Students
WACC100 – Accounting in Society
2016 – MUIC Term 5
General Information
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| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Teacher
Fareeza Khan
Contact via Email
Macquarie University International College
Contact Staff Member
Teacher
Shanta Ratnam
Contact via Email
Macquarie University International College
Contact Staff Member
Teacher
Barbara Brienesse
Contact via Email
Macquarie University International College
Contact Staff Member
Onur Ates
Onur Ates
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|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
3
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| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
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| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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| Unit description |
Unit description
This unit is the first step towards an accounting career. It provides an introduction to the
principles and concepts relating to financial accounting. It takes a decision-making focus and encourages students to not only prepare information but to understand how such information assists users in making important business decisions. The unit begins with discussion of the decision-making environment. By the end of the unit students are able to record basic business transactions, complete a worksheet and prepare a statement of financial performance and statement of financial position. Learning materials which emphasise ethical practice and effective professional communication are also used to develop graduate capabilities. The unit practices constructive alignment in assessment.
Graduate capability skills development is embedded in the learning experiences to enhance
students' future employability in the profession.
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Important Academic Dates
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- Identify role of accounting in a social context, including a variety of contemporary accounting issues and their impact on society, and analysis of ethical appreciation and responsible judgment in decision making;
- Relate the business environment to the context of the accounting profession.
- Record transactions including adjusting and closing entries for company operations and prepare and communicate Financial Statements to an elementary technical competence level.
- Apply creative and critical thinking skills to challenging the traditional presentation and assumptions of accounting information for decision-making.
- Communicate and work effectively in teams.
- Use discipline specific terminology to communicate concepts and ideas relevant to this unit.
General Assessment Information
Requirements to Pass
In order to pass this unit a student must obtain a mark of 50 or more for the unit (i.e. obtain a passing grade P/ CR/ D/ HD).
For further details about grading, please refer to Schedule 1 of the Assessment Policy.
Grading
The College will award common result grades as specified in Schedule 1 of the Assessment Policy.
Students will receive criteria and standards for specific assessment tasks, which will be aligned with the grading descriptors given in Schedule 1.
The attainment (or otherwise) of learning outcomes for a unit of study will be reported by grade and mark which will correspond to the Schedule 1 and be as outlined below.
|
Grade |
|
Mark Range |
Outcome |
Description |
|
HD |
High Distinction |
85-100 |
Pass |
Provides consistent evidence of deep and critical understanding in relation to the learning outcomes. There is substantial originality, insight or creativity in identifying, generating and communicating competing arguments, perspectives or problem solving approaches; critical evaluation of problems, their solutions and their implications; creativity in application as appropriate to the program. |
|
D |
Distinction |
75-84 |
Pass |
Provides evidence of integration and evaluation of critical ideas, principles and theories, distinctive insight and ability in applying relevant skills and concepts in relation to learning outcomes. There is demonstration of frequent originality or creativity in defining and analysing issues or problems and providing solutions; and the use of means of communication appropriate to the program and the audience. |
|
CR |
Credit |
65-74 |
Pass |
Provides evidence of learning that goes beyond replication of content knowledge or skills relevant to the learning outcomes. There is demonstration of substantial understanding of fundamental concepts in the field of study and the ability to apply these concepts in a variety of contexts; convincing argumentation with appropriate coherent justification; communication of ideas fluently and clearly in terms of the conventions of the program. |
|
P |
Pass |
50-64 |
Pass |
Provides sufficient evidence of the achievement of learning outcomes. There is demonstration of understanding and application of fundamental concepts of the program; routine argumentation with acceptable justification; communication of information and ideas adequately in terms of the conventions of the program. The learning attainment is considered satisfactory or adequate or competent or capable in relation to the specified outcomes. |
|
F |
Fail |
0-49 |
Fail |
Does not provide evidence of attainment of learning outcomes. There is missing or partial or superficial or faulty understanding and application of the fundamental concepts in the field of study; missing, undeveloped, inappropriate or confusing argumentation; incomplete, confusing or lacking communication of ideas in ways that give little attention to the conventions of the program. |
|
FA |
|
|
Did Not Attend |
Student has failed the compulsory attendance component of assessment |
Final Grades not receiving a mark because the student has withdrawn after the Census Date, not submitted or completed one or more components of the assessment, has been awarded a supplementary assessment or because of an unresolved matter such as allegations of academic misconduct are outlined in Schedule 1.
