Module Catalogue 2025/26

Pre Requisite Comment

The module is based on the key concepts in international politics introduced in POL1032, which means students require a good working knowledge and ability to apply international relations theories and other central concepts. Students also need knowledge of key events of the 21st century and political ideas, as well as historical contexts that shaped the formation and scope of international organizations. Thus, POL1046 Order and Disorder, is also a pre-requisite for POL2310.

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

This semester 1 second-year undergraduate module introduces students to International Organizations (IOs), and their role in global governance as well as their influence on national policymaking.

Key aims are:

-       Expanding student’s knowledge about major International Organizations (IOs);
-       Examining the governance structure of different IOs from their origins to potential reforms, exploring how IOs work together within the UN System and beyond to address the world’s most pressing problems such as armed conflict, economic crises and climate change;
-       Analysing how countries can influence the negotiation process towards achieving outcomes;
-       Develop an understanding of the challenges and limitations of international negotiations through international institutions in the area of international cooperation via experiential learning. Students take on the roles of diplomats representing their assigned countries’ interests on a given topic and explore options to negotiate resolutions to the international problem.

Outline Of Syllabus

The module introduces and discusses different International Organizations (IOs). It examines the governance structure of IOs and explores how different IOs work together within and beyond the UN system to address some of the world’s most pressing problems such as armed conflict, economic crises and climate change. It analyses how countries and non-state actors can influence the negotiation process towards achieving outcomes and develops an appreciation for the factors supporting effective decision-making. The module also provides links to key concepts of international law and international relations theories.

At the heart of the module is the Diplomacy component, which allows students to take on the roles of diplomats representing countries in simulations of international negotiations by proposing and negotiating solutions to these international challenges.

The module will be delivered via one-hour lectures and seminars, which contain student presentations, and further professional skills building elements including public speaking workshops and simulation of an International Organization decision-making forum (e.g., the UN General Assembly, World Trade Organization, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Human Rights Council).

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

-       Develop an appreciation of the opportunities and challenges linked to decision making in intergovernmental negotiations within IOs;
-       Knowledge of the key topics discussed in multilateral negotiations such as peace and security, economic development, environmental degradation and reforms to the architecture of global governance.

Intended Skill Outcomes

-       Public speaking skills;
-       Research skills;
-       Critical analysis skills;
-       Gain practical experience and apply negotiation strategies to achieve outcomes in multilateral negotiations.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Through attending the lectures and seminars, students will improve their understanding of international organizations (IOs), their activities, capabilities and limitations. They will use central International Relations theories to critically analyse IOs from different perspectives, including the influence of different governmental and non-governmental actors. They will also advance their knowledge of countries’ political interests, foreign policy, economy, environment and culture. The digital exam assesses knowledge gained through the lectures, seminars and reading list (guided independent study).

The Diplomacy component of the module combines workshops, practicals and drop-in sessions to develop and advance student's public speaking skills, build confidence and a growth mindset through reflection on learning experiences. It offers practical insights into negotiation strategies and skills as they are used by countries in IOs, e.g., in the United Nations (UN). This allows for transferable negotiation and public speaking skills useful in other public and private sector settings such as local and national governments, consultancy and multinational companies.

Through the Model UN simulation (practical), students will further develop their public speaking skills and build confidence to speak about issues of international concern in front of a larger audience. To prepare their speeches and convey the countries’ political interests (portfolio assessment), students will use and improve their research and critical analysis skills to find, synthesise, evaluate and apply complex information while also developing a working knowledge of international law and negotiations. Students will understand the necessity, opportunities, challenges and limitations of IOs/negotiations through experience.

The module uses a growth mindset teaching strategy that gradually builds confidence in public speaking and allows for further practice and improvement through multiple learning experiences. The 'mini Model UN' in the second seminar session introduces students to Model UNs in a small-group setting, and the two public speaking workshops (replacing some seminars) introduce students to speaking in front of an audience with multiple opportunities to practice and increase confidence. The oral presentation (professional skills assessment) in the seminars in the second part of the module builds on these public speaking skills by combining them with presentation skills and in-depth expertise on the assigned topic (e.g., an IO and its activities). The drop-in/surgery consultation sessions provide further guidance to students on researching and writing high-quality position papers (portfolio) to represent their assigned country well in the Model UN (simulated negotiations) as well as advance students' insights into researching material for and giving a high quality presentation in the seminars (professional skills assessment in the form of a group presentation encouraging team building/collaboration skills, but individually marked). Students will also have the opportunity to provide formative feedback to their peers on the quality and delivery of the oral presentation, thus allowing for further reflection on effective presentation and public speaking strategies.

The teaching methods are constructively aligned with the assessment methods to develop and advance crucial skills to succeed in any future career and adapt to changing environments, especially a personal growth mindset focused on reflection and continuous improvement, critical analysis and research skills, public speaking skills and confidence, as well as negotiation skills.
For more details on the pedagogic rationales for the underpinning teaching methods used in this module, see Rietig, K. 2024. Innovative Social Sciences Teaching and Learning. Facilitating Students' Personal Growth and Career Success. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham (195p, online access through the NCL library).

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The assessment is constructively aligned with the learning outcomes and teaching activities.

The collaborative work within the professional skills assessments in the form of student presentations and active engagement during the seminars and workshops aims to keep students engaged with the module throughout the semester. Students have provided excellent feedback on this component and highlighted its importance to foster and maintain an engaging and inspiring learning community. It is also essential to develop central professional skills such as confidence in public speaking, the ability to work well in teams and presenting convincing arguments. In case students cannot attend the workshops or their assigned oral presentation seminar session, they will be able to attend a resit in-person workshop session and an online session for missed oral presentations.

To perform well and enjoy the Model United Nations conferences, good preparation is essential. This will be rewarded with an assessed portfolio consisting of a position paper (students will be assigned to represent one country; the position paper outlines their countries’ position on the agenda topics) and proposed resolution (which will allow the students to make constructive proposals during the negotiations on how the international problem can be solved), as well as students’ engagement in the Model United Nations conference.

Students will take a 60-minute digital exam consisting of multiple choice questions covering all aspects of the module including the lectures, seminars, reading list and Model United Nations simulation. The digital exam requires students to reflect on and synthesise their learning experience over the semester.

General Notes

N/A