GRS 290/390/490:  

GLOBAL ISSUES IN CULTURAL CONTEXT  

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 

UBC’s Point Grey Campus is located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam) people. The land it is situated on has always been a place of learning for the Musqueam people, who for millennia have passed on in their culture, history, and traditions from one generation to the next on this site. 

COURSE OBJECTIVE 

The objective of this course is to bring GRS students together, to get to know each other, share interests and experiences and form a community of learners. This course will connect you to your GRS colleagues throughout your degree programs and beyond.

You are required to take GRS 290, 390, and 490 during the time that you are enrolled in the GRS program. This will ensure that you are part of a GRS community of learners from the time you enter the program until you graduate and beyond. You can contribute by asking questions and contributing different perspectives to the learning process as you develop academically and personally throughout your undergraduate program. In your last year, you can focus on global leadership development as you assist new GRS students in understanding global issues and helping them to being effective in their international settings.

Whether abroad or on campus, you will interact and share perspectives that will help new and continuing GRS students understand their place in a global world and build skills as global citizens.

LEARNING OUTCOMES  

• Interact and learn from student
• Recognize cultural differences and value cultural diversity (academic, gender, ethnicity, nationality).
• Articulate important global issues that relate to agriculture, food, heath, and natural resource
• Understand and communicate the importance of assessing global issues through local and culturally sensitive lens.

TERM 1 TOPIC:  Global Change Makers

During first term, we will be discussing current Global Challenges, looking for GRS'ers to discover ways to take action to the challenges based on their passion, dedication and set of skills and knowledge.

COURSE INFORMATION 

While there is some flexibility in this course, you are expected to meet on campus every Wednesday @ 5:30 - 6:50pm in MCML 160.

COVID-19 SAFETY IN THE CLASSROOM 

It is important that all of us feel as comfortable as possible engaging in-class activities while sharing an indoor space. We recommend to wear a non-medical mask during our class meetings, for your protection and the safety and comfort of everyone else in the class. If you need to drink water/coffee/tea/etc., please keep your mask on between sips. There may be students who have medical accommodations for not wearing a mask. Please maintain a respectful environment. UBC Respectful Environment Statement [https://hr.ubc.ca/working- ubc/respectful-environment]

What if I cannot attend Class in-person? Fill out this quick Class Absence Form! 

Various circumstances may lead to a student being unable to attend classes for a temporary period of time.  For example:

• They may not be able to get to Vancouver in time for the start of the course;
• They may be isolating after arrival and/ or feeling unwell at some point in the course;
• They may have unforeseen circumstances

IMPORTANT: If you are feeling unwell, please DO NOT come to campus. This is to protect the health and safety of all students, staff and faculty at UBC. 

All course materials will be available to students via Canvas. Presentation slides and/or recordings (When available) will be posted within the Canvas course.

ASSESSMENT FOR LEARNING 

Attendance is mandatory. However, if you are ill or are feeling unwell DO NOT attend class in-person. If you cannot attend a class (either in-person or Zoom) for a valid reason, please fill out the Class Absence Form. 

• You will be assessed on your attendance and participation in class and (online), through asking questions, raising global issues, contributing responses, stimulating debate, and sharing cultural experiences.  

• Requirements for assignments can be met by completing: 

• • Bio page
  • Participate in discussions after each module (three topics)
  • Synopsis
  • Social Media (optional)

• The grading system for the course is Pass/D/ Fail. 

Assignment 1: Biopage  

We ask that you all (new and returning students) please create a Student Bio on the GRS website. These Student Bios will help you to introduce yourself to your classmates. The page is password-protected so only current GRSers will be able to view the Bios.  

• All students must complete their Student Bios by October 7th
• The Student Bio form can be found: http://lfs-grs-collab.sites.olt.ubc.ca/grs-student-bios/ 

Assignment 2: Discussions 

Discussion topics that emerge from class will be posted online on the canvas site. You are expected to complete each discussion by the deadline. Further details and instructions will be provided during our sessions.

You can approach the questions from any angle you choose; from that of your resource specialization, personal experience in your region, and/or information you gather in the news or the internet. Any perspective is welcome! Try to be as specific as you can in your contributions. If you can back up your opinion with examples or case studies from your region, great! Please remember to follow the ground rules discussed in class. The idea is to learn from each other and generate some thought-provoking conversations.

• Deadline module 1: October 13th
• Deadline module 2: November 3rd
• Deadline module 3: December 8th
  

Assignment 3:  Synopsis

Submit a up to 500-word synopsis regarding the GRS classes or online discussions that had the greatest impact on your perception of global issues during Term 1. Please submit the synopsis to Les via e-mail (lml@mail.ubc.ca) with a copy to Roxana (quinde@mail.ubc.ca).

• All students must complete their synopsis by December 18th

Assignment  4 (optional): Social Media Post

Submit a social media post (Instagram and/or GRS website post) about a GRS experience such as your global experience (if completed already), directed studies, research, volunteering or anything you would like to share with the GRS community. Additionally, please submit minimum ONE discussion response.   

• Instagram (@grs_program) 

For the post you should submit to TA Jason (jason.pang@ubc.ca) the following:  

• A headshot (png or jpg) and your preferred name and preferred pronouns 
• One or two high-quality pictures of your experience(s) 
• One or two paragraphs explaining your experience(s) for the post caption (e.g. exchange, research, directed studies, etc.) 
• Optional  
• The place you call home 
• Your GRS resource/ region 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 

Where do I post my contributions?  

The format and location for the discussion groups is on Canvas.  

How often do I post my contributions?  

There will be multiple discussion topics posted during each term. You need to post at least three discussion items during each term. Your response to a class member’s discussion post will count as a posting for you.  

When do I post?  

Each new discussion section will start every other Thursday. Please do your utmost to contribute to each topic in a timely manner. 

How do I submit my social media post?  

Send your pictures and paragraphs to Jason at jason.pang@ubc.ca. Use your name and “Social Media Post” as the subject. 

When do I submit my social media post?  

You can submit your social media post anytime between September 7th, 2022 and December 18th, 2022. Please try to submit your experience as soon as possible. Do not wait until the last day.  

What happens if I am ill/sick and need to miss a GRS class? 

Attendance is mandatory. However, if you are ill or are feeling unwell DO NOT attend class in-person. If you cannot attend a class (either in-person or Zoom) for a valid reason, please fill out the Class Absence Form.