Where to find information about assessment
General assessment information including the number and nature of assessments, due dates and weightings has been provided in this unit guide.
Specific assessment information including assignment instructions, questions, marking criteria and rubrics as well as examples of relevant and related assessment tasks and responses will be available in the Assessment section on iLearn. For units that have final examinations, students may access past final exam papers using MultiSearch.
Student Responsibilities
As per the Assessment Policy, students are responsible for their learning and are expected to:
- actively engage with assessment tasks, including carefully reading the guidance provided, understanding criteria, spending sufficient time on the task and submitting work on time;
- read, reflect and act on feedback provided;
- actively engage in activities designed to develop assessment literacy, including taking the initiative where appropriate (e.g. seeking clarification or advice, negotiating learning contracts, developing grading criteria and rubrics);
- provide constructive feedback on assessment processes and tasks through student feedback mechanisms (e.g. student surveys, suggestions for future offerings, student representation on committees);
- ensure that their work is their own; and
- be familiar with University policy and College procedures and act in accordance with those policy and procedures.
Submission of Assessment Tasks
Assessments must be submitted in accordance with instructions provided in this unit guide. Assessment tasks which have not been submitted as required will not be marked; they will be considered a non-submission and zero marks will be awarded for the task.
Extensions & Late Submissions
Extensions will only be granted as a result of a Disruptions to Studies Notification for which special consideration has been awarded. To apply for an extension of time for submission of an assessment item, students must submit their Disruptions to Studies notification via ask.mq.edu.au.
Late submissions without an approved extension are possible but will be penalised at 20% per 24 hour period or thereof up to 4 days (weekend inclusive).
Example: An assignment is due at 5:00 pm on a Friday and is marked out of 100 marks.
- If a student submits at 5:02 pm on the Friday and no Disruptions to Studies or special consideration is granted, a penalty of 20% of the total marks possible (20 marks) will be deducted from their result.
- If the student submits the assignment on Sunday and no Disruptions to Studies or special consideration is granted, then a penalty of 40% (40 marks) will be deducted and so on.
- If a student submits an assessment task 5 or more days after the due date and no Disruptions to Studies or special consideration is granted, a record or submission will be made but the student will receive zero marks for the assessment task.
Retention of Originals
It is the responsibility of the student to retain a copy of any work submitted. Students must produce these documents upon request. Copies should be retained until the end of the grade appeal period each term.
In the event that a student is asked to produce another copy of work submitted and is unable to do so, they may be awarded zero (0) for that particular assessment task.
Requests for original documentation will be sent to the applicant’s student email address within six (6) months of notification by the student. Students must retain all original documentation for the duration of this six (6) month period and must supply original documents to the University within ten (10) working days of such a request being made.
Final Examinations
Final examinations will typically take place or be due in Week 6 or Monday of Week 7. For unit specific details please refer to Assessment section of this unit guide.
All students must be available up until and including Monday of Week 7 to undertake final examinations.
The University will publish College Final Examination Timetable at least 4 weeks before the commencement of the final examination period and students will be able to access their final examination schedule in Week 3 of the Term.
Final Examination Requirements
As per Schedule 4 of the Assessment Policy, students will be responsible for:
- checking the final examination timetable
- knowing the examination location (including seat number allocation) and arriving at allocated examination venue on time.
- knowing the structure and format of the examination
- adhering to the final examination timetable
- ensuring they are available for the full duration of the final examination period and supplementary examination period.
Details of the structure and format of the final examination paper will be made available to students prior to the start of the final examination period. This detail will include:
- a copy of the examination coversheet, giving the conditions under which the examination will be held
- information on the types of questions the examination will contain, and
- an indication of the unit content the paper may examine.
Students must follow directions given by the Final Examination Supervisor.
Students will be required to present their Macquarie University Campus Card as photographic proof of identity for the duration of the final examination.
