Constructing Asia: Governance, Institutions and Identity - Malaysia

This program for Undergraduate students offers a multidisciplinary study of the dynamics and complexities of contemporary Asia by focusing on the politics, culture and economics of the region. Using Higher Education Learning Philosophy (HELP) University in Malaysia as the point of engagement, students will gain from a historically grounded understanding of Asian societies and the social and economic change in a variety of institutional - local, regional and global - settings. This will be facilitated by local fieldtrips and workplace experience with established Malaysian companies, government agencies and cultural institutions.

To further enhance understanding of how Malaysia operates regionally, students will enjoy a three day sidetrip to one of Malaysia's neighbouring countries.

This program runs from 3 January to 9 February 2018.

Funding is available to support four students in 2018, with a grant of AUD $3,000 awarded to each successful applicant to put towards the $5,000 program fee. Flights are in addition to this and are payable by the student.

This short program is open to CASS students only.

Assessment

Students who complete this course will get 6 units of credit toward their ANU degree. Some students will be awarded unspecified elective credit, which will appear on their transcripts as ARTS1900 or ARTS2900. Others, for whom this course will substitute for one of the courses listed in the rules of their degree, will get specified credit. If you wish to obtain approval for specified credit, you will need to apply before you leave for Malaysia. You will need to confirm these arrangements with the CASS Student Office.

Mode of delivery

Lectures (3 hours x 4 Days x 4 weeks)
Tutorials (2 hours x 4 Days x 4 weeks)
Weekly seminars by industry captains and experts on regional economic, political, development, social and cultural issues.
Weekly field trips to established Malaysian multinationals and meetings with the CEOs of these companies.
A 4 day/ 3 night trip international immersion experience exploring the culture, developmental issues and business environment of that country.

Assessment items

The module will be internally assessed on the basis of:

Assignment (25%) - written assignments with approximately 1500 words
Project (25%) - written assignments with approximately 1800 words
Final examination (50%) - a three hour closed book examination

The examination paper comprises of 8 Essay questions of which students only answer 5 questions.

Module content

Lectures

Session	Topics
1	Conceptualizing Asia: From the Local to the Global
2	Nationalism, Politics and Asian Values
3	States, Security and International Relations
4	Governance: The State vs Markets debate & Globalisation
5	Culture, Values and Social Change: Weber in Asia
6	Governance, Networks and Culture: The Curious Case of Chinese Family Capitalism in S.E.Asia
7	Ethnicity, Religious Renewal and Identity: How Not to Get Along
8	The Middle Class Revolution: Mobile Phones, McDonalds and Societal Transformation?
9	Governing Regionalism: Networks of Relationships and Rules in Post-War Asia
10	From Security to Trade to Security again? : The Case of ASEAN
11	Supranational Architecture : Asia, Global Economic Governance and Power Contestations
12	Group Presentation on a selected topic.

Seminar topics

Week	Topics
1	Ambitions and Challenges of Regional Integration: The ASEAN Economic Community The Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement One Belt, One Road
2	Race, Religion and Nationalism - Influence and impact on economic, social and political realities.
3	Development and Security in an age of Terror.
4	Asian Environmental Challenges, OR Leadership: Governance and Sustainability

Costs

The New Colombo Plan grant of AUD $3,000 will be paid to each successful applicant to then pay the associated fees and flights directly, with any out of pocket expense to be covered by the student.

The cost of the program is $5,000 AUD. This cost will include the following items:

Accommodation for the duration of the course
Tuition for the 4-credit hour course
3 day-trips
3 half-day seminars
Internship placement and costs
Airport transfer
EMGS and administrative fees

These items will be arranged and paid for by HELP University and students will be required to pay the $5,000 fee directly to HELP.

Flights are not included and will need to be booked and paid for by the successful applicants. The coordination of flights will be facilitated by the CASS Associate Dean International's office.