Course coordinator
Professor Andreas Schloenhardt
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2024 (22/07/2024 - 18/11/2024)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Law School
Transnational Crime and International Criminal Justice explores the levels and patterns of organised crime and associated crime types and critically examines the international law and national policies to prevent and suppress these phenomena. The course is interactive and allows students to independently research specific crime types, engage in discussion, and present their findings and opinions.
This course explores the international legal framework and other guidelines to prevent and suppress transnational organised crime, including, inter alia, drug trafficking, smuggling of migrants, trafficking in persons, trafficking in fauna and flora, and terrorism. The course outlines and examines the criminology, levels, patterns, and modi operandi of these crime types, their criminalisation in international and domestic laws, and analyses national, regional, and international strategies to investigate these crimes and prosecute offenders.
The course gives students an understanding of contemporary patterns and characteristics of transnational organised crime, terrorism, and relevant international conventions. The seminars, in-class exercises, lectures, and online tests invite students to critically reflect on the nature and limitations of international criminal law conventions and understand the rationale of international, regional, and domestic policies in this area. ﾠ
The course further seeks to improve students’ communication, group-work, presentation, and discussion skills. The course enhances students’ abilities to research policy documents and legal material, critically analyse legislation, case studies and scholarly writing, present to an academic audience, and elaborate practical recommendations for law reform and policy change relevant to the subject area.
Course requirements
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
LAWS1110 or (LAWS1100 + CRIM1019)
Restrictions
Restricted to students enrolled in the BCCJ, BCCJ(Hons), BA and BA duals except the BA/LLB.
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Professor Andreas Schloenhardt
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
Note that the teaching in this course is semi-blocked and first class of this course takes place in week 3.
Aims and outcomes
The courseﾠaims to build students' ability to engage with complex problemsﾠof international criminal justice and transnational crime and to bring an informed and critical viewpoint to this subject matter.ﾠﾠ
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Have a general understanding of the patterns and levels of transnational organised crime and terrorism.
LO2.
Describe and critique the nature and problems of transnational organised crime and terrorism.
LO3.
Identify key instruments and the strengths and weaknesses of the current system of international criminal justice, especially as it relates to the criminalisation of transnational crime and terrorism and enforcement.
LO4.
Navigate the complexity of international and transnational legal, policy, and institutional contexts in order to be able to effectively engage with key debates emerging in this area.
LO5.
Work together with others to identify the dimensions of a problem arising from a case study of global or transnational crime, to generate solutions to the problem, and to communicate this to an informed audience.
LO6.
Apply skills required to engage in effective legal and academic research, and to communicate effectively within a legal and policy context.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quiz |
Weekly online tests
|
42% (7 tests, each test 6% of final grade) |
13/08/2024 - 4/11/2024 |
| Presentation |
Group research project (Option 1)
|
58% |
9/10/2024 - 23/10/2024 |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation |
Individual research project (Option 2)
|
58% |
9/10/2024 - 23/10/2024 |
Assessment details
Weekly online tests
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Quiz
- Weight
- 42% (7 tests, each test 6% of final grade)
- Due date
13/08/2024 - 4/11/2024
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L05, L06
Task description
Each topic covered in this course (weeks 3, 4+5 (combined), 6, 7, 11, 12, and 13) will be followed by an online quiz involving twelve multiple choice question about the topic. Each of the seven tests involves twelve questions; only one answer is correct. Students have 15 minutes to complete the test; only one attempt is possible. Once started, the test must be completed within the set timeframe. The tests are available on Blackboard and opens at Wednesday at 11am following the seminar and must be undertaken before the following Wednesday at 8am.
This assessment task evaluates student’s abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Extension to Assessment Due Date
An extension for an assessment item due within the teaching period in which the course is offered will generally be limited to one week in the first instance. In exceptional circumstances, approved extensions may be granted for more than one week but will not exceed four weeks in total. Where a student is incapacitated for a period exceeding four weeks of the teaching period, they should be advised to apply for removal of course.
A student may apply for an extension to assessment due date if they are unable to meet an assessment deadline due to extenuating circumstances. Please refer to the Applying for an extension page on my.UQ for further details on acceptable reasons for an extension and for instructions on how to apply. Additional information on extensions can be found within the Assessment Procedure.
Spoken or written notification of difficulties with assessment deadlines to a course coordinator or the School does not constitute an authorised extension.
Applications to be submitted before the due date: Applications for extension (whether they be medical or exceptional circumstances) shall be made by the due date and time for the assessment. Requests for extensions received after the assessment item submission due date and time, must include evidence of the reason for the late request, and will require the decision maker listed in the Student Grievance Resolution Procedure to accept the request for consideration.
Group research project (Option 1)
- In-person
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance, Oral
- Category
- Presentation
- Weight
- 58%
- Due date
9/10/2024 - 23/10/2024
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06
Task description
Option 1 of 2
Students participate in a group project to work on a designated research topic and present and discuss their project (as a team) in class.
Additional information about the projects and modes of presentations (PowerPoint, handouts) will be supplied at the beginning of the course on Blackboard in the 'Assessment' folder. The topics will be discussed and groups will be created in the first class (week 3). The groups will be presenting their projects in the seminars in weeks 11 to 13 in a 20-minute presentation, followed by a 15-minute discussion period. The presentation (including handouts, visualisation, clarity, consistency, discussion etc) is the element of assessment and the grade will apply to all members of the working group. The presentation dates (and thus the deadline) will be fixed by the end of week 3. Note that student presentations will be recorded.