Students are not permitted to:
- enter a final examination venue once one hour from the time of commencement (excluding any reading time) has elapsed
- leave a final examination venue before one hour from the time of commencement (excluding any reading time) has elapsed
- leave a final examination venue during the last 15 minutes of the examination
- be readmitted to a final examination venue unless they were under approved supervision during the full period of their absence
- obtain, or attempt to obtain, assistance in undertaking or completing the final examination script
- receive, or attempt to receive, assistance in undertaking or completing the final examination script (Unless an application for reasonable adjustment has been approved)
- communicate in any way with another student once they have entered the final examination venue
Missed assessments and examinations
The University recognises that students may experience unexpected events and circumstances that adversely affect their academic performance in assessment activities, for example illness.
In order to support students who have experienced a serious and unavoidable disruption, the University will provide affected students with an additional opportunity to demonstrate that they have met the learning outcomes of a unit. An additional opportunity provided under such circumstances is referred to as special consideration.
In order to be eligible for special consideration students must submit Disruption to Studies Notification via ask.mq.edu.au within five (5) working days of the commencement of the disruption and attach appropriate supporting evidence.
Where special consideration is granted the student will be given and an additional opportunity to demonstrate that they have met the learning outcomes of a unit in the form of a alternative or supplementary assessment task or extension.
Please refer to the Disruption to Studies Policy or the Disruptions to Studies section under Policies and Procedures below.
Supplementary Examinations
The supplementary examination period will span across Week 7 of the Term and Week 1 of the subsequent teaching term. Students who have lodged a Disruptions to Studies must be available to undertake examinations during the supplementary examination period.
Results for supplementary exams may not be available for up to two weeks following the supplementary examination. Students in their final term of study who undertake supplementary final exams should note that formal completion of their Program will not be possible until supplementary results are released and this may impact on their ability to enrol in subsequent programs of study on time.
Accessing your Results
Students will be able to view their results for internal assessments via the Grades section in iLearn.
Grades (e.g. HD, D, CR, P, F) for all assessment tasks will be released to students once marking has concluded. Marks for individual assessments may be released as well.
Final results for the unit will be released at 00:01 on Friday of Week 7. Students will be able to view their final result for the unit via eStudent.
Calculating your GPA
A Grade Point Average (GPA) is a calculation that reflects the overall grades of a student in a coursework program. Please refer to the GPA Calculator.
Obtaining Feedback
Teaching staff will provide students with feedback about their academic progress and performance in assessment tasks or a unit of study. Where relevant, other staff such as Senior Teachers, Program Managers and members of the Student Administration and Services Team will provide feedback and advice to students about their performance in a program of study. Feedback may be provided to individual students, a group of students or a whole class and it may be written or verbal in nature.
Some examples of feedback include:
- Teaching staff member reviewing a draft submission and giving a student advice on how to improve their work before making a final submission
- Teaching staff member telling a class that they need to improve their editing of grammar in their recently submitted assignment.
- Teaching staff member discussing progress of an individual student before census date to allow the student to decide whether they should remain enrolled in the unit.
- Online feedback via announcements or forums, an online marking rubric or various iLearn activities employed in a unit
- Written marks and comments on a marking sheet or essay.
- Recorded voice comment provided in response to an essay submitted online.
- Student Services officer telling a student that they should consider withdrawing from a unit because they have missed too many classes to be able to catch up.
It is a student’s responsibility to act promptly on feedback and advice provided.
If you are unsure how feedback has been or will be provided, or you feel that feedback provided is not sufficient, you must approach relevant teaching or administrative staff and request additional feedback in a timely manner during the term. Students may seek general feedback about performance in a unit up to 6 months following results release.
Contacting Teaching Staff Obtaining Help
Students may contact teaching staff at any time during the term by using the contact details provided in this guide. Students should expect a response within 1-2 business days. Teaching staff are unable to accept assessment submissions via email, all assessments must be submitted as outlined in the unit guide.
For all university related correspondence, students must use their official Macquarie University student email account which may be accessed via the Macquarie University Student Portal. Inquiries from personal email accounts will not be attended to.
Academic Honesty
Using the work or ideas of another person, whether intentionally or not, and presenting them as your own without clear acknowledgement of the source is called Plagiarism.
Macquarie University promotes awareness of information ethics through its Academic Honesty Policy. This means that:
- all academic work claimed as original must be the work of the person making the claim
- all academic collaborations of any kind must be acknowledged
- academic work must not be falsified in any way
- when the ideas of others are used, these ideas must be acknowledged appropriately.
