Outline

Overview

Designed to support the global professional, this unit of study provides students with the skills to analyse, interpret and compare international accounting rules and practices, paying particular attention to the development and application of International Financial Reporting Standards. While many of the topics in an international accounting unit of study have a domestic counterpart, this unit explores the complexity of the international arena, arising from, for example diversity of laws, practices, customs, cultures, and competitive circumstances, as well as the risks associated with fluctuating exchange rates, differential rates of inflation, and unstable property rights. Alongside these issues, students will explore new international reporting challenges, including the role of audit across jurisdictional boundaries, comparative approaches to organisational accountability, international sustainability accounting practices, accounting for carbon production and abatement, and other extended responsibilities that have international implications. International accounting considers these issues from a range of perspectives ‒ the company, the government, the community ‒ supporting students in developing multi-stakeholder perspectives on international accounting. In drawing on contemporary research into corporate reporting and disclosure across national boundaries, the unit of study develops strategic and analytical skills.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Accounting
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	ACCT5001
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	Accounting standards and their application
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Jane Andrew, jane.andrew@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Jane Andrew, jane.andrew@sydney.edu.au
	Christopher Nobes, christopher.nobes@sydney.edu.au
	Tai-Joo Koh, tai-joo.koh@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Supervised exam ?	Final exam Written exam	50%	Formal exam period	2 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Assignment Report	15%	Multiple weeks	1200 words
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Oral presentation Oral presentation	15%	Multiple weeks	30 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Supervised test ?	In-semester exam In-semester exam	20%	Week 07 Due date: 04 Apr 2023 at 13:00	50 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ? = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Final exam: The final exam will cover all of the content taught within this unit from weeks 1 to 12. The final exam is listed as a HURDLE TASK, which means you must undertake the assessment and achieve a mark above a minimum standard. Students who fail to achieve this minimum standard in this assessment, even when their aggregate mark for the entire unit is above 50%, will be given a Fail grade for the unit. As a result the student's academic transcript will show a fail grade and the actual mark achieved if between 0-49 and a fail grade and a capped moderated mark of 49 for all other marks. The hurdle mark for this assessment is 45%.
In-semester Test: This test will cover material from weeks 1 to 6.
Assignment: Groups of 4-6 students from the same workshop will work together to prepare a report that answers the assignment questions. Each group will be given a topic from weeks 3 to 12.
Oral presentation: In the same small group formed to undertake the written assignment, the group will be required to make an oral presentation to the workshop class. This presentation will provide responses to the assignment questions.

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 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.

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.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Introduction; international differences	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 02	Introductory meeting, self-study questions	Workshop (1 hr)
Week 02	Causes of international differences	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 03	Group assignments	Workshop (1 hr)
Week 03	Classification and harmonisation	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 04	Group presentation on W3 topic	Workshop (1 hr)
Week 04	Key features of international standards	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 05	Group presentation on W4 topic	Workshop (1 hr)
Week 05	Adoption of IFRS; variations in IFRS practice	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 06	Group presentation on W5 topic	Workshop (1 hr)
Week 06	IFRS and US GAAP	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 07	Group presentation on W6 topic	Workshop (1 hr)
Week 07	China, Japan and Germany	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 08	Group presentation on W7 topic	Workshop (1 hr)
Week 08	Political lobbying in standard setting	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 09	Group presentation on W8 topic	Workshop (1 hr)
Week 09	International development of group accounting	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 10	Group presentation on W9 topic	Workshop (1 hr)
Week 10	International auditing	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 11	Group presentation on W10 topic	Workshop (1 hr)
Week 11	International accountability and enforcement	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 12	Group presentation on W11 topic	Workshop (1 hr)
Week 12	Contemporary Issues in International Reporting	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 13	Group presentation on W12 topic	Workshop (1 hr)
Week 13	Review of Unit	Lecture (2 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Lecture recordings: All lectures are recorded and available on Canvas for student use. Workshops are not recorded; students should ensure they attend and participate in all classes.

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

Nobes, C.W.and R. H.Parker. 2020. Comparative International Accounting. 14th Edition. Pearson Education Australia.

All specified readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library via the Reading List button, 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. demonstrate an integrated understanding of key concepts, techniques, and trends in international accounting, and the challenges and opportunities involved in applying this knowledge in diverse contexts
LO2. question, assess, and respond independently and creatively to assumptions, propositions and debates within the international accounting practice
LO3. apply a range of quantitative and qualitative research skills to identify and diagnose complex and unfamiliar problems, and use the evidence and findings generated to formulate strategically appropriate solutions within the international accounting practice
LO4. demonstrate persuasive communication and negotiation skills
LO5. demonstrate capability as a team leader in work-related contexts and an ability to influence others to work collaboratively to address complex and unfamiliar problems within the international accounting practice
LO6. demonstrate ethical and social responsibility.

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.

We are continuing to develop the presentation guidelines based on feedback from students. Lectures are newly recorded.

Additional information

More information 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

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

ACCT6002: International Accounting

Semester 1, 2023 [Normal day] - Remote

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

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