ASIA 2023 - Japan Today: Politics & Governance
North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2014
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General Course Information
Course Details
Course Code ASIA 2023 Course Japan Today: Politics & Governance Coordinating Unit Asian Studies Term Semester 1 Level Undergraduate Location/s North Terrace Campus Units 3 Contact Up to 3 hours per week Prerequisites 12 units of Level I study Assessment class contribution 20%, presentation 15%, quiz 15%, research essay 50% Course Staff
Course Coordinator: Emeritus Professor Purnendra Jain
Course Timetable
The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from .
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Learning Outcomes
Course Learning Outcomes
At the successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
1 Use conceptual tools to analyse Japan’s contemporary politics and society 2 Understand key political and social issues that confront contemporary Japan 3 Understand background and context to analyse Japan’s politics and society 4 Write an academic essay incorporating a conceptual framework supported by empirical evidence
University Graduate Attributes
This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:
University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s) Knowledge and understanding of the content and techniques of a chosen discipline at advanced levels that are internationally recognised. 2 The ability to locate, analyse, evaluate and synthesise information from a wide variety of sources in a planned and timely manner. 4 An ability to apply effective, creative and innovative solutions, both independently and cooperatively, to current and future problems. 1 Skills of a high order in interpersonal understanding, teamwork and communication. 2 A commitment to continuous learning and the capacity to maintain intellectual curiosity throughout life. 4 A commitment to the highest standards of professional endeavour and the ability to take a leadership role in the community. 2,3 An awareness of ethical, social and cultural issues within a global context and their importance in the exercise of professional skills and responsibilities. 1,2,3,4 -
Learning Resources
Required Resources
There is no prescribed textbook for this course. The following books are recommended for a rounded understanding of Japan’s political and social developments in recent times. Workshop discussions will be based on these books and the essential weekly readings.
The Barr Smith Library holds multiple copies of these books and one copy of each is placed on reserve.
Jeff Kingston (ed.) Critical Issues in Contemporary Japan, Routledge. 2014.
Purnendra Jain and Brad Williams (eds) Japan in Decline: Fact or Fiction? 2011. UK: Global Oriental/Brill.
Asia Program Special Report, Japanese Politics Reform: Progress in Process, No 117, January 2004. Available at
Where possible, readings will be available in PDF format on MyUni. You may need to access some of the readings through the Barr Smith Library.
Recommended Resources
These will be available via MyUni upon enrolment.Online Learning
The course outline and weekly lecture recordings/slides will be available on MyUni. -
Learning & Teaching Activities
Learning & Teaching Modes
The course comprises of lectures supplemented by workshops which will develop material covered in lectures. Various modes of learning are used to make the subject academically engaging. The aims of the course are to develop student’s written and oral skills.
Workload
The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.
1 x 1-hour lecture per week 12 hours per semester 1 x 2-hour workshop per week 24 hours per semester 6 hours reading per week 72 hours per semester 2 hours research per week 24 hours per semester 2 hours assignment preparation per week 24 hours per semester TOTAL WORKLOAD 156 hours per semester
Learning Activities Summary
Schedule Part 1: Who Governs Japan? Week 1 Post-war Political Restructuring Week 2 Party Politics – From LDP Long-term rule to a competitive party environment? Week 3 Parliament, Elections and Legislators – Change and continuity Week 4 The Prime Minister – Leader or follower? Week 5 The Bureaucracy and interest groups– still dominant? Part 2: Issues of Governance Week 6 Local Governance – autonomous or dependent? Week 7 Civil Society: NGOs/NPOs (a new domestic and international force?) Week 8 Global Governance (peacekeeping and peacemaking as example) Part 3: Current Political/Social Issues Week 9 Population, Aging and Social Welfare – growing pains Week 10 Energy, Environment and climate change – leader or laggard? Week 11 Education – what’s wrong? Week 12 Media – Agent of Change? -
Assessment
The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:
- Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
- Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
- Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
- Assessment must maintain academic standards.
Assessment Summary
Assessment Task Task Type Weighting Learning Outcome Class presentation Formative and Summative 15% 1-3 Class contribution Formative and Summative 20% 1-3 Quiz/test Summative 15% 1-3 3000 word essay Summative 50% 4 Assessment Related Requirements
Students are expected to attend at least 80% percent of lectures and workshops. Medical or other supporting documentation may be required for non-attendance.Assessment Detail
Class presentation: students will make a presentation on a topic of their choice from a list provided in class - 15% weighting.
Class contribution: students will take part in active discussion and critical commentary based on weekly readings - 20% weighting.
Quiz/test: this will consist of some multiple choice questions and short answers to test students' learning throughout the course - 15% weighting.
3000 word essay: students will submit an essay on a topic chosed from a list provided in class - 50% weighting.
Submission
Assignments must be submitted electronically via MyUni.Course Grading
Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:
M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme) Grade Mark Description FNS Fail No Submission F 1-49 Fail P 50-64 Pass C 65-74 Credit D 75-84 Distinction HD 85-100 High Distinction CN Continuing NFE No Formal Examination RP Result Pending Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.
Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.
Final results for this course will be made available through .
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Student Feedback
The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.
SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
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Student Support
- Academic Integrity for Students
- Academic Support with Maths
- Academic Support with writing and study skills
- Careers Services
- Library Services for Students
- LinkedIn Learning
- Student Life Counselling Support - Personal counselling for issues affecting study
- Students with a Disability - Alternative academic arrangements
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Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
- Academic Credit Arrangements Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progress by Coursework Students Policy
- Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy
- Copyright Compliance Policy
- Coursework Academic Programs Policy
- Intellectual Property Policy
- IT Acceptable Use and Security Policy
- Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment Policy
- Reasonable Adjustments to Learning, Teaching & Assessment for Students with a Disability Policy
- Student Experience of Learning and Teaching Policy
- Student Grievance Resolution Process
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Fraud Awareness
Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student鈥檚 disciplinary procedures.
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