All breaches of the Academic Honesty Policy are serious and penalties apply. Students should be aware that they may fail an assessment task, a unit or even be excluded from the University for breaching the Academic Honesty Policy.
Turnitin
To uphold principles of Academic Honesty, Macquarie University employs online anti-plagiarism Software called Turnitin. Turnitin compares electronically submitted papers to a database of academic publications, internet sources and other student papers that have been submitted to the system to identify matching text. It then produces an Originality Report which identifies text taken from other sources, and generates a similarity percentage. Teaching staff will use the report to judge whether plagiarism has occurred and whether penalties should apply for breaches of the Academic Honesty Policy.
All text based assessments must be submitted through Turnitin as per instructions provided in the unit guide. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that work is submitted correctly prior to the due date. No hard copies of assessments will be accepted and only Turnitin records will be taken as records of submission.
Multiple submissions may be possible via Turnitin prior to the final due date and time of an assessment task and originality reports may be made available to students to view and check their work.
There is no set percentage which indicates whether plagiarism has occurred; all identified matching text should be reconsidered carefully. If plagiarism has occurred or is suspected and resubmission is possible prior to the due date, students are advised to edit their work before making a final submission. Help may be sought from teaching staff. Students may also access research resources provided by the library or Learning Skills.
Students should note that the system will not immediately produce the similarity score on a second or subsequent submission - it will take 24-36 hours for the report to be generated. This may be after the due date so students should plan any resubmissions carefully.
Please refer to these instructions on how to submit your assignment through Turnitin and access similarity reports and feedback provided by teaching staff.
Should you have questions about Turnitin or experience issues submitting through the system, you must inform your teacher immediately. If the issue is technical in nature may also lodge a OneHelp Ticket, refer to the IT help page.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Due |
|---|---|---|
| Assessed Course Work | 20% | Week 2:2; Week 3:1 |
| Case study | 20% | Week 5:1 |
| Class test | 20% | Week 4:1 |
| Final Exam | 40% | MUIC Final Examination Period |
Assessed Course Work
Due: Week 2:2; Week 3:1
Weighting: 20%
1.1 Reflective task – 10%
Reflection is a powerful process of analysing and interpretation that helps us learn from our experiences. Reflecting on your life, work and education will impact the performance and success of your education. A short reflective task is to be completed by students in week 3.1 lesson, contributing 10% to your overall grade for the unit. Guidelines for completing the reflective task will be provided at the beginning of week 1 during class. No extensions will be granted. Students who are absent from the lesson will be awarded a mark of ZERO, except for cases in which Disruption to Studies is made and approved. Feedback will be provided in-class.
1.2 Diagnostic Test – 10%
In this assessment students will be given questions that evaluate their familiarity with key areas of the course, to demonstrate their ability to discuss, explain and analyse specific features of contemporary accounting. This is not a research task and students are not required to read more broadly or to cite other references than covered in the course. However, it does go beyond simply summarising unit material and students are expected to demonstrate their understanding and views. This is an early assessment to give students an opportunity to gain feedback on their writing skills and initial progress in the unit. The assessment will take 45 minutes, be completed in students’ lesson in week 2, Lesson 2 and will contribute to 10% of the overall grade. No extensions will be granted. Students who are absent from the lesson will be awarded a mark of ZERO, except for cases in which an application to Disruption to Studies is made and approved. Feedback will be provided in class and marks via Gradebook.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Identify role of accounting in a social context, including a variety of contemporary accounting issues and their impact on society, and analysis of ethical appreciation and responsible judgment in decision making;
- Use discipline specific terminology to communicate concepts and ideas relevant to this unit.
Case study
Due: Week 5:1
Weighting: 20%
This assessment task requires the completion of a research-based case study assignment that contributes 20% to your overall assessment grade. This task encourages students to work in groups and explore accounting and accountability issues in society, using material outside the assigned text. Your lecturer will allocate groups and distribute the case studies, questions and general guidelines in week 2.1. The report, worth 15% of your overall grade, will be due in the week 5.1 lesson, accompanied by a short 'peer-evaluated' presentation of your work, worth 5% of your overall grade. The peer evaluated presentation criteria/rubric may be found on iLearn.
50% of your contribution to this report will be assessed on an individual basis. This means that 50% of the 15% overall mark (7.5%) is assessed individually whilst the 5% for the presentation is assessed individually as well. Rubrics for marking for the case study will be provided on iLearn.
Information on referencing may be obtained from the library webpage: http://libguides.mq.edu.au/Referencing. Assignments must be submitted via Turnitin on iLearn. Without exception, any evidence of plagiarism discovered in submitted assignments will result in a detailed investigation and may result in a fail grade in the assessment, unit and/or exclusion from the University. Without a valid application for Disruptions to studies, no extensions of time for submission will be approved and a penalty of 20% per day (weekend inclusive) will be imposed for late assignment submission.
Feedback will be provided in-class and marks in Gradebook/Turnitin.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Identify role of accounting in a social context, including a variety of contemporary accounting issues and their impact on society, and analysis of ethical appreciation and responsible judgment in decision making;
- Apply creative and critical thinking skills to challenging the traditional presentation and assumptions of accounting information for decision-making.
- Communicate and work effectively in teams.
- Use discipline specific terminology to communicate concepts and ideas relevant to this unit.
Class test
Due: Week 4:1
Weighting: 20%
3.1 Class test – 20%
Students are required to sit a class test in their first lesson in week 4 which will contribute 20% of the overall grade. The test will be answered under examination conditions, that is a closed book test. The test will cover all course material from weeks 1.1 to 3.2 (inclusive). No extensions will be granted. Students who are absent from the test will be awarded a mark of ZERO, except for cases in which Disruption to Studies is made and approved. Feedback will be provided in class and marks in Gradebook.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Relate the business environment to the context of the accounting profession.
- Record transactions including adjusting and closing entries for company operations and prepare and communicate Financial Statements to an elementary technical competence level.
- Use discipline specific terminology to communicate concepts and ideas relevant to this unit.
Final Exam
Due: MUIC Final Examination Period
Weighting: 40%
Students will sit a 2 hour, closed book final exam that will contribute to 40% of the final grade. The final exam will test content and skills covered throughout the term, from Week 1-6 inclusive.
The coverpage of the examination paper will be made available on iLearn prior to the final examination so that students may familiarise themselves with the requirements as well as allowable calculators that may be taken into the exam.
Final examinations will typically take place or be due in Week 6 or Monday of Week 7.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Identify role of accounting in a social context, including a variety of contemporary accounting issues and their impact on society, and analysis of ethical appreciation and responsible judgment in decision making;
- Relate the business environment to the context of the accounting profession.
- Record transactions including adjusting and closing entries for company operations and prepare and communicate Financial Statements to an elementary technical competence level.
- Apply creative and critical thinking skills to challenging the traditional presentation and assumptions of accounting information for decision-making.
- Use discipline specific terminology to communicate concepts and ideas relevant to this unit.
Delivery and Resources
Term Dates & College Calendar
Details of key dates during the term can be found on the Important Dates calendar.
Enrolment and Timetables
General timetable information is available via Macquarie University's Timetable page.
Students will be able to enrol in units and register for classes via eStudent and also view their personal timetable. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that classes they have registered for do not clash.
Students are only permitted to attend classes in which they have registered via eStudent, unless they have written approval from the Students Services and Administration Manager. To seek approval, students must email muic@mq.edu.au or speak to a member of the Student Services and Administration Team at E3A Level 2 Reception. Approval will only be granted in exceptional circumstances.
Swapping groups is not possible after the enrolment period has concluded. The last day to do so is Tuesday of Week 1 and this must be finalised by the student in eStudent by the end of the day.
Attendance Requirements – All Students
All students are expected to attend 100% of scheduled class time.
Attendance will be monitored in each lesson & students will be able to see their current attendance percentage to date and potential attendance percentage for each unit they have enrolled in via iLearn.
- Current attendance Percentage will reflect the percentage of classes a student has attended so far (based only on the lessons held to date).
- Potential Attendance Percentage will reflect the percentage of classes a student can potentially attended by the end of the term, taking into consideration lessons attended and assuming the student also attends all future lessons scheduled (based only on the total number of lessons in the Term).
Where a student is present for a part of a lesson (for example arrives late, leaves early, leaves the class frequently or for lengthy periods, engages in inappropriate or unrelated activities or does not participate actively in the majority of the lesson) the teacher reserves the right to mark a student absent for that part of the lesson.
In cases of unavoidable non-attendance due to illness or circumstances beyond their control, students should lodge a Disruption to Studies Notification via ask.mq.edu.au within 5 working days and supply relevant supporting documentation, even if they have not missed a formal assessment task. This will ensure that that appropriate records of unavoidable absences can be kept.
Public Holidays and Make-up Lessons
If any scheduled class falls on a public holiday a make-up lesson may be scheduled on an alternate day. Attendance will be taken for any scheduled make-up lessons. Where a make-up lesson is scheduled, students will be informed in class and via iLearn.
If appropriate, teaching staff may instead organise an online make-up lesson requiring students to complete additional activities outside of class. Students will be informed of any such arrangements in class and/or via iLearn.
Technology Used and Required
- Access to internet (Available on Campus using Macquarie OneNet and in designated E3A Self-Access Computer Laboratories)
- iLab - iLab is Macquarie University's personal computer laboratory on the Internet, enabling students to use the Microsoft Windows applications they require to do their university work from anywhere, anytime, on anything.
- Access to iLearn
- Access to Macquarie University Library catalogue (MultiSearch)
- Access to Microsoft Office Suite (available in E3A Self-Access Computer Laboratories and via iLab)
iLearn
iLearn is Macquarie's online learning management system and a principal teaching and learning resource which will be used throughout the term. Students must access iLearn at least 3 times per week to access important information including:
- Announcements and News Forums - Teaching staff will communicate to the class using iLearn announcements. Announcements may also be emailed to students’ Macquarie University email address but students should check the News Forum regularly.
- Attendance – current and potential attendance percentage for the Term.
- Unit Guide and staff contact details
- Set unit readings available through MultiSerach (library).
- Lesson materials and recordings where available
- Learning and teaching activities and resources, questions and solutions
- Assessment instructions, questions, marking criteria and sample tasks
- Assessment submission links such as Turnitin
- Links to support materials and services available at the University
- Evaluation Surveys for the unit
For any resource related iLearn questions contact your teacher. For any technical or support issues using iLearn, please contact the IT helpdesk (Ph. 02 9850 4357) or lodge a ticket using OneHelp.
Useful Study Resources
StudyWise is an iLearn resource created by Learning Skills, which is specifically designed to help you to manage your studies, strengthen your study techniques, write effective assignments and improve your English language proficiency. Once you enrol in StudyWISE, you can access it from your iLearn course list under the category "Student Support".
InfoWise will help you improve your research skills by teaching you how to use MultiSearch, decode citations, identifying key search terms and use advanced search techniques.
Lib Guides provide students with links to electronic sources and websites that are good starting points for research in different fields or disciplines.
MultiSerach will connect you to Macquarie University Library and allow you to search library resources, databases, unit readings and past exam papers
Academic Language and Learning Workshops are designed to help you with Study Skills, Assignment Writing, Referencing and Academic Language
Research resources provide information about:
Unit Schedule
|
Week |
Topics |
Assessment Task |
|---|---|---|
|
1.1 1.2 |
Introduction to Accounting. Accounting, Accountability and Society; accounting for organisations; careers in Accounting. Ethics: what it is and why it is important; role in Accounting; code of ethics for professional accountants. |
|
|
2.1 2.2 |
Financial accounting for business: accounting cycle and double-entry accounting Financial accounting for business: recording transactions |
Diagnostic test 10% PRE-CENSUS FEEDBACK |
|
3.1 3.2 |
Financial Accounting for business: adjusting entries Financial Accounting for business: closing entries |
Reflective task 10% |
|
4.1 4.2 |
Financial Accounting for Business: preparing and interpreting financial statements 1 Financial Accounting for Business: preparing and interpreting financial statements 2 |
Class test 20% |
|
5.1 5.2 |
Introduction to management Accounting & Budgeting Cost-Volume-Profit Analysis |
Case Study 20% |
| 6.1 | Sustainability; professional Communication in Business |
|
| 6.2 | Revision and discussion of final exam | Final exam 40% |
Learning and Teaching Activities
Lessons
Active Participation
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html
New Assessment Policy in effect from Session 2 2016 http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy_2016.html. For more information visit http://students.mq.edu.au/events/2016/07/19/new_assessment_policy_in_place_from_session_2/
Assessment Policy prior to Session 2 2016 http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html
Grading Policy prior to Session 2 2016 http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html
Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html
Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/complaint_management/procedure.html
Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.
In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/
Results
Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.
Academic Honesty
Using the work or ideas of another person, whether intentionally or not, and presenting them as your own without clear acknowledgement of the source is called Plagiarism.
Macquarie University promotes awareness of information ethics through its Academic Honesty Policy. This means that:
- all academic work claimed as original must be the work of the person making the claim
- all academic collaborations of any kind must be acknowledged
- academic work must not be falsified in any way
- when the ideas of others are used, these ideas must be acknowledged appropriately.
All breaches of the Academic Honesty Policy are serious and penalties apply. Students should be aware that they may fail an assessment task, a unit or even be excluded from the University for breaching the Academic Honesty Policy.
Assessment Policy
Students should familiarise themselves with their responsibilities under the Assessment Policy, and notably Schedule 4 (Final Examination Requirements).
Disruptions to studies
The Disruption to Studies Policy applies only to serious and unavoidable disruptions that arise after a study period has commenced. Students with a pre-existing disability/health condition or prolonged adverse circumstances may be eligible for ongoing assistance and support. Such support may be sought through Campus Wellbeing and Support Services.
The University classifies a disruption as serious and unavoidable if it:
- could not have reasonably been anticipated, avoided or guarded against by the student; and
- was beyond the student's control; and
- caused substantial disruption to the student’s capacity for effective study and/or completion of required work; and
- occurred during an event critical study period and was at least three (3) consecutive days duration, and / or
- prevented completion of a final examination.
To be eligible for Special Consideration, a student must notify the University of a serious and unavoidable disruption within five (5) working days of the commencement of the disruption (Disruption to Studies notification). All Disruption to Studies notifications are to be made online via the University’s Ask MQ system. A Disruption to Studies notification must be supported by documentary evidence.
Students should note that in cases of medical disruptions they must see a registered healthcare professional and present a Professional Authority Form. Medical certificates will not be accepted. Overseas students may use their OSHC insurance for the purpose of seeing a registered healthcare professional.
In submitting a Disruption to Studies notification, a student is acknowledging that they may be required to undertake additional work. The time and date, deadline or format of any required extra assessable work as a result of a disruption to studies notification is not negotiable and in submitting a disruption to studies notification, a student is agreeing to make themselves available to complete any extra work as required. This means that as a result of special consideration being awarded, a student may be required to complete a different type of assessment for example an exam instead of a presentation or vice versa.
The student will retain all original documentation submitted regarding the disruption, and must understand that this may be requested by the University at any time. In this event, students will be provided 10 business days to submit the original documentation.
Please refer to the Disruption to Studies Policy for further details.
Final Examination Script Viewings
A student may request to view their final examination script once results have been released but scripts remain the property of Macquarie University.
Students should view their final examination paper prior to submitting a grade appeal, if this is relevant to their case. The viewing will be conducted in a secure location under supervision.
To request a final examination script viewing, please lodge a ticket via ask.mq.edu.au.
Grade Appeals
A student who has been awarded a final grade for a unit has the right to appeal that grade as outlined in the Grade Appeal Policy. Grade appeals apply to the final mark and grade a student receives for a unit of study. They do not apply to results received for individual assessment tasks.
Grade appeals must be submitted via ask.mq.edu.au within 20 working days from the published result date for the relevant unit. Before submitting a Grade Appeal, please ensure that you read the Grade Appeal Policy and note valid grounds for appeals.
Students are expected to seek feedback on individual assessment tasks prior to the award of a final grade. Students also have the right to request generic feedback from the teaching staff on their overall performance in the unit, including in a final examination. This can be done at any time in the six month period starting from the day on which the final grade of the relevant unit is published.
Course Progression
The College closely monitors Foundation students' academic progress as per the Progression Policy for Programs delivered by Macquarie University International College.
To maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress, a student must successfully complete (pass) 50% or more of their enrolled units in a Term of study. To successfully complete a unit, students must obtain a passing grade and meet any other requirements to pass listed in the unit guide.
Students who fail to make Satisfactory Academic Progress will be classified as "at risk" and will be notified in writing. At-risk students may be required to undergo academic counselling, undertake certain initiatives or have conditions placed upon their enrolment to help them make satisfactory progress.
Students must also pass 50% or more of the units in 2 or more terms in order to meet Minimum Rate of Progress (MRP) requirements. A student is deemed not to be making Minimum Rate of Progress if they fail more than 50% of their enrolled units in two consecutive Terms of study, or if they have failed more than 50% of their units after studying two or more terms.
Any domestic student who has been identified as not meeting Minimum Rate of Progress requirements will be issued with an Intention to Exclude letter and may subsequently be excluded from the program.
Any international student who has been identified as not meeting MRP will be issued with an Intention to Report letter and may subsequently be reported to the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) for not meeting visa requirement and be subject to exclusion from the program. International students must comply with the MUIC Progress Policy in order to meet the conditions of their visa.
Student Support
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Student Services and Support
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
Student Enquiries
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
IT Help
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
Graduate Capabilities
Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills
Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Identify role of accounting in a social context, including a variety of contemporary accounting issues and their impact on society, and analysis of ethical appreciation and responsible judgment in decision making;
- Relate the business environment to the context of the accounting profession.
- Record transactions including adjusting and closing entries for company operations and prepare and communicate Financial Statements to an elementary technical competence level.
- Apply creative and critical thinking skills to challenging the traditional presentation and assumptions of accounting information for decision-making.
- Use discipline specific terminology to communicate concepts and ideas relevant to this unit.
Assessment tasks
- Assessed Course Work
- Case study
- Class test
- Final Exam
Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking
We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Identify role of accounting in a social context, including a variety of contemporary accounting issues and their impact on society, and analysis of ethical appreciation and responsible judgment in decision making;
- Relate the business environment to the context of the accounting profession.
- Apply creative and critical thinking skills to challenging the traditional presentation and assumptions of accounting information for decision-making.
Assessment tasks
- Assessed Course Work
- Case study
- Class test
- Final Exam
Problem Solving and Research Capability
Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Record transactions including adjusting and closing entries for company operations and prepare and communicate Financial Statements to an elementary technical competence level.
- Apply creative and critical thinking skills to challenging the traditional presentation and assumptions of accounting information for decision-making.
Assessment tasks
- Case study
- Class test
- Final Exam
Effective Communication
We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Apply creative and critical thinking skills to challenging the traditional presentation and assumptions of accounting information for decision-making.
- Communicate and work effectively in teams.
- Use discipline specific terminology to communicate concepts and ideas relevant to this unit.
Assessment tasks
- Assessed Course Work
- Case study
- Class test
- Final Exam
Course Contact Hours
Weekly face to face contact for this unit will be 6 hours (36 hours per term) plus a two-hour workshop will be held during the Term.
There will be 2 lessons per week each of 3 hours duration.
Unit Specific Texts and Materials
The following texts have been prescribed for this unit.
- Carlon, S., McAlpine-Mladenovic, R., Palm, C., Mitrione, L., Kirk, N. and Wong, L. (2016) 'Financial Accounting: Reporting, Analysis and Decision Making', Wiley, QLD, Australia. e-Text ISBN : 978-0-7303-2488-1.
Students will also be required to source other online material including;
- Chwastiak, M. and Young, J. (2003) "Silences in Annual Reports." Critical Perspectives on Accounting, vol.14, no.5, pp.533-552.
- Evans, E., Burritt, R. and Guthrie, J. (2015) "Future Proofing the Profession: Preparing Business Leaders and Finance Professionals for 2025." The Institute of Chartered Accountants, Sydney, Australia.
- Evans, E., Burritt, R. and Guthrie, J. (2011) "Bridging the gap between academic accounting research and professional practice." The Institute of Chartered Accountants, Sydney, Australia.
- Hines, R. (1988) "Financial accounting: in communicating reality, we construct reality." Accounting, organizations and society, vol.13, no.3, pp.251-261.
- International Accounting Education Standards Board (IAESB) http://www.iaesb.org/
- United Nations Global Compact https://www.unglobalcompact.org/