Republic of the Philippines

POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

Vice President for Satellite Branches and Campuses
TAGUIG CAMPUS

Course Title: Contemporary World Issues

Course Code: GEED 10043
Credit Hours: 3
Pre-requisite: N/A

Course Description

This course explores interconnected global issues of public education, climate change, and corporate
social responsibilities. Students, therefore, are expected to know how to craft and write effective
arguments about these issues using the tools of modern rhetoric. Students will critically think about
these issues, quantitatively explore data, and communicate results through written products. This
course will engage students in reading, writing, critical thinking, communication, and collaboration as
they address contemporary discoveries, practices, and related issues from around the world.

Instructor Information

Name: Nestor Josef Mercado

Email: josef.nestorm@gmail.com or use the message system in the classroom
Facebook: facebook.com/nestor.j.mercado
Consultation: (M-F) 8:00-10:00 P.M.

My Bachelor’s degree is from the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City.
After working in the corporate world, I thought I grew tired of everything, and so I tried to
see what the academe thought about me. When I got into teaching at PUPT in the early
2000s, it was as if I stumbled onto a treasure. That is why I decided to stay on the of track
of this career. Yet, life did not turn out the way I always planned and perceived it. I had to
leave PUPT in 2006 for abroad. In 2012, I went back to Marikina City where I was born
and raised, but it was also because I was already writing my thesis for my Master’s degree
from the American Public University in West Virginia. When I realized that I was going to
spend more time than six months writing “The Perception of Filipino Students Towards
English Language Learning” as my capstone, I thought I might as well send myself back to
teaching. The closest university to where I stayed during that time was AMA University,
and so I taught there for a little while. I completed my Master’s degree in 2015. I went
back to the U.S. because I had to pick up my mother who was already ill of dementia for
quite some time. In 2016, De La Salle University in Manila hired me but it was also short
lived as my mom’s situation got worse. She died in February of this year; and, apprently, I
am still in much pain. Still, our dear University Director gave me a chance to go back to
teaching sooner than I planned. At present, I am struggling with my Doctor of Education
degree in Teaching from Northcentral University in California. I hope that I will be able to
complete my disseration by next year.

Course Objectives

1. To foster reflective global citizens and instill a sense of social responsibility and
community awareness in students.
2. To develop the student’s understanding of key contemporary international issues.
3. To stimulate critical thinking about ways to improve our collective global condition.

Learning Outcomes

After succesful completion fo the course, the student will be able to

1. Understand the conditions of globalization and global governance through current world
events.
2. Engage with recurring contemporary global themes such as climate change and
develiopment.
3. Crtically analyze the complex interconnectedness of the carious global issues discussed
in the classroom.
4. Apply the insights gained from the course on selected current events to daily lives.

Suggested Literatures

 Payne, R. (2007). Global Issues: Politics, Economics, Culture (5th ed.). Boston, MA:
Pearson Press
 The Internet
 Teaching Methods
The teaching methods will include lectures, video clips, and online discussions. Most online
meetings will begin with a short lecture introducing the topic that will then contain a topical
relevant video clips, and will end with analysis and class discussion of the video clips and other
concepts and ideas related to the clips.

Teching Method Delivery

WEEK 1
Course Introduction
● PUP Vision and Mission, Philosophy, Strategic Objectives (10 Pillars) and Shared Values
● Course Content, Requirements and Expectation

WEEK 2
 Completing Concepts of Globalization
 The World-Systems Approach – Karl Marx’s Social Theory, The Global Culture Model,
The Global Society Approach (Assignment Quiz)
IMs: Handout (p. 10), and the internet
WEEK 3
 Global Terrorism. The effects of 9/11 in Philippine tourism, politics, and economics
(Forum, Assignment, and Assignment Quiz)

IMs: Old newspapers, The Internet

WEEK 4
 Global culture, institutions and civil society. How do perceive global society? Is it a new
concept? Can our local society adopt this form of culture? (Forum, Assignment, and
Quiz Assignment).
Ims: Handout (p. 26). The internet
wWEEK 5
 Cancel Culture v. Awoke. Provide the difference between the two. Which one suggests
a better definition of activism? (300 to 500-word response essay to be posted on
Facebook’s individual account.
WEEK 6
 The Global Rise of Conspiracy Theory Thinking. Dynasty in the Philippines vis-a-vis
White Supremacy in the U.S., and the 2022 Philippine election compared versus the
2020 U.S. election. What happened there? (Quiz Assignment, Assignment)
Ims: The internet, online newspapers
WEEK 7
 Global Health Challenges. The COVID-19 Pandemic. Describe how it started, and how it
reached the Philippines. How has it affected our academe so far? (Quiz Assignment,
Assignment)
IMs: The Internet.
WEEK 8
 The Global Capitalism Approach. Define Mercantile capitalism. What are the
characteristics of Global Capitalism? (Assignment: Define the global Society Approach in
your own words)
IMs: Handout (p. 36), The Internet
WEEK 9
 MID-TERM EXAM
WEEK 10
 Global Inequality and Poverty. A closer look at Venezuela and the Philippines; human
trafficking and drug trafficking. (Forum, Quiz Assignment, Assignment)
WEEK 11
 Global Economy. What leads economic globalization? Who are the main actors of this
concept? (Quiz Assignment, Assignment)
IMs: Handout (p. 41), The Internet
WEEK 12
 The Negative Effects of Globalization. What are the negative effects of globalization
particularly on Philippine politics and on our economy. (300 to 500-word essay to be
posted on Facebook personal accounts).
IMs: Handout (p. 73). The Internet
WEEK 13
 Contemporary and Global Governance. What are the roles and functions of the United
Nations? History and Principles of the United nations.
IMs: Handout (p. 85). The Internet
WEEK 14
 The Developed and the Developing Countries (The North and South). Trace the origins
of the Third World Concept (North), and the emergence of the term, “South” countries.
(Forum, Assignment)
IMs: Handout (p. 99). The Internet
WEEK 15
 FINAL EXAMS

Due to the limitations and weaknesses of online studying, the topics, and their deliveries
are all subject to changes. I will inform you beforehand whether we are pursuing a
scheduled topic or not.

Do not to forget to have fun, class.