Course coordinator
Dr Jagadish Thaker
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2025 (28/07/2025 - 22/11/2025)
- Study level
- Postgraduate Coursework
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Communication & Arts School
Students are required to identify, analyse and develop strategies for organisational, industrial and environmental challenges and disasters using the theories, models and methods of issues management and crisis communication. Techniques applied include environmental scanning, issue and stakeholder mapping and crisis communication planning.
Issues management and crisis communication are two of the most compelling, challenging, and complex disciplines in strategic communication.
The disciplines of identifying and managing issues and planning for or responding to crises effectively are critical to building and maintaining stakeholder relationships and organisational reputations. These two areas of practice are related but quite separate. Therefore, this course is structured to first address the theories, concepts and practice of issues management; crisis communication is covered in the second part of the course.
To make the best possible use of this course, you must be intellectually curious about the challenges organisations face. ﾠCommunication professionals are committed consumers of news and other media. As you go about your daily life, be sure that you are observing issues, crises, and organisational responses closely. Apply your growing knowledge to understand, analyse, and interpret the interactions between issues, organisations and stakeholders. This knowledge needs to be exercised to grow, so be mindful of what is happening around you and use your expanding understanding of these disciplines as the lens through which to view current events.
Course requirements
Assumed background
As a postgraduate student at the University of Queensland, you are expected to have graduate level generic skills in written and spoken English as well as the interpersonal communication skills to participate in class discussions. ﾠ As a postgraduate student in the School of Communication and Arts, taking a course in professional communication, you must also have a knowledge of and compelling interest in the media and in current national and global events. Being well read and well informed and intellectually curious are fundamental postgraduate attributes.ﾠ You are also expected to be able to work independently, exercise critical judgement and demonstrate ethical and social understanding. ﾠ To complete the formative and summative assessment in this course, you must be competent in the use of common internet browsers (e.g., Firefox or Chrome) and have basic skills in the use of Microsoft Word and Powerpoint. More specifically, you will be required to use various electronic library databases to access academic literature and news data. If you don't know how to use these datablases, you should attend courses conducted by the Library, which can be found atﾠhttps://www.library.uq.edu.au/training. Student Support Services can advise you on accessing aditional support at http://www.uq.edu.au/student-services. ﾠ Students for whom English is not a first language are encouraged to take every opportunity to practice their written and spoken English.
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
COMU3140
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Jagadish Thaker
Tutor
Mr Anthony Biancotti
Miss Franssisca Xaveria
Ms Yumeng Wu
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
Whilst every effort is made to place students in their preferred activity, it is not always possible for a student to be enrolled in their tutorial of choice. If you require assistance, please ensure that you email timetabling.commarts@enquire.uq.edu.au from your UQ student email with:
- Your name
- Your student ID
- The course code
- A list of three tutorial preferences (in order of preference)
- Reason for the change – e.g. timetable clash, elite athlete status, SAP
Teaching staff do not have access to change tutorials or help with timetables; all timetabling changes must be processed through the Timetabling Team. see myTimetable for day, time and room allocation.
Aims and outcomes
This course will developﾠyour knowledge of and capacity to apply the theories, models and practices of issues management and crisis communication. Learning outcomes will include the capacity
- to critique organisational and industrial responses to issues and crises;
- to identify organisational/industrial-stakeholder issues and learn the processes and practices required to prioritise, monitor and respond strategically;ﾠ
- to identify organisational/industrialﾠcrises and learn how to plan for and respond using crisis communication management strategies and tactics;ﾠand
- to understand the role of media and communication at all levels in issues and crisis management.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Identify the importance of stakeholders in issue and crisis management.
LO2.
Identify the importance of understanding and using a range of media and communication tactics to plan for and achieve different outcomes.
LO3.
Demonstrate an understanding of the concepts, theories and practice of issues management and crisis communication.
LO4.
Apply the theories, methods and models of issues and crisis management to identify, track and respond to real life and simulated scenarios.
LO5.
Identify and apply ethical standards of practice when dealing with issues management and crisis communication.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participation/ Student contribution, Presentation, Portfolio, Reflection, Role play/ Simulation |
Tutorial participation
|
40% |
5/08/2025 - 7/08/2025 19/08/2025 - 21/08/2025 26/08/2025 - 28/08/2025 2/09/2025 - 4/09/2025 9/09/2025 - 11/09/2025 16/09/2025 - 18/09/2025 23/09/2025 - 25/09/2025 7/10/2025 - 9/10/2025 14/10/2025 - 16/10/2025 21/10/2025 - 23/10/2025 |
| Presentation |
Crisis Analysis
|
60% |
Presentations in-class - 21/10/2025 - 23/10/2025 Reflection due 4:00pm, 31/10/2025 |
Assessment details
Tutorial participation
- Identity Verified
- Team or group-based
- In-person
- Mode
- Oral, Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia
- Category
- Participation/ Student contribution, Presentation, Portfolio, Reflection, Role play/ Simulation
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
5/08/2025 - 7/08/2025
19/08/2025 - 21/08/2025
26/08/2025 - 28/08/2025
2/09/2025 - 4/09/2025
9/09/2025 - 11/09/2025
16/09/2025 - 18/09/2025
23/09/2025 - 25/09/2025
7/10/2025 - 9/10/2025
14/10/2025 - 16/10/2025
21/10/2025 - 23/10/2025
- Other conditions
- Work integrated learning.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05
Task description
Designed to develop applied crisis communication skills through real-world scenarios, tutorial participation involves analysing crisis case studies, pitching stakeholder engagement strategies, media monitoring exercises, mock press conferences, celebrity crisis role-plays, and social media planning. Students reflect on their learning about leadership and teamwork during a crisis, and identify ways for future professional development.
Recording of Oral and Practical Assessment
· All presentations will be recorded for marking purposes via recording facilities available where the assessment takes place (eg. ECHO360, Zoom, camera device)
· Recordings will be retained by the School of Communication and Arts for at least 12 months from the release of the final grade for the course.
- Recordings will be stored in a secure manner and will only be accessed by authorised school staff for the purposes of:
- Moderation of marking;
- Provision of feedback to the student(s) recorded; and/or
- Re-marking following a successful re-mark application.
Student use of AI/MT in assessments
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI and/or MT in completing this assessment task. Students must clearly reference any use of AI or MT in each instance.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Missing a few tutorials for valid reasons, such as medical leave, is ok and will not impact the final marks. Please contact your tutor if you are unable to attend.
Late submission
Missing a few tutorials for valid reasons, such as medical leave, is ok and will not impact the final marks. Please contact your tutor if you are unable to attend.
Crisis Analysis
- Team or group-based
- In-person
- Mode
- Oral, Written
- Category
- Presentation
- Weight
- 60%
- Due date
Presentations in-class - 21/10/2025 - 23/10/2025
Reflection due 4:00pm, 31/10/2025
- Other conditions
- Peer assessment factor, Work integrated learning.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05
Task description
The goal of the assignment is to help students identify and critically analyse an organisational crisis. Based on theories and best practices learned in the class, students then provide recommendations on how to better respond to a similar crisis in future.
Working in groups, students will present a crisis case study, followed by a question-and-answer session to test their understanding and depth of knowledge related to the subject. Students will also be tested to 'think on their feet' to address alternative crisis scenarios. Points will be provided for both content and delivery, and individual students' contributions to the group work.
The presentation will provide an overview of the crisis and critically examine the organisation's responses and their impact on media coverage and stakeholder responses. Finally, it will offer key recommendations on communicating more effectively in future crises.
Students should use a mix of scholarly references, media coverage, and organisational materials. The student presentations will occur in tutorials. Following the presentation, each student will submit a reflection on their learning outcomes and contribution to group work.
The task sheet/rubric for the essay is available on Blackboard.
Student use of AI/MT in assessments
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI and/or MT in completing this assessment task. Students must clearly reference any use of AI or MT in each instance.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Recording of Oral and Practical Assessment
- All presentations will be recorded for marking purposes via recording facilities available where the assessment takes place (eg. ECHO360, Zoom, camera device)
- Recordings will be retained by the School of Communication and Arts for at least 12 months from the release of the final grade for the course.
- Recordings will be stored in a secure manner and will only be accessed by authorised school staff for the purposes of:
- Moderation of marking;
- Provision of feedback to the student(s) recorded; and/or
- Re-marking following a successful re-mark application.
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
If the student is absent on the date of their presentation for a valid reason as per UQ policy, they will be given a chance to present at the next tutorial. Alternative arrangements can be made with the tutor for valid reasons as per UQ policy.
Students must apply for an extension on the Reflection component of the assessment task.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Late submission penalty applies to reflection component only. Presentations cannot be late. If students cannot present on the required date, they should contact their tutor as soon as possible to discuss their options.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 24 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 2 (Fail) | 25 - 44 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
Additional course grading information
- Where fractional marks occur in the calculation of the final grade, a mark of x.5% or greater will be rounded up to (x+1)%. A percentage mark of less than x.5% will be rounded down to x%.
- Where no assessable work is received, a Grade of X will apply.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Additional assessment information
- Further information regarding the assessment, including marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course.
- Marks Cannot Be Changed After Being Released: Marks are not open to negotiation with course staff. If you wish to discuss the feedback you have received, you should make an appointment to speak with the Course Coordinator.
