Students
LAWS5036 – Modern Corporate Governance
2024 – Session 2, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde
General Information
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| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Hannah Harris
|
|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
|
| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
(80cp in LAW or LAWS units incl LAWS2300) or (130cp including (MMCC2014 or MAS214) or (BUSL250 and BUSL301) or (BUSL251 or ACCG2051)
|
| Corequisites |
Corequisites
|
| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
|
| Unit description |
Unit description
What exactly is a corporation? Whose interests do corporations serve? How should corporations be held responsible for social or environmental harms? These are just some of the questions this course addresses. Corporations are powerful and complex legal creations with immense influence over society, economy, politics and environment. In this advanced unit, students will build on existing knowledge of business organisations and corporate law to gain deeper insight into how corporations govern themselves and how they are regulated by external actors, both in Australia and internationally. Students will engage in research and critical analysis of existing corporate governance strategies and the laws that govern corporate interactions, advancing their understanding of the actors and organisations that impact corporate governance, including: corporate boards, corporate regulators, auditors and stock exchanges. This course provides an opportunity to explore concepts such as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Environmental and Social Governance (ESG), and Business and Human Rights. Students will analyse the relationships and legal obligations between corporations and their shareholders, creditors, employees and customers. |
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:
- ULO1: Understand and convey key concepts related to corporate governance and corporate regulation.
- ULO2: Describe and analyse the context in which corporate governance policies and practices operate
- ULO3: Examine alternative corporate law and regulatory models and assess their application
- ULO4: Review and critique existing corporate law and regulatory strategies domestically and internationally
General Assessment Information
All written assessments submitted electronically must be submitted through the link provided in iLearn. This unit will utilise Turnitin plagiarism detection software. Students should carefully check that they submit the correct file for an assessment, as re-submissions will not be accepted after the due date and time, including instances where students upload an incorrect file in error.
The design, moderation and feedback of all assessments is in accordance with the Macquarie University Assessment Procedure (link provided under ‘Policies and Procedures’ below).
Late Submission Policy
A maximum penalty of five (5) percentage points of the total possible marks will be applied per day to late submissions, for up to a maximum of seven calendar days. Tasks that have not been submitted within the maximum number of additional late days will receive a mark of zero. This provision does not apply to online exams or other assessment with a time limit of less than 24 hours.
Penalties for late submission will be applied consistently and equitably to all students enrolled in the unit. Where short-term, serious and unavoidable circumstances have affected their ability to submit an assessment task, a student must submit a formal application for Special Consideration as per the Special Consideration Policy. Students should not request an informal arrangement from their tutor, lecturer or Unit Convenor.
Where an application for Special Consideration is approved, and the outcome is an extension to the due date of a task, submissions that are received after the new due date will be subject to late penalties that are calculated from the new due date. This only applies where the outcome is an extension to the due date – see the Special Consideration Policy for a schedule of all possible outcomes.
Special Consideration
Students should submit applications for Special Consideration electronically via ask.mq.edu.au, along with the supporting documentation. Before submitting their applications, students should refer to the Special Consideration Policy (link provided under ‘Policies and Procedures’ below).
Note: the case studies and final written assessment are due at 11.55pm on the due date.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Studies | 40% | No | 25 August (Case Study #1) 15 September (Case Study #2) |
| Professional Writing Task | 40% | No | 03/11/2024 |
| Class Participation | 20% | No | Ongoing |
Case Studies
Assessment Type 1: Case study/analysis
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: 25 August (Case Study #1) 15 September (Case Study #2)
Weighting: 40%
A series of case studies throughout the semester that incorporate a number of tasks described on iLearn
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Examine alternative corporate law and regulatory models and assess their application
- Review and critique existing corporate law and regulatory strategies domestically and internationally
Professional Writing Task
Assessment Type 1: Professional writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: 03/11/2024
Weighting: 40%
Students will research and produce a piece of writing that demonstrates professional skills relevant to modern corporate governance.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Understand and convey key concepts related to corporate governance and corporate regulation.
- Describe and analyse the context in which corporate governance policies and practices operate
- Examine alternative corporate law and regulatory models and assess their application
- Review and critique existing corporate law and regulatory strategies domestically and internationally
Class Participation
Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 0 hours
Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 20%
Participation tasks including discussions, presentations and problem-solving.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Understand and convey key concepts related to corporate governance and corporate regulation.
- Describe and analyse the context in which corporate governance policies and practices operate
- Examine alternative corporate law and regulatory models and assess their application
- Review and critique existing corporate law and regulatory strategies domestically and internationally
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
- the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
- the Writing Centre for academic skills support.
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation
Delivery and Resources
The Required Textbook for this unit is: du Plessis, Hargovan & Harris, Principles of Contemporary Corporate Governance (4th Ed, 2018)
You should purchase the textbook for this course, as it is essential reading.
Other reading material will be provided via iLearn.
This unit is delivered over 12 weeks, starting in week one.
The unit consists of 12 weeks of online recorded material and one hour of mandatory tutorials each week.
Unit Schedule
The 12 weekly modules and accompanying tutorials will cover the following topics:
- The Concept of Corporate Governance
- Stakeholders & Corporate Social Responsibility
- Board Functions & Structures
- Regulating Corporate Governance in Australia
- Accounting Governance: Auditors & Audits
- Director's Duties & Liabilities
- Enforcement of Director's Duties
- The Global Context: Part One
- The Global Context: Part Two
- Corporate Governance & Crises
- Shareholder Activism
- The Future of the Corporation
These topics are subject to change, please review the iLearn page regularly for announcements and to access all relevant content and materials.
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
- Academic Appeals Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progression Policy
- Assessment Policy
- Fitness to Practice Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Complaints Resolution Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
- Special Consideration Policy
Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct
Results
Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) 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 connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
Academic Integrity
At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.
Student Support
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
The Writing Centre
The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.
- Workshops
- Chat with a WriteWISE peer writing leader
- Access StudyWISE
- Upload an assignment to Studiosity
- Complete the Academic Integrity Module
The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources.
Student Services and Support
Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:
- IT Support
- Accessibility and disability support with study
- Mental health support
- Safety support to respond to bullying, harassment, sexual harassment and sexual assault
- Social support including information about finances, tenancy and legal issues
- Student Advocacy provides independent advice on MQ policies, procedures, and processes
Student Enquiries
Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.
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.
Unit information based on version 2024.02 of the Handbook