Students are asked to choose between option 1 and 2 for this part of the assessment by week 3 of the course. They cannot change their choice after 20 September 2024.
This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Extension to Assessment Due Date
An extension for an assessment item due within the teaching period in which the course is offered will generally be limited to one week in the first instance. In exceptional circumstances, approved extensions may be granted for more than one week but will not exceed four weeks in total. Where a student is incapacitated for a period exceeding four weeks of the teaching period, they should be advised to apply for removal of course.
A student may apply for an extension to assessment due date if they are unable to meet an assessment deadline due to extenuating circumstances. Please refer to the Applying for an extension page on my.UQ for further details on acceptable reasons for an extension and for instructions on how to apply. Additional information on extensions can be found within the Assessment Procedure.
Spoken or written notification of difficulties with assessment deadlines to a course coordinator or the School does not constitute an authorised extension.
Applications to be submitted before the due date: Applications for extension (whether they be medical or exceptional circumstances) shall be made by the due date and time for the assessment. Requests for extensions received after the assessment item submission due date and time, must include evidence of the reason for the late request, and will require the decision maker listed in the Student Grievance Resolution Procedure to accept the request for consideration.
Individual research project (Option 2)
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 58%
- Due date
9/10/2024 - 23/10/2024
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06
Task description
Option 2 of 2
Students individually work on a designated research topic and submit a written research paper (max. 3000 words (not incl. footnotes and bibliography).
Additional information about the projects (topics) will be supplied at the beginning of the course on Blackboard in the 'Assessment' folder. The topics will be discussed in the first class (week 3). Research papers are due in weeks 11 to 13 of the course. The submission deadline varies between topics and will be fixed by the end of week 3.
Students are asked to choose between option 1 and 2 for this part of the assessment by week 3 of the course. They cannot change their choice after 20 September 2024.
This assessment task evaluates student’s abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Assignments must be submitted as a single MS Word file via the online assessment submission link on the course Blackboard site.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Extension to Assessment Due Date
An extension for an assessment item due within the teaching period in which the course is offered will generally be limited to one week in the first instance. In exceptional circumstances, approved extensions may be granted for more than one week but will not exceed four weeks in total. Where a student is incapacitated for a period exceeding four weeks of the teaching period, they should be advised to apply for removal of course.
A student may apply for an extension to assessment due date if they are unable to meet an assessment deadline due to extenuating circumstances. Please refer to the Applying for an extension page on my.UQ for further details on acceptable reasons for an extension and for instructions on how to apply. Additional information on extensions can be found within the Assessment Procedure.
Spoken or written notification of difficulties with assessment deadlines to a course coordinator or the School does not constitute an authorised extension.
Applications to be submitted before the due date: Applications for extension (whether they be medical or exceptional circumstances) shall be made by the due date and time for the assessment. Requests for extensions received after the assessment item submission due date and time, must include evidence of the reason for the late request, and will require the decision maker listed in the Student Grievance Resolution Procedure to accept the request for consideration.
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.
Penalties for Late Submission
The following penalties apply to late submission of an assessment item, assuming that an extension has not been approved, and that late submission is academically possible (e.g., it does not delay feedback to a cohort, or interfere with course delivery).
First 7 periods of 24 hours (or part thereof) - 10% per 24 hours of the maximum possible mark for the assessment item. For example, a report worth a maximum of 40 marks, submitted 28 hours late will attract a penalty of 8 marks, calculated as 2 periods of 24 hours x 10% x 40 marks.
More than 7 periods of 24 hours - 100%.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 19 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 2 (Fail) | 20 - 47 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 48 - 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. |
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Additional assessment information
It is preferable and recommended that student participate in one of the group projects. The individual research paper option is mostly students who for reasons beyond their control are unable to participate in the group project.
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
Relevant reading material will be provided on Blackboard from July 2024.
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 3 (05 Aug - 11 Aug) |
Lecture |
Organised Crime Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L06 |
Seminar |
Organised Crime Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
|
Week 4 (12 Aug - 18 Aug) |
Lecture |
Drug Trafficking - global patterns Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Week 5 (19 Aug - 25 Aug) |
Lecture |
Drug Trafficking - international law Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Seminar |
Drug Trafficking - national policies Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
|
Week 6 (26 Aug - 01 Sep) |
Lecture |
Trafficking in persons Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Seminar |
Trafficking in persons Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
|
Week 7 (02 Sep - 08 Sep) |
Lecture |
Smuggling of migrants Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Seminar |
Smuggling of migrants Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
|
Week 11 (07 Oct - 13 Oct) |
Lecture |
Wildlife trafficking Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L06 |
Seminar |
Wildlife trafficking; group presentations 1-3 Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
|
Week 12 (14 Oct - 20 Oct) |
Lecture |
Money laundering Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L06 |
Seminar |
Corruption; group presentations 4-6 Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
|
Week 13 (21 Oct - 27 Oct) |
Lecture |
Terrorism Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Seminar |
Terrorism; group presentations 7-9 Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
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 - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.
School guidelines
Your school has additional guidelines you'll need to follow for this course: