Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

The field of finance is broad and dynamic. It directly affects the lives of every person and every organisation, financial or non-financial, private or public, large or small, profit-maximising or not-for-profit. In order to make optimal financial decisions, some basic financial skills are necessary. These skills pertain to statistics, financial analysis and -knowledge of financial markets, institutions and instruments. This unit develops these skills not only in a commercial sense, but also from the perspective of individuals functioning in an increasingly complex and demanding financial environment.

The teaching and learning strategies used in this unit have been selected with the specified aim and objectives of this unit in mind. This unit consists of a 2-hour lecture and one 1-hour tutorial per week.

Aims

This unit aims to give students a solid grounding in the world of finance. This will involve gaining knowledge of basis statistical concepts, financial statement analysis, financial markets, institutions and instruments as well as key financial decisions.

Objectives

Course Learning Goals (Postgraduate)

The QUT Business School has established the Assurance of Learning (AoL) Goals to meet contemporary industry needs and standards. Achieving these learning outcomes will assist you to meet the desired graduate outcomes set at QUT - aligned with other internationally renowned business schools. Students will develop the following capabilities relevant to a contemporary global and sustainable business environment:

Have knowledge and skills pertinent to a particular discipline (KS)
1.1 Well-researched knowledge and critical understanding applied to issues at the forefront of a specialised discipline area
1.2 Ability to select and use effectively a range of tools and technologies to locate and/or generate information appropriate to the disciplinary context

Be critical thinkers and effective problem solvers (CTA)
2.1 Apply logical, critical and creative thinking and judgement to generate appropriate solutions to problems in the disciplinary context

Be professional communicators in an intercultural context (PC)
3.1 Ability to create and present professional documents and/or reports using high levels of analysis/synthesis/evaluation for a range of contexts and audiences
3.2 Ability to orally communicate and justify ideas and information, at a professional level, for a variety of contexts and audiences, including peers and discipline specialists

Be able to work effectively in a Team Environment (TW)
4.1 Operate effectively and with flexibility to achieve common goals in collaborative settings, using a range of skills, including leadership, negotiation, reflection, proactivity and support for team members

Have a Social and Ethical Understanding (SEU)
5.1 Apply knowledge of the ethical, social and cultural dimensions relevant to business situations, including appropriate standards or codes of practice, to provide courses of action

Unit Objectives
At the successful completion of the unit, students will have:

1. developed greater analytical skills
2. basic statistical knowledge that can be applied to financial decisions
3. the ability to analyse the financial reports of a business organisation
4. knowledge of both Australian and global financial markets, instruments and players

The specific course learning goals and unit objectives that apply to this unit are shown in the assessment section of this unit outline.

Content

This unit covers three major areas pertaining to the study of finance. The first results in students gaining knowledge of statistical processes that are commonly used in undertaking financial decisions. The second area relates to financial reports and involves constructing, reading, understanding and analysing these reports. The third area involves an introduction to the financial system, financial markets, institutions and the instruments used.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

Each session will consist of approximately two hours of lecture and one hour of tutorials/workshop. The lecture will focus on providing the students with core theoretical and conceptual frameworks that are essential in the analysis of financial issues. The tutorials/workshop, on the other hand, will provide the students the opportunity to solve certain practical as well as theoretical questions which will test their understanding of the theories and concepts discussed during the lecture. The tutorials/workshop will also provide the students the opportunity to analyse situations that illustrate the application of finance theories to the real world.

In accordance with QUT policy, all units are to be subject to Criterion Referenced Assessment (CRA). The unit coordinator will provide students with further details regarding CRA during the course of the semester during class and on the unit's Blackboard site.

Assessment

The assessment in this unit aims to support your achievement of the learning objectives for both Discipline Knowledge and Other Graduate Capabilities.

Assessment has been designed in order to allow you to:

• Receive feedback on your learning as you progress toward the development of knowledge, understanding, skills and attitudes (formative assessment); and


• Demonstrate your learning in order to achieve a final grade (summative assessment).

Students will receive feedback in various forms throughout the semester which may include:

• Informal: worked examples, such as verbal feedback in class, personal consultation


• Formal: in writing, such as checklists (e.g. criteria sheets), written commentary


• Direct: to individual students, either in written form or in consultation


• Indirect: to the whole class

Assessment name: Mid-semester Examination
Description: Closed book, short answer and/or multiple choice test.
Length/Duration: 1 hour + 10 minutes perusal
Formative or Summative: Formative and Summative
Relates to objectives: Unit objectives: 1, 2 and AOL goals: KS (1.1), CTA (2.1)
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 6 (approx)

Assessment name: End of Semester Examination
Description: Closed book, written discussion and practical problem solving questions.
Length/Duration: 2 hours + 10 minutes perusal
Formative or Summative: Summative
Relates to objectives: Unit objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4 and AOL goals: KS (1.1), CTA (2.1), PC (3.1)
Weight: 60%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Central exam period

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

Prescribed Text
There is no prescribed text.

Additional Resources
A list of references can be found at the units Blackboard site: http://blackboard.qut.edu.au

Periodicals
Students are encouraged to consult periodicals/journals such as:

• Euromoney


• Asiamoney and Finance


• The Economist


• IMF International Capital Markets


• IMF Occasional Paper Series


• Bank of International Settlements' Annual Reports


• Business Review Weekly


• Australian Business Monthly


• Far Eastern Economic Review


• Journal of International Business Studies


• Journal of Finance


• Issues in Multinational Finance


• International Money and Finance

Students are also encouraged to consult the web and to read the Australian and international financial press as they regularly cover international finance issues.

Risk assessment statement

There are no out-of-the-ordinary risks associated with lectures or tutorials in this unit. You should, however, familiarise yourself with evacuation procedures operating in the buildings in which you attend classes and take the time to
view the Emergency video.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 07-Feb-2013