Outline

Overview

This unit of study examines the role of the board of directors in ensuring the success and sustainability of a corporation. It draws on case studies of international corporate scandals and corporate collapses to explore how authority and decision making within corporations is directed and controlled. Specific issues examined in this unit of study include the role and functions of a board and its sub-committees, executive performance management, corporate reporting and accountability mechanisms, and the audit process. Students develop a thorough understanding of how boards of directors, shareholders and other stakeholder groups interact and shape corporate practice and disclosure.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Accounting
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	BUSS1030
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	Students are expected to have an understanding of the underlying principles and rules of accounting and be able to apply them in the context of business scenarios.
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Wes Hamilton-Jessop, wes.hamilton-jessop@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 2 September 2024

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Small continuous assessment	Workshop Engagement and Participation Workshop preparation and engagement	30%	Ongoing	1800 word equivalent
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Group assignment and presentation Report, critical analysis, and oral presentation	35%	Week 10 Due date: 11 Oct 2024 at 23:59 Closing date: 18 Oct 2024	2000 words; 10 minute presentation
Outcomes assessed:
Short release assignment	Individual assignment (short release) Report	35%	Week 13 Due date: 01 Nov 2024 at 23:59 Closing date: 08 Nov 2024	2000 words
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Workshop preparation: Each week during the semester (weeks 1-13) you will be required to complete content modules and a quiz via Canvas and submit an article analysis prior to the commencement of the workshop. The article analysis is to be completed in your own words, without quoting from any source or the use of extraneous information.
Group assignment: In completing the group assignment students are expected to demonstrate their ability to undertake joint research, critically evaluate information, use analytical skills, and apply knowledge from course materials and other sources. The group assignment consists of three components: a written report, critical analysis of reports from two other groups, and a presentation of your group’s report.
Individual assignment: The individual assignment is designed to provide students with the opportunity to explore corporate governance mechanisms. Students are expected to demonstrate their understanding of corporate governance practices across multiple jurisdictions.
This assessment is listed as MANDATORY which means you must undertake the assessment and achieve at least 45% of the available marks in that assessment. Students who fail to achieve this minimum standard in this assessment, even when their aggregate mark for the entire unit of study is above 50%, will be given a Fail grade for this unit. As a result a student's academic transcript will show a Fail grade and the actual mark achieved if the final mark of the unit is between 0-49 and a Fail grade and a capped moderated mark of 49 for all other final marks.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Distinction	75 - 84	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Credit	65 - 74	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Pass	50 - 64	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Workshop preparation: No submissions will be accepted after the due date and a mark of zero will be awarded. Group assignment and individual assignment. An assignment submitted after the due date will incur a late penalty of 5% of the total available marks per 24 hour period, or part thereof.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Introduction and history: what is corporate governance?	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 02	The insider view of corporate governance	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 03	The outsider view of corporate governance	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 04	Board best practice: operations of the board	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 05	External governance mechanism: audit and the role of the audit committee	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 06	Managing and reporting risk	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 07	Remuneration and accountability	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 08	Reporting corporate performance: financial reporting	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 09	Corporate social responsibility and the interests of stakeholders	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 10	Ethics and corporate governance	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 11	Future directions in corporate governance	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 12	International governance: a case study	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 13	Assignment preparation	Workshop (3 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Students are expected to attend the weekly workshop in their allocated stream.

Prior to the workshop, students are required to complete the online module.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library’s reading list system Leganto, available on Canvas.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. Examine alternate approaches to 'corporate governance' involving the establishment of arrangements affecting the conduct of an organisation, and the organisation's relationship with external stakeholders.
LO2. Review the formal responsibilities of participants in the management of corporations: directors, managers, auditors, and regulatory bodies.
LO3. Explore and evaluate recent literature on arrangements and practices intended to improve the conduct and management of organisations or in establishing safeguards for stakeholders.
LO4. Examine instances of breakdowns in governance arrangements, e.g. in the wake of company failures, or in the aftermath of official investigations.
LO5. Evaluate the view of a corporation under corporations law in contrast to contemporary corporate practice, e.g. separate legal entity compared to corporate groups.
LO6. Explore what types of arrangements (and views about the role of stakeholders) may be appropriate for different types of organisations.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

A significant number of changes have been made to the unit based on student feedback from prior assessments Assessment tasks have been amended to provide students with additional in-semester feedback and allow opportunities for students to demonstrate their understanding of the course material through authentic assessments. The workshop material has been further redeveloped to provide students with self-paced online modules to enhance engagement with the course material prior to the workshop.

Additional information

In addition to developing substantive knowledge of corporate governance approaches, the unit of study fosters students’ capacities to:

Collect, organise, appreciate and critically evaluate research and practice based knowledge about corporate governance.
Critically reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of different theoretical approaches that are used to study corporate governance.
Learn independently and assume responsibility for the corporate governance learning process.
Tolerate ambiguity and appreciate the insights of a variety of corporate governance perspectives.
Think critically about existing corporate governance practices and their implications for individuals, organisations and society.
Manage deadlines.
Develop the motivation for life-long learning in the corporate environment.
Recognise and integrate the ethical and social responsibility implications of corporate governance within the wider corporate landscape.

Further information on this unit can be found on Canvas.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

ACCT3031: International Corporate Governance

Semester 2, 2024 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect