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Australia in Asia and the Pacific
TQA 3
AAP315110: TQA Level 3, Size Value = 15
The course document
This document contains the following sections:
learning Statement......
course size and complexity......
COURSE DESCRIPTION......
Learning OUtcomes......
COURSE Requirements......
COURSE CONTENT......
A: CORE UNIT...... 4
B: SPECIALIST UNITS...... 4
C: ISSUES IN THE AAP REGION...... 9
REPORT REQUIREMENTS FOR UNIT C...... 11
Assessment......
QUALITY ASSURANCE PROCESSES...... 11
EXTERNAL ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENTS...... 12
CRITERIA...... 12
STANDARDS...... 13
QUALFICATIONS AVAILABLE...... 16
AWARDS REQUIREMENTS...... 16
COURSE EVALUATION......
COURSE DEVELOPER......
Accreditation......
Version History......
learning Statement
Courses in the study of society and the physical environment examine human interrelationships, and the diverse relationships that exist between humans and their environments over time. The breadth of the learning area includes the study of spatial patterns and processes, human behaviour, ethics, beliefs, social justice, sustainable development, political, economic and legal systems, cultural and environmental heritage, and the nature of business and work cultures.
Study methodologies call for informed personal appraisals based on research that has rigour and integrity, and involves thorough, objective, and sensitive investigation of human heritage and beliefs in an authentic learning environment. Disciplines within the study of society and the physical environment contribute to a life-long capacity for rational understanding and tolerant viewpoints to be reached in the contexts of the present-day, or of other environments and times.
Courses in this area enable students to apply the knowledge, skills, and values they acquire to make sound judgements in their role as active and informed citizens in the work-place, and within a global society.
course size and complexity
This course has been assessed as having a complexity level of TQA level 3.
At TQA level 3, the student is expected to acquire a combination of theoretical and/or technical and factual knowledge and skills and use judgment when varying procedures to deal with unusual or unexpected aspects that may arise. Some skills in organising self and others are expected. TQA level 3 is a standard suitable to prepare students for further study at the tertiary level. VET competencies at this level are often those characteristic of an AQF Certificate III.
The TQA level 3 course has a size value of 15.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Australia in Asia and the Pacific provides an overview of key environmental, human, economic, cultural, sociological and historical features of Australia and its neighbours. There is an emphasis on contemporary issues, perspectives and events as they affect the region. The need to become ‘Asia literate’ is becoming increasingly vital as India, China and other Asian nations are growing, and their influence on the world is increasing. It is imperative for our students to nurture an appreciation of and respect for social, cultural and religious diversity and develop a sense of global citizenship. Australia in Asia and the Pacific focuses on developing skills in analysis and problem solving, communicating ideas and information, planning and organising activities, and collaborating with others.
Learning OUtcomes
Through the study of Australia in Asia and the Pacific (AAP) students will:
- gain a sense of Australia’s position in the AAP region
- develop an understanding and appreciation of the diversity of peoples, environments, cultures, belief systems and societies in the AAP region
- develop reasoned opinions on issues in the AAP region
- demonstrate the capacity to analyse and evaluate information relevant to the AAP region
- apply a range of solutions to problems that exist in the AAP region
- demonstrate a knowledge of events and ideas that have shaped the AAP region
- apply information in real and hypothetical contexts within the AAP region.
COURSE Requirements
Students must complete FOUR Units:
A) Core Unit: an introduction to the physical and human geography of the AAP region
B) Specialist Units: A selection of TWO units from those listed below:
Specialist Unit 1: Geography of Australia, Asia and the Pacific
Specialist Unit 2: History of Australia, Asia and the Pacific
Specialist Unit 3: Tourism in Australia, Asia and the Pacific
Specialist Unit 4: Societies of Australia, Asia and the Pacific
Specialist Unit 5: Religions of Australia, Asia and the Pacific
Specialist Unit 6: Economic systems of Australia, Asia and the Pacific
Specialist Unit 7: Legal systems of Australia, Asia and the Pacific.
