'Universities serve to make students think: to resolve problems by argument supported by evidence; not to be dismayed by complexity, but bold in unravelling it'.  (What are universities for?; by Geoffrey Boulton and Colin Lucas http://kampela-leru.it.helsinki.fi/?bmlkPTI0).   This course takes up this challenge by offering latter year students from any part of the ANU the opportunity to explore a series of complex issues. The connections between economic, historical, social, legal, scientific, engineering and environmental and moral dimensions of complex problems will be explored.  

In 2009 the course will examine the theme of 'collapse'.  Case studies will include global financial crises, the collapse of empires, contemporary 'failing' states, pandemics, network failures and the moral and legal dimensions of these issues.

A maximum of 10 students per College selected on basis of outstanding results and interest in and commitment to working in policy areas. 

Please register your interest with your College representative by 8th July 2009:

• ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences
• ANU College of Asia and the Pacific
• ANU College of Business and Economics
• ANU College of Engineering and Computer Science
• ANU College of Law
• ANU College of Medicine, Biology and Environment
• ANU College of Physical Sciences

1. Ability to analyse complex issues
2. Knowledge of different methodologies for analysing complex issues
3. Ability to apply more than one method in order to unravel complex issues

1. Learning journal which requires students to focus on the areas they are least familiar with - one part of the learning journal is evidence of preparation for each of the student run seminars/tutorials and the question they did (or would have there been time) asked in each panel.

2. Prepare a policy briefing paper to "minister" or senior public servants on complex real world contemporary problem.  Do this in groups at short notice to simulated working in policy areas.  If possible involve the senior public servants in setting the problems and speaking to them and responding to the final product

3. Facilitating a tutorial/seminar to maximise their classmates learning - students encouraged to pick topics from the disciplines they are from and their task is to explain complex issues to class mates not from their disciplines

Course Syllabus in 2009

Week 1 July 23rd
Dr Renee Fry  - Global Financial Crises - what have we learnt from past crises? Centre for Appl. Macroeconomic Analysis-Economics, College of Business & Economics  The 2 hour session as well as a  ‘lecture' will involve course introduction and some small group work involving ice-breakers and class responses to Renee's talk

Week 2 July 30th 
Panel from across the university teasing out from their discipline's perspective complex issues that the current global financial crises raises.  Panel will also deal with how policy makers deal with  ‘wicked'; problems.

Week 3 August 6th
CASS panel on collapse of empires, perhaps Roman, Greek, British, Soviet to explore similarities and contrasts.

Week 4 August 13th
First student run seminars/tutorials around course content to date

Week 5 August 20th
CAP speakers on failing Pacific states. 

Week 6 August 27th
Student run seminars/tutorials around week 5 issues

Week 7 Sept 3rd
Engineering and Science to run panel on collapse in networks - case study of electrical grids.

Week 8 Sept 10th
Student run seminars/tutorials around week 7 issues

Week 9 Sept 17th
Medical science area to provide speakers on pandemics.

Week 10 Sept 24th
Student run seminars/tutorials around week 8 issues

Week 11 October 15th
Law to run panel on the moral and legal dimension -

Week 12 October 22nd
Student run seminars/tutorials around week 10 issues

Week 13 October 29th 
Workshop on strategic thinking in policy making -dealing with wicked problems as preparation for following week

Day long workshop on day before exams start
Student groups report on their group briefing paper on major contemporary complex issue.