AC316-Professional Ethics

Module Provider: Business Informatics, Systems and Accounting
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:6
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Summer term module
Pre-requisites: AC212 Accounting Work Placement 2
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded: AC313 Business and Professional Ethics or AC215 Professional and Business Ethics or MM295 Business Ethics 1 or MM359A Business Ethics 1 or MM359B Business Ethics for International Management
Current from: 2022/3

Module Convenor: Ms Rhianydd Dow
Email: rhianydd.dow@henley.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module is delivered at the University of Reading, University of Reading Malaysia and Beijing Institute of Technology

What does an ethical accountant look like? This module offers an introduction to the moral norms of international accounting, auditing and financial management, the ethical choices to which they give rise and the resources on which such choices can be based. 

Aims:

Business has its own moral norms, which often differ from those in society at large, while both business and social norms evolve over time and vary between cultures. Within business, the area of finance and accounting raises particular issues in this respect as the professional norms of the accounting profession and the overwhelming preoccupation with money and profit introduce a variety of conflicting moral pressures. 

This module aims to equip students with the intellectual foundations for negotiating the moral world that ensues. Throughout the module, applications to real-world situations are used both to develop students' analytical, reflexive and decision-making skills and to introduce them to the range of moral issues and contexts encountered in the practices of accountancy, auditing and financial management. 

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

 

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

	Mastery of the discipline	Skills in research and enquiry	Personal effectiveness and self-awareness;	Global engagement and multi-cultural awareness	Employability
1. Identify the moral elements of complex business and management situations, and analyse these from a variety of perspectives.	8,9	3		2	2
2. Describe and disc uss the main schools of philosophical ethics, and evaluate the strengths and limitations of their arguments		3,4
3. Appreciate contemporary debates in relation to the field of business ethics, and the arguments put forward in those debates	8	3
4. Identify and apply the basic principles of ethical reasoning, based on different cultural and philosophical traditions	9	3		2
5. Construct a reasoned ethical argument for responding in a particular way, including responses to possible criticisms, from both moral and  economic perspectives, and research and present their arguments, supported with appropriate academic literature, in the required format.		3	4		2

Additional outcomes:

This module offers students the opportunity to develop team working, presentational and research and writing skills which will help to prepare them both for their further academic study and for their professional careers. 

Outline content:

• The institution of morality, and variations of moral norms across time, cultures and contexts.  


• Ethics and life choices, distinction between ethics and morals. 


• Schools and traditions of ethical reasoning; their achievements and limitations. 


• Business and moral culture; corporate governance and ethics. 


• The moral norms of international accounting and finance.  


• Applications of ethical reasoning to international accounting and finance. 

Global context:

In evaluating the need for ethical behaviour in business, global, cultural and social contexts will be considered through a variety of internationally relevant case studies. Students will develop the ability to conduct a reasoned debate with people from different cultures and perspectives on complex and emotively laden issues. 

 

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

This module uses a combination of traditional lectures, flipped and blended learning to provide students with face-to-face and on-line activities and support, direct their reading and prepare them for student-led seminars in which they will evaluate and report on case studies highlighting key ethical issues.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	18		6
Guided independent study:
Wider reading (independent)	20		40
Wider reading (directed)	20		40
Advance preparation for classes	22
Revision and preparation			34
Total hours by term	80	0	120
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written exam	70
Oral assessment and presentation	30

Summative assessment- Examinations:

A restricted open book final examination of two hours.

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Coursework will comprise an assessed presentation of 15 minutes maximum length plus questions in week 5 of the Autumn Term, which will offer students the opportunity to present and discuss their academic research into a current ethical topic. 

Formative assessment methods:

Formative feedback will be provided throughout the module, and especially during seminars, through peer discussion and review, and from tutors. 

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

Requirement for a University pass: a minimum mark of 40% for the module as a whole.

Reassessment arrangements:

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

Required text books

£40

Last updated: 22 September 2022