ROUNDTABLE 6: UP Center for International Studies’ roundtable on Pedagogy, Curriculum, and Syllabus development of International and Global Studies

Moderator: Prof. Frances Cruz (University of the Philippines, Diliman)

Participants:
6.1 Prof. Dr. Cynthia Zayas (University of the Philippines, Diliman)
6.2 Prof. Raymond Macapagal (University of the Philippines, Diliman)
6.3 Prof. Sarah Raymundo (University of the Philippines, Diliman)
6.4 Prof. Dr. Amparo Adelina Umali III (University of the Philippines, Diliman)

Discussants:
6.5 Prof. Wystan de la Peña (University of the Philippines, Diliman)
6.6 Dr. Viveca V. Hernandez (University of the Philippines, Diliman)
6.7 Dr. Rosario S. Del Rosario (University of the Philippines, Diliman)

Abstract: With its focus on issues of security and state-to-state relations, International Relations has maintained an explicit connection to political science that has continued to be incorporated in the framework of not only contemporary IR programs but also in the scope and content of the more broadly termed ‘International Studies’, which despite a historically closer relationship to cultural and area studies, is often used interchangeably with IR. Yet the increasing importance of non-state and transnational agents, as well as the impetus to explore different epistemologies and ontologies of the ‘world’ from groups previously marginalized from mainstream IR theories have influenced new agendas, such as Global IR, to critically evaluate and become inclusive of knowledge from area studies and other fields of scholarly inquiry such as the humanities, sociology, anthropology and geography. While this does not resolve the differences between IR and IS, it draws attention to the potentials of an inclusive and expansive scope for the curriculum and content of IR and IS programs in tertiary institutions, particularly in the Global South. In light of the above developments, this roundtable focuses on the experience of the Center for International Studies of UP Diliman in the pedagogy, curriculum and syllabus development of International and Global Studies, including methods and various challenges in the teaching of contemporary global issues from interdisciplinary perspectives.