Bachelor of Arts in International Relations (IR)

Develop African Kalanga through foundations for government and political sciences. Practise with authentic tasks, feedback and reflection across the programme year.

Practical task

Record a short introduction and explain its meaning to a peer.

Assessment

Submit the practical work, a brief reflection and evidence of language review. Assessment checks meaning, audience fit and improvement after feedback.

Identify a real need, study the people affected and develop a responsible idea for a product, service or process. Apply this learning to Bachelor of Arts in International Relations (IR) through an authentic brief and feedback from an appropriate audience.

Practical task

Investigate a need related to Bachelor of Arts in International Relations (IR). Interview or observe intended users with consent, compare possible responses and present one justified concept.

Assessment

Submit an opportunity brief, research notes, a concept sketch and a reflection on feedback. Assessment considers the quality of the evidence, the response to feedback, feasibility and your individual explanation.

Study African history through oral, written and archaeological evidence. Examine the diversity of African societies, knowledge and exchange, then trace the emergence of Pan African ideas about identity, solidarity and self-determination.

Practical task

Create an annotated timeline or digital learning poster on a selected African society or historical development. Compare at least two credible sources and explain one connection with your field of study.

Assessment

Submit the timeline or poster, an annotated source list and a short explanation of the evidence. Assessment considers chronology, historical accuracy, source judgement and the clarity of your interpretation.

Learning resources

• UNESCO: General History of Africa

Develop the reading, writing and evidence skills needed for study. You will examine reading strategies, argument structure, academic paragraphs. Write an evidence-based essay and document your revision decisions.

Practical task

Write an evidence-based essay and document your revision decisions.

Assessment

Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.

Use everyday digital tools to organise business information accurately. You will build reliable spreadsheets, manage documents and share work responsibly. Activities address uneven connectivity, accessible communication and the protection of personal information in small organisations and public offices.

Practical task

Create a shared office information pack with formulas, document versions and access instructions.

Assessment

Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.

Prepare purposeful communication for colleagues, customers and decision makers. You will organise evidence, adjust tone for different audiences and check whether a message leads to the intended action. Examples include multilingual workplaces, professional correspondence and short management reports.

Practical task

Produce a report, meeting record and five-minute briefing about a service problem.

Assessment

Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.

Examine how public institutions organise accountable services. You will examine public purpose, administrative systems, institutions. Map responsibilities and service flow in a public-service case.

Practical task

Map responsibilities and service flow in a public-service case.

Assessment

Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.

Compare political institutions, ideas and participation. You will examine political authority, ideologies, political institutions. Analyse a public decision through contrasting political perspectives.

Practical task

Analyse a public decision through contrasting political perspectives.

Assessment

Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.

Study how households and firms make choices under scarcity. You will examine prices, incentives and market structures, then use diagrams and calculations to explain changes in behaviour. Examples include food markets, informal enterprises and access to essential services.

Practical task

Explain a local price change using data, diagrams and alternative explanations.

Assessment

Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.

Examine output, employment, inflation and external trade at economy level. You will connect household and business conditions to fiscal, monetary and exchange-rate decisions. Work with published indicators while distinguishing nominal values, real changes and differences between national contexts.

Practical task

Prepare an economic conditions briefing comparing two Southern African economies.

Assessment

Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.

Evaluate conduct through public duties and transparent reasoning. You will examine public interest, conflicts of interest, transparency. Analyse an ethical public-service case and document a response.

Practical task

Analyse an ethical public-service case and document a response.

Assessment

Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.

Summarise data and judge the strength of numerical evidence. You will distinguish a population from a sample, choose appropriate summaries and interpret uncertainty. Business examples cover demand, customer service, workforce information and variation in operating performance.

Practical task

Analyse an anonymised service dataset and write a short evidence report.

Assessment

Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.

Plan an enquiry suited to a specific social or organisational question. You will compare qualitative and quantitative approaches, prepare ethical data collection and assess evidence quality. The module connects research questions to sampling, analysis and clear reporting of uncertainty and limitations.