C) Issues in the AAP Region Unit: ONE unit from:
Issue 1: Overseas aid
Issue 2: Multinational companies and foreign investment
Issue 3: Human rights.
COURSE CONTENT
The geo-political areas for study will be Australia, Asia and selected Pacific Island countries. Sub-regions of Asia and the Pacific:
- East Asia
- South Asia
- South East Asia
- Pacific
- Australasia.
Countries included within the AAP region are listed below:
MORE DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
Australasia East Asia South East Asia
AustraliaJapanSingapore
New ZealandSouth KoreaBrunei
Taiwan
South Asia / East Asia / South East Asia / The Pacific
Bangladesh / China / Burma / Cook Islands
Bhutan / North Korea / Cambodia / Fiji
India / East Timor / French Polynesia
Maldives / Indonesia / Kiribati
Nepal / Malaysia / Palau
Pakistan / Laos / Papua New Guinea
Sri Lanka / Philippines / Solomon Islands
Thailand / Tonga
Vietnam / Vanuatu
Samoa
ACORE UNIT – all students must study this unit
Students must develop a general knowledge of the physical and human characteristics of the region, including:
a)Location of countries
b)Relief
c) Climate
d)Vegetation
e)Distribution of religions
f) Indicators of levels of development.
Bspecialist units: students must study two units from those listed below
Specialist Unit 1:Geography of Australia, Asia and the Pacific
Students must study ONE physical geography theme and ONE human geography theme AND complete the Case Study.
Students must use examples from a range of countries and regions within the AAP region when studying this unit.
Physical Geography Themes (students must study at least 2 from each dot point) :
•Natural hazards – earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis , tropical cyclones and floods
•Human-induced climatic change – greenhouse gasses, global warming and the carbon footprint
•Environmental degradation – including: vegetation (deforestation -- including tropical rainforests), soils (loss of, reduction in quality, desertification), drainage patterns (including the quality and quantity of freshwater availability), loss of fauna habitat
Human Geography Themes:
- Population – size and density. The problems of high population density and of population growth and decline
- Urbanisation – changing rural/urban patterns and the problems faced by cities
- Employment – employment sectors and changing workforce structures including influence of multinational companies, guest workers
- Energy – usage patterns and changes in renewable/non-renewable energy
- Migration/refugees – causes, changing patterns and political responses
Case Study:
Students will select TWO countries from different regions and at different levels of development for both physical and human geography themes. These countries do not have to be the same for the physical and human geography themes.
Specialist Unit 2:History of Australia, Asia and the Pacific
Students will develop an overview of the AAP region in terms of its political organisation at the beginning of the Pacific War (eg European colonial empires).
Students must study all topics listed below and complete the case study.
Topic 1 - The Pacific War
•Background to the Pacific War
•Japanese expansion
•American/ Australian victory
•Influence of the Pacific War on Australia’s attitudes and policies
Topic 2 - Australia and the Asia Pacific Region from 1945 to the present day
•Forward defence
•Trading patterns
•Immigration
•Overseas aid
•Membership of regional organisations
Topic 3 - A study of the history of ONE country in the AAP region from independence to the present day.
Case Study
An examination of the nationalist movement in ONE country of the AAP region; when, why and how did it gain independence from a colonial power?
Specialist Unit 3:Tourism in Australia, Asia and the Pacific
Students must study all topics listed below and complete the case study.
