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Overview

Course Overview

The rapid rise in the global production of goods and services through Global Value Chains (GVCs) poses novel challenges for transnational commercial litigation. Comprising the entire range of activities, from start to finish, to deliver a product or a service to market, a GVC may cross multiple borders in its quest to produce a commodity in the most cost-effective way. Several steps in the process (eg, research and development of the concept, sourcing of raw materials, manufacturing, marketing, etc) may take place in different countries, depending on the most favourable locations for production costs (eg, wages), compliance costs (eg, labour regulations, safety measures, etc) and any other costs involved in the process, as well as the location of raw materials. As a result, a GVC may stretch across multiple different jurisdictions across the globe under the lead of a big multinational corporation (MNC).

The course will focus on jurisdiction (which country’s court will have jurisdiction) and applicable law (which country’s law will apply) in the event of a dispute, with reference to real case scenarios drawn from the fast fashion industry, extractive industries (oil and rare earth elements), construction of AI data centres, and environmentally degrading activities. The course will interrogate several factors impacting access to justice when victims suffer harm as a result of the activities of MNCs and their subsidiaries, such as the prohibitive costs of litigation, the inequality of litigating parties, and the lack of effective regulation at national and global level. Students will be encouraged to explore innovative solutions to some of the most vexing issues of our time.

Main Programme

Workload Expectations

This is an intensive 30-point course taught over five working days. There will be around 40 hours of lectures/seminars in this course. As a general guide you should expect a workload of four hours outside of the classroom for each hour spent in class. The guideline for the total workload for this course is 300 hours. 

Advice on Course Limits

This is a limited entry course: there is a limit on the number of enrolments due to staff or space capacity. In cases where the courses is taught under two separate codes (e.g. concurrently taught courses, general education courses) the course limit specified is the total across both versions of the course. For more information, please see the Limitation of Entry Statute 1991 in the University Calendar and the related Programme and Course Limitations and selection criteria.

Locations and Semesters Offered

In-person attendance is key to enjoying, learning and acquiring a deep understanding of this subject area. Participation in class discussions is crucial to generate and share different perspectives – considering the multi-faceted and global nature of the course, student views and ideas are critical contributory factors to the understanding and overall successful completion of the course, as well as the future development of this area of the law.

Scheduled

YearTermCampusStart Date
2027Semester OneCity01 March 2027

Other Attributes

Level 9 (Masters Degree)

Teaching and Learning

Campus Experience

In-person attendance is key to enjoying, learning and acquiring a deep understanding of this subject area. Participation in class discussions is crucial to generate and share different perspectives – considering the multi-faceted and global nature of the course, student views and ideas are critical contributory factors to the understanding and overall successful completion of the course, as well as the future development of this area of the law.

Learning Resources

Taught courses use a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas to provide students with learning materials including reading lists and lecture recordings (where available). Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license. You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third-party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Similarly, research students must meet the University’s expectations of good research practice. This requires:

  • Honesty - in all aspects of research work
  • Accountability - in the conduct of research
  • Professional courtesy and fairness – in working with others
  • Good stewardship – on behalf of others
  • Transparency – of research process and presentation of results
  • Clarity - communication to be understandable, explainable and accessible

For more information on the University’s expectations of academic integrity, please see the Academic Conduct section of the University policy hub.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about taught courses is made available to enrolled students in Canvas.

Students may be asked to submit assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.


Assessment and Learning Outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes

CLO #OutcomeProgramme Capability Link
1
2
3
4

Assessments

Two-Lane Approach to assessments: The University has introduced a two-lane approach to clarify the conditions under which students may use AI in assessment tasks.

Lane 1: Graded assessment undertaken in controlled conditions. By default, AI is restricted. In specified circumstances, students may be permitted to use certain AI tools.

Lane 2: Graded or ungraded assessment undertaken in uncontrolled conditions. Students may use AI to assist them, and this use is not restricted.

Assessments

Assessment ClassificationSub ClassificationLane%Notes

Additional Information on Assessment

Class participation will include seminar discussions and presenting their (tentative) research question and main thesis to the group.

Assessment to CLO Mapping

Assessment Type1234

Student Feedback, Support and Charter

Student Feedback

Feedback on taught courses is gathered from students at the end of each semester through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions. Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students. In addition, class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Additional Information on Student Feedback

Student feedback has been incorporated.

Class representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Tuākana

Tuākana is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacific students providing topic specific tutorials, one-on-one sessions, test and exam preparation and more. Explore your options at Tuakana Learning Communities.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor. Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website.

Wellbeing

We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - please see the Support Services page for information on support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed work is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due. If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page. This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter.

Student Academic Complaints and Disputes

Students with concerns about teaching including how a course is delivered, the resources provided, or supervision arrangements, have the right to express their concerns and seek resolution. The university encourages informal resolution where possible, as this is quicker and less stressful. For information on the informal and formal complaints processes, please refer to the Student Academic Complaints Statute in the Student Policies and Guidelines section of the Policy Hub.