Practical task

Submit a research proposal, instruments and a worked analysis of a pilot dataset.

Assessment

Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.

Develop African Kalanga through applied communication for government and political sciences. Practise with authentic tasks, feedback and reflection across the programme year.

Practical task

Prepare and test a bilingual message for a realistic community or workplace situation.

Assessment

Submit the practical work, a brief reflection and evidence of language review. Assessment checks meaning, audience fit and improvement after feedback.

Turn a promising idea into a testable proposal using evidence, creative methods and basic resource planning. Apply this learning to Bachelor of Arts in International Relations (IR) through an authentic brief and feedback from an appropriate audience.

Practical task

Develop a small prototype or service model for a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations (IR) problem. Test it with relevant users, record feedback and revise the proposal.

Assessment

Submit a prototype, a feasibility note, user feedback and a record of revisions. Assessment considers the quality of the evidence, the response to feedback, feasibility and your individual explanation.

Examine colonial change, resistance and liberation across Africa, with attention to Zimbabwe and South Africa. Compare Pan African movements, organisations and debates, including contributions from women, workers and diaspora communities.

Practical task

Develop a comparative case study of a liberation issue or Pan African debate relevant to Southern Africa. Use a historical document alongside a scholarly account and explain differences in purpose and interpretation.

Assessment

Submit the case study, a source comparison and a reflection on your conclusions. Assessment considers context, evidence, recognition of different perspectives and the quality of your argument.

Learning resources

• UNESCO: General History of Africa
• African Union: OAU Charter

Analyse relations among states and international actors. You will examine international systems, foreign policy, diplomatic institutions. Prepare a diplomatic briefing and classroom negotiation.

Practical task

Prepare a diplomatic briefing and classroom negotiation.

Assessment

Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.

Examine African institutions through historical and contemporary evidence. You will examine state formation, colonial legacies, constitutional change. Prepare a comparative African governance study.

Practical task

Prepare a comparative African governance study.

Assessment

Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.

Examine the interaction of geography, power and economic relations. You will examine territory, resources, trade networks. Compare explanations of a regional policy issue.

Practical task

Compare explanations of a regional policy issue.

Assessment

Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.

Evaluate regional cooperation through institutional evidence. You will examine regionalism, sadc institutions, trade integration. Prepare a regional cooperation brief.

Practical task

Prepare a regional cooperation brief.

Assessment

Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.

Examine law between states and international actors. You will examine sources, statehood, jurisdiction. Prepare a legal briefing on a supplied international dispute.

Practical task

Prepare a legal briefing on a supplied international dispute.

Assessment

Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.

Analyse conflict and negotiated civilian responses. You will examine conflict analysis, structural causes, peace processes. Prepare a civilian peacebuilding proposal.

Practical task

Prepare a civilian peacebuilding proposal.

Assessment

Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.

Explain why economies trade and how trade policy affects producers and consumers. You will compare trade theories, analyse barriers and examine regional integration. Cases address commodity dependence, industrial development and the practical differences between an agreement's stated aims and observed trade outcomes.

Practical task

Prepare a trade policy analysis for a selected Southern African sector.

Assessment

Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.

Compare explanations of poverty, growth and structural change. You will examine how institutions, markets and public decisions affect livelihoods, then analyse development interventions using evidence. Southern African cases connect household experience with employment, productive capacity and unequal access to resources and services.

Practical task

Prepare a development policy appraisal using a clearly defined community or sector case.

Assessment

Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.

Analyse coordination in public organisations. You will examine structures, delegation, coordination. Evaluate an organisation and propose a specific administrative improvement.

Practical task

Evaluate an organisation and propose a specific administrative improvement.

Assessment

Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.

Analyse policy problems through evidence and alternatives. You will examine problem framing, policy actors, options. Prepare a policy brief comparing practical alternatives.

Practical task

Prepare a policy brief comparing practical alternatives.

Assessment

Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.

Develop African Kalanga through specialist communication for government and political sciences. Practise with authentic tasks, feedback and reflection across the programme year.