- Assessment Re-mark: If you are considering an Assessment Re-mark, please follow the link to important information you should consider before submitting a request.
- Integrity Pledge: Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using Turnitin. Before submitting any assignments for this course, you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Modules.ﾠIn uploading an assignment via Turnitin you are certifying that it is your original work, that it has not been copied in whole or part from another person or source except where this is properly acknowledged, and that it has not in whole or part been previously submitted for assessment in any other course at this or any other university.
- Withholding marks prior to finalisation of grades: Per UQ Assessment Procedures – Release of Assessment Item Marks and Grades: The final assessment item and the marks for the assessment item are to be released only after the final grade for the course has been released.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Additional learning resources information
Students should ensure they read, listen to, or watch the news and current events every day.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 (28 Jul - 03 Aug) |
Lecture |
Week 1: Introduction, orientation Introduction to issues and crisis communication management: Theories, best practices, and case studies Learning outcomes: L01 |
Tutorial |
Week 1: No tutorial |
|
Week 2 (04 Aug - 10 Aug) |
Lecture |
Week 2: Key terms Key terms of strategic communication, risk, crisis and issue management Learning outcomes: L01, L03 |
Tutorial |
Week 2: Issue monitoring Discussion of the key terms and definitions, and what are issues - and why are they of "public interest" Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L05 |
|
Week 3 (11 Aug - 17 Aug) |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
Week 3: Break/Public holiday |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
Week 3: Break/Public holiday |
|
Week 4 (18 Aug - 24 Aug) |
Lecture |
Week 4: Issue management & issue lifecycles Theoretical underpinnings and concepts Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L05 |
Tutorial |
Week 4: Stakeholder & Issue analysis Theoretical and conceptual reflections Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
|
Week 5 (25 Aug - 31 Aug) |
Lecture |
Week 5: Crisis communication I Crisis identification, management, and recovery Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Tutorial |
Week 5: Issue life cycles Exercises, case studies, and best practices in issue cycle monitoring and management. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
|
Week 6 (01 Sep - 07 Sep) |
Lecture |
Week 6: Crisis communication II Concepts and cases Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L05 |
Tutorial |
Week 6: Crisis management Workshop & brainstorming Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L05 |
|
Week 7 (08 Sep - 14 Sep) |
Lecture |
Week 7: Media in issues, crisis & risk management Explicating the role of media in crisis communication Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Tutorial |
Week 7: Media & media conference analysis Workshop and case studies: How to respond to media during a crisis? Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
|
Week 8 (15 Sep - 21 Sep) |
Lecture |
Week 8: Framing and Agenda Setting Finding the key message & proactive issue management Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Tutorial |
Week 8: Framing and Agenda setting Workshop on media and crisis Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
|
Week 9 (22 Sep - 28 Sep) |
Lecture |
Week 9: Storytelling in Crisis Storytelling during crisis communication. Learning outcomes: L03, L04, L05 |
Tutorial |
Week 9: Storytelling in Crisis Learning outcomes: L03, L04, L05 |
|
Mid Sem break (29 Sep - 05 Oct) |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
Mid semester break |
Week 10 (06 Oct - 12 Oct) |
Lecture |
Week 10: Organisations and their stakeholders Stakeholder concepts, stakeholder analysis Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Tutorial |
Week 10: Organisations and their stakeholders Stakeholder concepts, stakeholder analysis Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
|
Week 11 (13 Oct - 19 Oct) |
Lecture |
Week 11: Crisis renewal and recovery Learning outcomes: L03, L04, L05 |
Tutorial |
Week 11: Crisis renewal and recovery Learning outcomes: L03, L04, L05 |
|
Week 12 (20 Oct - 26 Oct) |
Lecture |
Week 12: Future of crisis communication in the age of AI Revision and future prospects Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05 |
Tutorial |
Week 12: Student Presentations Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05 |
|
Week 13 (27 Oct - 02 Nov) |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
Week 13: Last week of the semester Revise: Future issues and crises Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05 |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments for Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.
Course guidelines
Communication Expectations
While you are a student at UQ, all communication must be conducted according to the UQ Student Code of Conduct. The UQ Library has a helpful Communicate and collaborate online module.
- Email is the primary way for you to send messages to, and receive information from, the School and our staff.
- You must use your UQ email address (not a private address) to communicate with staff.
- You should add a clear subject line, including course code, and a 2-3 word statement.
- You can send email at any time, however, please do not expect responses outside normal working hours (Monday to Friday from ~8am to ~5pm).
- Emails that constitute bullying, harassment or discrimination against staff contravene the Student Code of Conduct. Emails like this will be reported to the University, and the matter will be pursued as misconduct.