourism, management of a World Heritage Site at Levuka, sustainability of fisheries, and community-based projects for environmental protection and community resilience. We will undertake various surveys and studies which will contribute to a greater understanding of the complex relationships that are inherent in island environments. Through localised in-country studies, students can explore sustainable development policies in a broader context including the Barbados Programme of Action for Small Island Developing States, the SAMOA Pathway, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent. Please refer to the course Wattle site for detailed program.

Tutorial Registration

n/a

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Learning Outcomes
Pre-trip preparatory exam	5 %	14/06/2024	1
Learning and Photographic Journal (~3300 words)	30 %	02/08/2024	1,3,4,5,6
Group project oral presentation (15%) and summary document (15%) (max 2000 words) at conclusion of trip	30 %	*	1,2,3,4,6
Policy Paper (3000 words)	35 %	16/08/2024	1,2,3

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines , which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Extenuating Circumstances Application
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
• Code of practice for teaching and learning

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Skills website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

All required work must be submitted in order to pass the course. In addition, a pass must be reached for each element of assessment to pass the course. 

Examination(s)

There is no formal examination for this course.

Assessment Task 1

Pre-trip preparatory exam

This will be a multiple choice exam posted on the Wattle site. It will be based on a list of preliminary readings provided. Students can elect when to undertake the test, so long as it is done before the commencement of the field school. Further details will be provided.

Requirement: Multiple choice exam.

The test must be taken before the commencement of the Field School.

Assessment Task 2

Learning and Photographic Journal (~3300 words)

The learning journal will be a daily record of your experiences and learning during the field school. Time is allocated each day after the “Talanoa” session (talking and exchange of views), to write up your journal. The journal will need to be submitted in final format a week after the conclusion of the Field School, but it should reflect daily inputs throughout the trip. The journal should be supported by 2-4 photographs per day. The photographs should provide visual support to the text of your daily journal. They should not be ‘travel snaps’.

Requirement: 3300 words (11 thematic days with 300 words per day) 

Assessment Task 3

Group project oral presentation (15%) and summary document (15%) (max 2000 words) at conclusion of trip

During the Orientation session you will be given the chance to sign up for a group working on a specific research topic relevant to our travels. Topics are different for students taking the 6 unit or 12 unit versions of the course. 

6 unit:

Agriculture in the context of climate change and variability

Ecotourism

Gender and Health

Marine Protected Areas 

As a small group or in pairs, you can undertake preliminary research prior to the trip and then in-country make as many observations and talk to relevant people as much as possible. NOTE: 6 unit students: your in-country research activities, oral presentation and summary document will all be group based.  

Requirement: : ENVS6205 (6 unit) Group project with oral presentation and summary document (2000 words) at conclusion of trip

Assessment Task 4

Policy Paper (3000 words)

This is a paper that explores a specific policy issue in Fiji. The paper needs to identify the issue, identify current policy status, the potential problems or challenges to those policies, and options for Fiji in its efforts to work towards a sustainable future.

 

Requirement: 3000 words with appropriate references

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.

The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.

The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

Online Submission

Group project summary documents (6u), Policy Papers (6u) must be submitted via Turnitin.

The Learning Journal and Photographic Journal should also be submitted through Turnitin but you have to be careful with the size of these journals because there is an upper size limit for Turnitin – make sure you compress the file and save as a pdf.  

Hardcopy Submission

The Learning Journal and Photographic Journal should be submitted to Sara Beavis email/Turnitin (you have to be careful with the size of these journals because there is an upper limit for Turnitin. Sara.Beavis@anu.edu.au

Late Submission

If work is submitted after the due date, and prior arrangements have not been made with the course convenor, then:

For work that is between 1 and 10 days late, 2% per day of the final grade for that assessment will be deducted per working day. Work that is more than 10 days late will be graded as “submitted” and therefore meeting course requirements, but scored as 0%.

A weekend (including a formally designated long weekend) is counted as 1 day. 

Referencing Requirements

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material. Any use of artificial intelligence must be properly referenced. Failure to properly cite use of Generative AI will be considered a breach of academic integrity.

Returning Assignments

All written work will be returned in hard copy. Students will be advised in writing how they can access their work.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Resubmission of Assignments

In exceptional circumstances the convenor will allow an assignment to be resubmitted, but this must be negotiated in person with the convenor.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Accessibility for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents all ANU students