REMRSAM-Strategic Rural Asset Management

Module Provider: Real Estate and Planning
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring / Summer term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2022/3

Module Convenor: Mrs Angela Cropley
Email: a.cropley@henley.reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

Offering strategic advisory services is a key role for those aspiring to key roles in rural property consultancies. This module will explore both practical and strategic aspects of rural asset management, covering the breadth of property assets and the range of different property owners – private, institutional, public and third sector – with differing strategic objectives. It will introduce students to the diverse challenges rural businesses may face, and the strategies that may be used to tackle them. Students will need to use a range of management concepts and tools to come up with creative and innovative solutions to complex problems. The second part of the module will consider the influence of capital taxation on rural asset management and planning. 

Aims:

The aims of the module are to provide students with the appropriate technical and strategic consultancy skills to advise owners on the strategic management of their assets, and develop the practical day to day policies required to implement those strategies, including risk and investment appraisal. The subject will be considered from the viewpoint of a variety of different stakeholder owners, exploring how particular personal, financial, operational and regulatory influences impact on their estate strategies. 

Assessable learning outcomes:

Upon completion of this module, students should be able to:

• Evaluate the varying strategic influences on the management of rural assets, including the key role of owners’ objectives.


• Apply analytical techniques and problem solving skills to formulate strategic plans for rural estates and other rural businesses and demonstrate how to implement them.


• Explore the impact of the sustainability, natural  capital and ecosystem services debates on the management of rural estates.


• Investigate the capital tax regime and the role of tax planning in asset protection and succession. 

Additional outcomes:

• Enhance communication skills through case studies and presentations in seminar sessions 


• Develop report writing skills through coursework 


• Enhance the ability to research and assimilate technical information 

Outline content:

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  Land ownership and management objectives 

  
  


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  Business structures and land occupation arrangements 

  
  


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  Strategic influences on rural land management 

  
  


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  Analysis of financial performance and risk 

  
  


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  Strategic asset management tools, techniques and procedures 

  
  


• Implementat ion of strategy in a changing business environment 


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  Taxation issues – particularly Inheritance and Capital Gains Tax 

  
  

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Delivery will be through lectures, possibly including visiting speakers from across the sector. Seminars will be used to provide a focus for applying knowledge and skills gained in the module to real-life examples. 

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	20	20	2
Tutorials	5	5
Guided independent study:
Wider reading (independent)	74	74
Total hours by term	99	99	2
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Report	100

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Coursework (report) 100%

In two parts:

1. Presentation of ideas (e.g. video recording, mindmap, briefing note, etc.) allowing for formative feedback – submission Wk 2 spring term.

2. Professional report (3500 words) – submission Wk 9 spring term.

Formative assessment methods:

In-class case studies will provide students with the opportunity to apply their learning to real-life scenarios, and to receive informal feedback as to their understanding of core principles and concepts. 

Penalties for late submission:

The below information applies to students on taught programmes except those on Postgraduate Flexible programmes. Penalties for late submission, and the associated procedures, which apply to Postgraduate Flexible programmes are specified in the policy £Penalties for late submission for Postgraduate Flexible programmes£, which can be found here: http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/files/qualitysupport/penaltiesforlatesubmissionPGflexible.pdf
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: http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/FILES/qualitysupport/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:

The pass mark for this module is 50%

Reassessment arrangements:

Reassessment will be by the same method as for the module’s original assessment requirements, subject to variations by the examination board where appropriate.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

Last updated: 29 March 2022