Outline

Overview

This unit of study explores urbanism transnationally with a focus on the Global South cities to expose students to the accelerating rate of urbanisation in fundamentally different urban settings. It unpacks complexities of urbanism specific to the Global South including but not limited to enormous rate of urban transformation, massive infrastructure gaps, ubiquitous informality, confronting inequalities, and exponatial rate of climate change. In doing so, the unit sheds light on the historic, socio-economic, and geo-political setting behind the complexity of urban challenges and opportunities in unfamiliar geographies. This will provide students with provocative and productive urban frameworks for all cities, informed by an ability to transfer learnings from the Global South to the local context and unpack some of the growing concerns about widening inequities, infrastructure lags and others.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Urban and Regional Planning and Policy
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	DAAE1002
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Deepti Prasad, deepti.prasad@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 1 September 2025

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length	Use of AI
Written work	Early Feedback Task - Reflections Address your positionalities (personal identities, values, views, and location in time and space influence how one understands the world) How that might lead you to see a particular ‘urban issue’ in a certain light.	0%	Week 01 Due date: 10 Aug 2025 at 23:59	100 words	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Case Study Presentations for AT1 Case Study Presentation	20%	Week 06 Due date: 10 Sep 2025 at 10:00	8-10 minutes	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	Assessment Task 1 (AT1) Case Study Report	20%	Week 06 Due date: 10 Sep 2025 at 17:00	1000 words	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Final Presentations for AT2 Final Presentation	20%	Week 13 Due date: 05 Nov 2025 at 10:00	8-10 minutes	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	Assessment Task 2 (AT2) Final Report	40%	Week 13 Due date: 05 Nov 2025 at 17:00	3000 words	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ? = early feedback task ?

Early feedback task

This unit includes an early feedback task, designed to give you feedback prior to the census date for this unit. Details are provided in the Canvas site and your result will be recorded in your Marks page. It is important that you actively engage with this task so that the University can support you to be successful in this unit.

Assessment summary

Assessment Task 1 (AT1) – The identification and brief analysis of a Global South case study is undertaken through the first five weeks of the course and collated into a short ‘Case Study Report’. AT1 requires you to analyse your case study’s historical, socio-economic, and geopolitical setting. In doing so, you examine the complexities of urbanism specific to a Global South context. In the case study, you will critically consider the colonial cartographies, post-colonial realities, and upcoming urban challenges such as physical and social infrastructure lags, etc. AT1 is weighted 40% of the course mark (20% final presentation and 20% case study report).
Assessment Task 2 (AT2) – Based on the complex understanding developed in AT1, you will analyse the critical lenses, in further detail, for your Global South case study and pick an extra specific urbanism lens (of your preference – in line with the unit’s teaching) for thorough research, documented in the ‘Final Report’. AT2 requires you to address the urban complexities identified at the semester’s outset within your case study through the lenses of physical and social infrastructure, informality, and climate change that address the complexities of urbanism specific to the Global South. AT2 is weighted 60% of the course mark (20% final presentation and 40% final report).
Students should be present and engaged in their learning during classes. Late arrival/early departure will be deemed as an absence. Students who do not meet the minimum 90% threshold, who have reasonable evidence to support their absence, may be offered the opportunity to sit an alternative assessment to pass this unit at the discretion of the unit coordinator.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High Distinction	85 - 100	Work of outstanding quality, demonstrating mastery of the learning outcomes assessed. The work shows significant innovation, experimentation, critical analysis, synthesis, insight, creativity, and/orexceptional skill.
Distinction	75 - 84	Work of excellent quality, demonstrating a sound grasp of the learning outcomes assessed. The work shows innovation, experimentation, critical analysis, synthesis, insight, creativity, and/or superior skill.
Credit	65 - 74	Work of good quality, demonstrating more than satisfactory achievement of the learning outcomes assessed, or work of excellent quality for a majority of the learning outcomes assessed.
Pass	50 - 64	Work demonstrating satisfactory achievement of the learning outcomes assessed.
Fail	0 - 49	Work that does not demonstrate satisfactory achievement of one or more of the learning outcomes assessed.

For more information see guide to grades.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

You can use generative AI tools for open assessments. Restrictions on AI use apply to secure, supervised assessments used to confirm if students have met specific learning outcomes.

Refer to the assessment table above to see if AI is allowed, for assessments in this unit and check Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks and AI use.

If you use AI, you must always acknowledge it. Misusing AI may lead to a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The University expects students to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

Our website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. This includes advice on how to avoid common breaches of academic integrity. Ensure that you have completed the Academic Honesty Education Module (AHEM) which is mandatory for all commencing coursework students

Penalties for serious breaches can significantly impact your studies and your career after graduation. It is important that you speak with your unit coordinator if you need help with completing assessments.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Lecture 1: Overall Introduction to Global South Cities	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 02	Lecture 2: Colonial Cartographies	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 03	Lecture 3: Post-Colonial Realities	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 04	Lecture 4: Physical Infrastructure	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 05	Lecture 5: Social Infrastructure	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 06	Case Study Presentations for AT1 + Case Study Report Submission	Presentation (3 hr)
Week 07	Guest Lecture 1	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 08	Lecture 6: Informality (Theory and Housing)	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 09	Lecture 7: Informality (Economies)	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 10	Guest Lecture 2	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 11	Lecture 8: Climate Change (The Science and the Politics)	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 12	Lecture 9: Climate Change (Regional Variations)	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 13	Final Presentations for AT2 + Final Report Submission	Presentation (3 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Please refer to the Resolutions of the University School: http://sydney.edu.au/handbooks/architecture/rules/faculty_resolutions.shtml

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library’s reading list system Leganto, available on Canvas.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. Demonstrate an understanding of the complexity of urbanism globally with reference to the North/South divide and its colonial roots and post-colonial realities.
LO2. Demonstrate an understanding of the complexities of urbanism specific to the Global South, including but not limited to the enormous rate of urban transformation and density, massive infrastructure gaps, ubiquitous informality, confronting inequalities and others.
LO3. Demonstrate independent and critical thinking to unpack the upcoming urban challenges specific to the Global South, including but not limited to devastating climate change; (climate and terrorism-related), refugee crises, and others.
LO4. Demonstrate capacity with critical thinking to unpack the historical, socio-economic, and geopolitical setting behind the complexity of urban challenges and opportunities in unfamiliar geographies.
LO5. Demonstrate an ability to transfer learnings from the Global South to the local context and unpack some of the growing concerns about widening inequities, infrastructure lags and others.
LO6. Demonstrate an ability to – individually and collaboratively – develop critical professional documents and effectively communicate the complexities of urbanism at an international level.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

This Unit is being offered for the fourth time. Some changes have been made in the order of weekly activities and assessment requirements are modified. All these changes are done after considering the USS feedback.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Early feedback task

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

DAAE2012: Urbanism and the Global South

Semester 2, 2025 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Early feedback task

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links