Teaching

My approach to teaching is dialogic and student-centred. I strive to create classroom environments that are secure, energising, and rigorous, encouraging students to exceed their own expectations and engage critically with the issues of our time. 

I have convened modules that span research methods, general political theory, comparative politics, international relations, and China studies and have taught in classrooms across Europe, China, and Australia.

150129 SE - Surveillance, Socialisation & Social Control in China 

Semester: Winter 

Offered: 2023, 2024

Average student rating: 1.3/5 (where 1 = “very good”) across 30+ students

“The teacher is very engaged and uses his materials effectively… it was the best class I’ve ever taken. Thank you!” — University of Vienna evaluation, 2024

“Very competent, knows his stuff and conveys it well… funny Australian teacher, nice to listen to.” — University of Vienna evaluation, 2023

Course Description:

This subject explores key dimensions to the conduct of surveillance in China both prior to and following the establishment of the Peoples Republic in 1949. Although the evaluation of official and citizen conduct have long been features of Chinese governance thinking, it is common for discussions of surveillance in China today to be subsumed under vague notions of technologically facilitated social control and the Party-state’s domination over society. This subject sheds light on how surveillance actually operates and is deployed by the Party-state to enhance control over society while drawing attention to the myriad other faces of surveillance in China that citizens are subject to, participate in, welcome, and resist.

Dimensions of surveillance in China that the subject will explore include the dang’an and hukou systems as well as their predecessors, public security surveillance systems such as Skynet and grid management, citizen participation in state surveillance, surveillance of ethnic minorities, corporate surveillance, peer-to-peer surveillance, surveillance during COVID, and the Social Credit System. Students are introduced to theories and concepts from the field of surveillance studies as well as Sinology to assist them in understanding political and social changes in China today.

Further Details

HAS 234 - Research Methods in the Social Sciences

Semester: Spring

Offered: 2019, 2020, 2021

Course Description:

The subject introduces students to key approaches and methods of social sciences research, with an emphasis on the skills, knowledge and ethical stance required to undertake research in social work, public health and social science settings. The content includes: literature review skills; development of research proposals; ethics considerations, including ethics requirements for research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other vulnerable or marginalised populations; research design; quantitative and qualitative data gathering methods; data analysis and communication of research to expert and non-expert audiences.

POL 150 - Government, Power and Political Systems 

Semester: Autumn

Offered: 2019, 2020, 2021

Course Description:

This is a broad comparative subject that aims to embed fundamental concepts that are essential to the study of politics: citizen, individual, gender, class, race, state, government, civil society, political parties and systems, as well as international organisations and institutions. It draws on Australian, Asia-Pacific, American, and European examples to illuminate specific issues in domestic, comparative and global politics.

INTS200 – Model United Nations 

Semester: Autumn

Offered: 2019, 2020 

Course Description:

Model United Nations (MUN) is an experiential learning subject where  students discuss ideas and brainstorm solutions to global challenges as a model diplomat. The subject comprises four related modules: 1. the formation, role and operation of the UN system and the key challenges and constraints; 2. researching and writing briefing and policy papers on global challenges; 3. international negotiation skills; and 4. the Model simulation which will be on a recent issue in the UN. In this way, the subject focuses on key skills needed for global careers but the topic matter will change each year to reflect the international agenda and student interest.