International Cooperation – Maharjan Seminar

International Cooperation (AY2021 2^nd term)

Instructors: Professor Keshav Lall MAHARJAN

Associate Professor Niraj Prakash JOSHI

Introduction

This course covers multi-disciplinary topic aiming to introduce student with concept of international cooperation, the institutional architecture, pertinent issues and the practice of international cooperation to deal with those issues. The course starts with a discussion on the understanding of a concept of international cooperation. Nature and type of international cooperation will be covered in the second step. Cases of each types of international cooperation will be discussed in detail with a case study approach. In the third step pertinent international issues will be introduced along with the international cooperation initiative to deal with each issues. Issues covered will be poverty and equality, food security and nutrition, environment (Climate change) and economic liberalization. Finally, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (Sustainable Development Goals – SDGs) will be introduced and discussed.

This course represent an opportunity get introduced and critically assess the prominent global issues in (or for) international cooperation through various approaches.

Aim of the course and teaching approach

This course aims to introduce students with a concept of international cooperation, pertinent international issues, and nature and approach of international cooperation. Students are expected to be able to critically assess the nature and approach of international cooperation.

This course emphasizes student participation. Students have to work on each subject matters introduced by instructors either individually or in a group and make presentations.

Evaluation

Participation (in class discussion, preparations and presentations) (35%)
Readings (10%)

Readings are read to be before class or during a preparation for presentations. List of readings will be provided. Students are also encouraged to search and find the relevant reading on their own.

Presentations (35%)

Presentations will be evaluation on the basis of a

level of preparedness (subject matter covered adequately, time management, and handling of Q&A);
simplicity of the content (easy to follow by your counterparts, build on a logical progression);
attentive delivery (attract attention of your counterpart, eye contact with audiences); and
persuasiveness (convincing to the audience)
Assignments (20%)

Assignment 1. Assignment on a role of the selected international cooperation agency on international cooperation – a country case or

International (non)cooperation initiative in the fight against COVID19

Assignment 2. A summary of this course. (Major learnings and feedback to improve this course)

Lecture plan for International Cooperation Course (AY2021)

Day	Time slot	Activities	Remarks
July 17 (Saturday)	10:30 – 12:00	Brief introduction of the course – Objective – Approach – Contents – Requirements – Evaluation – Course plan
	13:00 – 15:30	Introduction of the concept of international cooperation. Interaction on the questions such as – What it is? – How it emerged and works? – Why it is important in the present era of globalization?	Interaction
	15:45 – 17:15	A short presentation on how a selected country is involved in international cooperation.	Students can select their own country
July 18 (Sunday)	9:00 – 10:30	Nature and types of international cooperation – Bilateral – Multilateral
	10:30 – 12:00	Nature and types of international cooperation – International non-governmental organizations – Charities
	13:00 – 15:30	Major international issues – Poverty and inequality	The issue will be briefly introduced and around 30 minutes will be allocated for a presentation in upcoming class
	15:45 – 17:15	A short presentation on poverty and inequality or food security issue in a selected country including the international cooperation initiative to deal with the issue	Students can select their own country
July 24 (Saturday)	9:00 – 10:30	Major international issues – Food security and nutrition	The issue will be briefly introduced and around 30 minutes will be allocated for a presentation in upcoming class
	10:30 – 12:00	A short presentations on food security and nutrition issue in a selected country including the role of World Food Program or Food and Agriculture Organization	Students can select their own country
	13:00 – 15:30	Major international issues – Environment (Climate change)	The issue will be briefly introduced and around 30 minutes will be allocated for a presentation in upcoming class
	15:45 – 17:15	A short presentations on climate change issue relating it with either agriculture or energy. Also includes the role of international communities specifically, the world bank (Climate finance and initiatives), UNFCCC (Conference of the Parties, REDD+ – Forest Carbon Partnership Facility)	Students can select their own country
July 25 (Sunday)	9:00 – 10:30	Major international issues – Economic liberalization	The issue will be briefly introduced and around 30 minutes will be allocated for a presentation in upcoming class
	10:30 – 12:00	A short presentations on the World Bank or World Trade Organization or International Monetary Fund or any selected regional initiative to facilitate economic liberalization. Briefly discuss strength and weakness of the selected organization or initiative.	Students can select their own country
	13:00 – 15:30	Major international cooperation initiatives The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)	Interaction session. MDGs will by briefly introduced and related with SDGs
	15:45 – 17:15	Student’s presentation on the Assignment on a role of the selected international cooperation agency on international cooperation – a country case Concluding class – sharing of the learning from the course and comments