Practical task

Interview a speaker about a field-specific issue and produce a checked bilingual summary.

Assessment

Submit the practical work, a brief reflection and evidence of language review. Assessment checks meaning, audience fit and improvement after feedback.

Plan and evaluate the practical introduction of an innovation in a relevant organisation or community. Apply this learning to Bachelor of Arts in International Relations (IR) through an authentic brief and feedback from an appropriate audience.

Practical task

Prepare and defend a pilot plan for an innovation relevant to Bachelor of Arts in International Relations (IR). Set measures of success, identify risks and explain how results will guide improvement.

Assessment

Submit a pilot plan, budget assumptions, evaluation measures and an individual rationale. Assessment considers the quality of the evidence, the response to feedback, feasibility and your individual explanation.

Evaluate the legacy of Pan Africanism in continental and regional cooperation, culture and public life. Apply historical inquiry to a heritage, community or professional issue, recognising both achievements and contested interpretations.

Practical task

Prepare a sourced heritage or civic-learning project connected with your field or a Southern African community. Explain its historical basis, audience, permission needs and limits. Obtain consent if you conduct interviews.

Assessment

Submit a project brief, an annotated source portfolio, a public-facing learning resource and an evaluation of your interpretation. Assessment considers evidence, ethical practice, historical reasoning and usefulness to the intended audience.

Learning resources

• African Union: About the African Union
• African Union: Agenda 2063
• UNESCO: General History of Africa

Examine international rights systems and domestic interaction. You will examine rights instruments, regional systems, state duties. Prepare a comparative human-rights briefing.

Practical task

Prepare a comparative human-rights briefing.

Assessment

Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.

Examine financial transactions between economies and the forces affecting exchange rates. You will connect the balance of payments, capital flows and policy choices with business and public-sector exposure. Activities distinguish market relationships from policy assumptions and consider vulnerability to external shocks.

Practical task

Write an external-sector risk briefing with a currency scenario analysis.

Assessment

Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.

Plan public communication around participation and evidence. You will examine public audiences, campaigns, development communication. Produce a civic communication plan.

Practical task

Produce a civic communication plan.

Assessment

Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.

Design accessible participation with accountable follow-up. You will examine stakeholders, consultation methods, accessible communication. Prepare a consultation plan and response-to-submissions report.

Practical task

Prepare a consultation plan and response-to-submissions report.

Assessment

Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.

Build evidence systems for programme decisions. You will examine theory of change, indicators, baselines. Prepare a monitoring plan and evaluation questions.

Practical task

Prepare a monitoring plan and evaluation questions.

Assessment

Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.

Assess the evidence supporting claims about programme change. You will examine causal questions, comparison strategies, mixed methods. Design an evaluation and explain its causal limitations.

Practical task

Design an evaluation and explain its causal limitations.

Assessment

Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.

Explore how firms operate across national boundaries. You will analyse differences in institutions, markets and culture, then examine the effects of trade arrangements and international competition. Regional cases address the practical choices facing firms entering neighbouring markets with limited information and resources.

Practical task

Prepare a country and market screening report for a Southern African enterprise.

Assessment

Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.

Organise a defined piece of work with a clear objective, scope and responsibilities. You will distinguish projects from continuing operations and prepare basic plans for time, resources and communication. The module develops practical records for monitoring progress and recording agreed changes.

Practical task

Prepare a project charter, work breakdown and progress report for a small initiative.

Assessment

Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.

Connect taught subjects with supervised or carefully designed simulated professional work. You will agree learning objectives, record tasks and evaluate your decisions against evidence. The portfolio makes your individual contribution visible and identifies areas requiring further practice or specialist supervision.

Practical task

Compile a verified or simulated workplace portfolio with supervisor or facilitator feedback.

Assessment

Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.

Investigate a defined business problem by combining knowledge from several management subjects. You will frame a useful question, gather appropriate evidence and compare feasible responses. The final report explains the recommendation, implementation implications and limitations of the enquiry rather than claiming certainty.

Practical task

Complete an individual business investigation and present the resulting improvement proposal.

Assessment

Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.