Topic 1 - Growth, Trends and Reasons for Travel
•Why People Travel —the reasons people travel
•Growth —be familiar with and be able to interpret statistical information that show changes in travel patterns, both in bound and out bound; impact of world events on tourism; reasons for growth
•Trends —changes in the nature of tourism that reflect changing and emerging trends
Topic 2 - Impacts of Tourism
The positive and negative impacts of tourism in relation to:
•Environmental Impacts - be familiar with a range of impacts relating to different environments throughout the AAP region (eg air pollution, deforestation, soil erosion, water quality, National Park development)
•Social Impacts - be familiar with how tourism impacts on the way of life of people throughout the AAP region (eg sex tourism, crime, cost of living, space, resources (eg water, access to wildlife, fishing), improved standard of living, infrastructure development)
•Cultural Impacts - be familiar with how tourism impacts on the culture of specific areas (eg corruption of traditional practices to meet tourist needs, undermining of traditional values, etc., museums, cultural awareness)
•Economic Impacts - be familiar with the economic impacts of tourism (eg multiplier effect/leakage, employment, foreign exchange, multi-national companies, infrastructure development, communications)
Case Study
Students must examine ONE tourist destination (eg Phuket, Bali, Fiji, the Himalayas, the Great Barrier Reef) with a focus on:
•Accessibility, Accommodation, Attractions, Activities, Amenities,
•Impacts (positive and negative)
•Management strategies, sustainable tourism
Specialist Unit 4: Societies in Australia, Asia and the Pacific
Students must study all topics listed below and complete the case study.
Topic 1 - Indigenous Australians
•an overview of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders' history, society and culture with a focus on the impact of European colonisation
•role of women (their changing role — traditional to contemporary)
•ethnic mix and national identity
•agents of socialisation, including child rearing
•intercultural contact and social change
Topic 2 - Problems Facing Indigenous Peoples in the AAP Region
•land rights
•identity and cultural integrity
•health and education
Case Study: Choose ONE Indigenous society (other than Indigenous Australians) from the AAP region and examine the sociological perspectives and principles listed below:
•cultural processes including social norms, values, beliefs and practices
•a major social institution e.g. education, family, work, religion
•social structure
•social processes such as socialisation, stereotyping and ethnocentrism
Specialist Unit 5:Religions of Australia, Asia and the Pacific
Students must study the beliefs and practices of TWO religions from the list below AND their influence upon contemporary Australian, Asian or Pacific society. Students will ALSO undertake the Case Study.
List of religious traditions
•Islam
•Hinduism
•Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism
•Shintoism
•A Melanesian religion
•Aboriginal spirituality
•Christianity
Study of the above must include:
•The development of the religions, including where and when each religion originated
•A brief overview of the main beliefs and practices
•The main differences in basic tenets
•When, how and to where the religions spread in the region
•How the religions have changed over time in their place of origin, and in adapting to new cultures. Examples: the current Arabisation of, and fundamentalism within, Islam; the Westernisation of Buddhism; and the secularisation of Christian society in Australia.
Case Study: Examine the current relationships between religions within TWO countries in the AAP region (distinguishing between religious/ideological, political, economic and territorial issues and religious conflict).
Specialist Unit 6:Economic Systems of Australia, Asia and the Pacific
Students will gain a general overview of economic concepts such as:
- the economic problem (scarcity)
- standards of living
- levels of development (including economic indicators and statistics)
- factors of production
- supply and demand.
Students must study all topics listed below and complete the case study.
Topic 1 - Economic Systems
An introduction to the main economic systems including their characteristics, strengths and weaknesses:
•traditional economy
•centrally planned economy
•market economy
Topic 2 - An examination of contemporary economic systems:
•a study of the role of government in a market economy
•dual economies (traditional and modern exchange economies)
•mixed economies (neither purely planned nor purely market).
Case Study: Select TWO different types of economic systems for the purpose of analysis and comparison as outlined below:
1.a market system with some degree of government intervention (a mixed market economy). Eg Australia, Japan
2.a centrally planned system moving towards a mixed market with varying degrees of market reform (eg China or Vietnam)
3.a dual economy (traditional and modern exchange economy) Eg PNG, Samoa or another Pacific Island nation.
This case study involves an analysis of: how the system in each country solves the economic problem of scarcity; their standard of living; and it must include a description of some of their current economic problems and policies developed to deal with them.
Specialist Unit 7: Legal Systems of Australia, Asia and the Pacific
Students studying this unit must study TWO legal systems; the Australian system; and one other system PLUS complete a Case Study.
Topic 1 - Australian Common Law System
Students must study the features of the Australian common law system including:
•Structure/government
•Law making processes
•Due process/law including criminal law procedures and juries.
Topic 2 - Alternative Legal Systems in AAP region
Students must study ONE of the following systems:
•Civil legal codes
•Socialist legal systems
•Traditional legal systems (eg Aboriginal, Maori)
•Religious legal systems (eg Sharia, Hindu).
Case Study: Students will undertake a case study of ONE of the following topical legal issues:
•Family law (eg divorce, marriage & custody)
•International humanitarian law (eg The Geneva Convention)
•Criminal law (eg drug trafficking)
•International law (eg law of the sea, refugees/asylum seekers).
CISSUES IN THE AAP REGION
The issues unit will extend students' knowledge and understanding of contemporary issues within the AAP region.
Only ONE Issue from the list below must be studied.
ISSUE 1: OVERSEAS AID
Topics to be covered:
1.Why do some countries need aid? Providing aid to LDCs
2.Why do some countries give aid? MDCs aid packages
3.Types of aid - bilateral, multilateral, emergency/disaster, technical assistance, humanitarian, tied/untied, ODA, non-government aid (CARE, Red Cross, World Vision)
4.Flow of aid in the AAP region, including aid budgets
5.Aid programs - examples (which may include health, agriculture, fishing, education, services), including appropriate and inappropriate aid
6.Advantages and disadvantages/problems of providing aid to LDCs
7.Advantages and disadvantages/problems of LDCs receiving aid
8.Can these problems be solved?
9.Impacts of aid.
Case Study: Using relevant areas of study listed above, include in the case study:
•the study of overseas aid to a recent disaster or humanitarian issue
•overseas aid that isn't disaster-based (eg Australia to China)
•what overseas aid comes into the region from countries outside the region?
- Australia's aid program - choose 5 countries to whom Australia gives aid. Study will comprise AT LEAST AusAid (its Budget Statement, Annual Reports and Country Information) with emphasis on:
- How much is given to each country?
- For what is it given? Be as specific as possible about projects and why these projects have been chosen.
- How does Australia ensure that the aid given is effective?
ISSUE 2: MULTINATIONAL COMPANIES AND FOREIGN INVESTMENT
• Multinational companies (transnational companies)
•Foreign investment
• Reasons why companies invest overseas
•The type of investments they make
• Incentives offered to companies to invest
• The control/regulation on foreign investment
• Globalisation
• Free trade
• Fair trade
• Advantages/disadvantages of foreign investment in/for MDCs
• Advantages/disadvantages of foreign investment for/in LDCs
• Types of problems that can be associated with foreign investment and the activities of multinational companies.
Case Study: Examine foreign investment and the activities of multi-national companies in at least ONE LDC and ONE MDC in the AAP region. The case study will include how the countries benefit from this investment and what economic, social and environmental problems are created by it.
- How can/are these problems be/ing addressed? What are the implications for the future? (problem/solution/evaluation)
- How is/could/should the resource be used? (sustainable management; organisations associated with its use eg International Whaling Commission, ASEAN, APEC)
- What are the implications for the country/ies or region involved? (problems, solutions/evaluations)
- Future directions.
ISSUE 3: HUMAN RIGHTS
Topics to be covered:
•Definition of the term "human rights"
•Universal Human Rights (United Nations 1948)
•The separation of the rights of women (CEDAW-1979), children (UN 1959), indigenous (UN 2007) and cultural (ICESCR -1966) groups from "universal" human rights
•Human rights abuses (international/national/local)
•Reasons for human rights abuse (international/national/local)
•Issues associated with human rights violations
•Human rights abuses in the AAP region
•Crimes against humanity (International Criminal Court 1998)
•Protection of human rights – how and who
•Implications for the countries of the AAP region (problems/solutions/evaluations)
•Future directions
Case Study: examine human rights in at least ONE LDC and ONE MDC within the AAP region.
Examples of issues which may be studied include: