150142 VU Current Developments in East Asia (2026S)

Workload and Assessment
Language requirements: Knowledge of any East Asian language is not required. Students are nevertheless welcome to apply such skills, for example by selecting a news source in an original language.
Weekly notes: Each student will be assigned one newspaper or another news source. In preparation for each unit, students are expected to read relevant articles from their assigned source and prepare a short, informal presentation of their content, identifying at least two major themes and demonstrating familiarity with their background. Written notes for each session must be uploaded to Moodle no later than 24 hours before class.
Final report: At the end of the semester, each student must submit a report summarizing the results of their media analysis over the course of the semester. Further details will be provided on Moodle.
Participation and attendance: Active participation in class discussions is an integral part of this course and is mandatory. Attendance will be graded according to the following rules:
– up to three absences: grade “1”
– up to four absences: grade “2”
– up to five absences: grade “3”
– and so forth.
Submission rules: Late submissions will not be accepted. Failure to submit an assignment by the deadline will result in a grade of “5” for that assignment. No substitute assignments will be offered.
Grading: The final grade will be calculated as follows:
– Attendance: 10%
– Weekly notes: 60%
– Final report: 30%

Guidelines on the Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

• In this course, the use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, u:ai, DeepL) is explicitly permitted as a supportive tool. This includes using AI for inspiration, structuring ideas, acting as a "sparring partner" for feedback, proofreading, and translation.
• The use of AI for ghostwriting is strictly prohibited. This means you may not adopt AI-generated text passages as your own. The intellectual core and the final drafting of the text must be your original work; the AI must not produce the paper for you.
• Transparency Requirement: Any form of AI support must be disclosed in an appendix (or a dedicated section) of your submission. Please briefly state which tool was used and for what purpose (e.g., "DeepL used for translating technical terms from source XY" or "ChatGPT used for brainstorming the initial outline"). The undisclosed or deceptive use of AI for text generation is considered academic misconduct and will be treated accordingly. You remain solely responsible for the factual accuracy and scientific quality of all submitted content.
• Plausibility check: In accordance with the statutes of the University of Vienna (§ 13g) the course instructor reserves the right to ask “oral questions to check the plausibility of wheth-er the student has prepared the written partial achievement independently and without the use of unauthorized aids and whether the student knows the academic sources and methods used and has included them in the written partial achievement.”